Magela Creek system, northern Australia. I. 1982-83 wet-season water quality

1987 ◽  
Vol 38 (2) ◽  
pp. 261 ◽  
Author(s):  
BT Hart ◽  
EM Ottaway ◽  
BN Noller
Keyword(s):  
Suspended Solids ◽  
Major Ions ◽  
Ammonia Nitrogen ◽  
Base Flow ◽  
Flood Event ◽  
Ground Vegetation ◽  
Acidic Ph ◽  
First Flush ◽  
Northern Australia ◽  
Wet Season

The particularly late wet season in 1982-83 provided a unique opportunity to study the dry-to-wet season transition in Magela Creek, a tropical creek and wetlands system in northern Australia. The first water to flow down and across the floodplain was characteristically quite acidic (pH c. 4-5), with a high conductivity (c. 750 �S cm-1) and high sulfate concentration (c. 200 mg I-1). The source of the sulfate, acidity and dissolved salts is groundwater brought to the surface (mainly in depressions on the floodplain, e.g. pools and channels) by rising watertables, and then flushed from these by the slowly advancing flood waters. The end of the dry season is a time of particular stress for the biota living in these billabongs, and many fish kills have been noted at around the time this 'first flush' water enters. In most years, this poor-quality water would be rapidly flushed out, in a few days at the most, from the billabongs by subsequent flood- flows down Magela Creek. However, in 1983, the next flood event did not occur until almost 1 month after the first flush had occurred. During the main wet season, the water transported by Magela Creek was slightly acidic (mean pH 5,2), with a very low conductivity (c. 5-17 �S cm-1) and low concentrations of suspended solids (c. 4-59 mg I-1), major ions and trace metals (iron, manganese, copper, lead, zinc, uranium). There was a general decrease in the mean concentration of each determin and with each succeeding flood event. This was most noticeable in the case of suspended solids and conductivity, and was attributed to an 'exhaustion effect' where greater amounts of suspended solids and soluble salts (in the upper soil layers) were available in the early part of the wet season. The composition of the creek water was very similar to that of rainwater falling in the catchment, with two major exceptions. First, the rainwater was considerably more acidic (pH 3.6-4.9), due mainly to the presence of weak organic acids such as formic and acetic acids. This acidic rainwater was partially neutralized by interaction with catchment soils. Second, the concentrations of all nutrients (total phosphorus, nitrate-nitrogen and ammonia-nitrogen) were considerably higher in the rainwater. There was a significant removal (over 90%) of phosphorus, ammonia and nitrate from the rainwater, probably due to uptake by the ground vegetation known to proliferate in the catchment during the wet season. Factor analysis indicated that dilution of the base flow, presumably by surface runoff of rainwater, was the dominant component during both the rising and falling stages of each flood event. Radionuclide activity in composite water samples taken over the five flood events revealed that the total activity of both 226Ra and 210Pb was low, with greater than 58% of both radionuclides being in filterable forms.

Magela Creek system, Northern Australia. II. Material budget for the floodplain

1987 ◽  
Vol 38 (6) ◽  
pp. 861 ◽  
Author(s):  
BT Hart ◽  
EM Ottaway ◽  
BN Noller
Keyword(s):  
Particulate Matter ◽  
Trace Metals ◽  
Major Ions ◽  
Dust Particles ◽  
Northern Australia ◽  
Wet Season ◽  
Sodium Potassium ◽  
Weathering Processes ◽  
Lead Zinc ◽  
Copper Lead

A materials budget was estimated for the Magela Creek system during the 1982-83 wet season. This tropical system in northern Australia consists largely of a well-defined creek (Magela Creek contributes approximately 50% of the total inflow to the floodplain) flowing into an extensive wetlands area and then into the East Alligator River. Intensive sampling of creek water, rainfall and water flowing from the system provided the data base for the budget calculations. The annual transport of both dissolved and particulate matter by Magela Creek (area 600 km2) is very low, even when compared with other low-relief tropical systems. The annual load transported during 1982-83 was 1260 t (21 kg ha-1) of dissolved salts and 2330 t (39 kg ha-1) of particulate matter. Rainfall appeared to contribute all the sodium, potassium and chloride, and part of the calcium (c. 30%) and magnesium (25%) transported during the 1982-83 wet season by Magela Creek. Most of the manganese (c. 60%) (and probably iron) was contributed from weathering processes occurring in the catchment. Only small amounts of the trace metals copper, lead, zinc and uranium were transported by the creek. During the 1982-83 wet season, more trace metals were contributed in rainfall than transported from the catchment by the creek. However, this is probably atypical and resulted from dust particles that had entered the atmosphere in greater numbers due to the extended dry season. The vast bulk of the nutrients (total P 93%, NO3- N 86%, NH4+ N 98%) added to the catchment by rainfall was removed by the catchment, probably via uptake by the vegetation. Consequently, the creek transported only very small amounts of nutrients to the floodplain. An input-output budget for the Magela floodplain was calculated. The uncertainty in the net amounts deposited or released from the floodplain was estimated using a new quantitative method developed for this purpose. The uncertainties in the net values estimated were high, ranging from around 30% for bicarbonate to 500% for uranium. These data suggest that the Magela floodplain is a net source of the major ions (sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, chloride, sulfate and bicarbonate) and also of iron, and a net sink for suspended solids, nutrients (total phosphorus, nitrate and ammonia) and manganese. The floodplain also appears to be a net sink for the trace metals copper, lead, zinc and uranium.

Water quality variations during a flood event in the Annan River, North Queensland.

1988 ◽  
Vol 39 (2) ◽  
pp. 225 ◽  
Author(s):  
BT Hart ◽  
G Day ◽  
A Sharp-Paul ◽  
T Beer
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metals ◽  
Water Quality ◽  
Factor Analysis ◽  
Surface Runoff ◽  
Suspended Solids ◽  
River Flow ◽  
Base Flow ◽  
Flood Event ◽  
Surface Layers ◽  
Dominant Influence

Variations in water quality (conductivity, pH, suspended solids, Na, K, Ca, Mg, Cl, SO4, HCO3 and Si) during a major flood event that occurred in the Annan River, north Queensland, on 21 March 1985 are reported. Factor analysis showed that dilution of base flow concentrations by surface runoff was the dominant influence during the rising stage of the flood event, possibly with some flushing of ions from the surface layers of the catchment soils also occurring. At low river flow, the water quality was dominated by that in ground water and possibly interflow. Heavy metals were mostly transported in particulate forms (Fe 99%; Mn 95%; Pb, Zn, Sn c. 80%; Cu c. 60%). Filterable metal concentrations were low and changed little with flow.

scholarly journals Limnology of Merbok estuary, Kedah, Malaysia

2015 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 13-19
Author(s):  
Kaniz Fatema ◽  
Wan Maznah Wan Omar ◽  
Mansor Mat Isa
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Dissolved Oxygen ◽  
Suspended Solids ◽  
Total Suspended Solids ◽  
Quality Parameters ◽  
The Other ◽  
Wet Season ◽  
Hand Temperature ◽  
Do Concentration ◽  
Merbok Estuary

Water quality in three different stations of Merbok estuary was investigated limnologically from October, 2010 to September, 2011. Water temperature, transparency and total suspended solids (TSS) varied from 27.45 - 30.450C, 7.5 - 120 cm and 10 -140 mg/l, respectively. Dissolved Oxygen (DO) concentration ranged from 1.22-10.8 mg/l, while salinity ranged from 3.5-35.00 ppt. pH and conductivity ranged from 6.35 - 8.25 and 40 - 380 ?S/cm, respectively. Kruskal Wallis H test shows that water quality parameters were significantly different among the sampling months and stations (p<0.05). This study revealed that DO, salinity, conductivity and transparency were higher in wet season and TSS was higher in dry season. On the other hand, temperature and pH did not follow any seasonal trends.Bangladesh J. Zool. 41(1): 13-19, 2013

Dynamic behavior of suspended pollutants and particle size distribution in highway runoff

2002 ◽  
Vol 46 (11-12) ◽  
pp. 413-418 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Furumai ◽  
H. Balmer ◽  
M. Boller
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metals ◽  
Particle Size ◽  
Particle Size Distribution ◽  
Size Distribution ◽  
Suspended Solids ◽  
Dynamic Change ◽  
First Flush ◽  
Highway Runoff ◽  
Runoff Rate ◽  
Highway Drainage

Continuous runoff quality monitoring was conducted for one month at urban highway drainage with an area of 8.4 ha. Dynamic change of suspended solids and heavy metal concentrations were investigated during first flush periods, taking the particle size distribution into consideration. Except for Pb, the concentrations of TSS and heavy metals in runoff were within the range of the EMC reported in recent highway runoff research. Particle-bound heavy metals (Zn, Pb, and Cu) accounted for more significant pollutant loads than soluble fractions. Their content decreased with increasing total SS concentration in runoff samples. The results of particle size distribution (PSD) analysis of runoff samples indicate that high TSS concentration samples contained coarser particles. Based on the PSD results, a stepwise wash-off phenomenon of TSS under varying runoff rate conditions was explained by the different washoff behavior of fine (&lt; 20 mm) and coarser particles.

scholarly journals PRELIMINARY STUDY FOR A CLEANING AND WATER REUSE SYSTEM

2016 ◽  
Vol 13 (26) ◽  
pp. 127-133
Author(s):  
Alessandra Pezzini ◽  
Vandré B Brião ◽  
Luis A. B. DE BONI
Keyword(s):  
Water Reuse ◽  
Suspended Solids ◽  
Ammonia Nitrogen ◽  
Oil And Grease ◽  
Domestic Water ◽  
Treatment Tank ◽  
Odor Removal ◽  
Domestic Use ◽  
Preliminary Study ◽  
National Industry

Recent events related to the lack of water in Brazil demonstrated that the reuse of water is an issue that needs to be explored. In the present study, research was conducted to determine a source of domestic water that can be treated and reused with simple equipment, produced by national industry, or available in the domestic market. It was selected the treatment of the bathwater from the shower. The results of the parameters analyzed, pH, conductivity, color, turbidity, COD, phosphorus, total suspended solids, oil and grease, bacteria, total nitrogen, ammonia nitrogen, and total coliforms indicates that the model used needs adjustments, odor removal, and optimization of the effluent residence time in the treatment tank. Corrected these inconsistencies the system could be converted into a product for domestic use in regions where there is a shortage of water.

scholarly journals The economics of phosphorus supplementation of beef cattle grazing northern Australian rangelands

2020 ◽  
Vol 60 (5) ◽  
pp. 683
Author(s):  
M. K. Bowen ◽  
F. Chudleigh ◽  
R. M. Dixon ◽  
M. T. Sullivan ◽  
T. Schatz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Economic Benefits ◽  
Dry Season ◽  
Cattle Herd ◽  
Annual Business ◽  
Northern Australia ◽  
Wet Season ◽  
P Deficiency ◽  
Business Profit ◽  
Dry Seasons ◽  
Land Types

Context Phosphorus (P) deficiency occurs in beef cattle grazing many rangeland regions with low-P soils, including in northern Australia, and may severely reduce cattle productivity in terms of growth, reproductive efficiency and mortality. However, adoption of effective P supplementation by cattle producers in northern Australia is low. This is likely to be due to lack of information and understanding of the profitability of P supplementation where cattle are P-deficient. Aims The profitability of P supplementation was evaluated for two dissimilar regions of northern Australia, namely (1) the Katherine region of the Northern Territory, and (2) the Fitzroy Natural Resource Management (NRM) region of central Queensland. Methods Property-level, regionally relevant herd models were used to determine whole-of-business productivity and profitability over 30 years. The estimated costs and benefits of P supplementation were obtained from collation of experimental data and expert opinion of persons with extensive experience of the industry. The economic consequences of P supplementation at the property level were assessed by comparison of base production without P supplementation with the expected production of P-supplemented herds, and included the implementation phase and changes over time in herd structure. In the Katherine region, it was assumed that the entire cattle herd (breeders and growing cattle) grazed acutely P-deficient land types and the consequences of (1) no P supplementation, or P supplementation during (2) the dry season, or (3) both the wet and dry seasons (i.e. 3 scenarios) were evaluated. In the Fitzroy NRM region, it was assumed that only the breeders grazed P-deficient land types with three categories of P deficiency (marginal, deficient and acutely deficient), each with either (1) no P supplementation, or P supplementation during (2) the wet season, (3) the dry season, or (4) both the wet and dry seasons (i.e. 12 scenarios). Key results In the Katherine region, year-round P supplementation of the entire cattle herd (7400 adult equivalents) grazing acutely P-deficient pasture resulted in a large increase in annual business profit (+AU$500000). Supplementing with P (and N) only in the dry season increased annual business profit by +AU$200000. In the Fitzroy NRM region, P supplementation during any season of the breeder herd grazing deficient or acutely P-deficient pastures increased profit by +AU$2400–AU$45000/annum (total cattle herd 1500 adult equivalents). Importantly, P supplementation during the wet season-only resulted in the greatest increases in profit within each category of P deficiency, comprising +AU$5600, AU$6300 and AU$45000 additional profit per annum for marginal, deficient and acutely P-deficient herds respectively. Conclusions The large economic benefits of P supplementation for northern beef enterprises estimated in the present study substantiate the current industry recommendation that effective P supplementation is highly profitable when cattle are grazing P-deficient land types. Implications The contradiction of large economic benefits of P supplementation and the generally low adoption rates by the cattle industry in northern Australia suggests a need for targeted research and extension to identify the specific constraints to adoption, including potential high initial capital costs.

limited data for the greater Townsville area (Kay et al.1996). Based on the prevalence of key vector species and their abundance and that of the viruses recovered, it was concluded that Big Bay, originally recommended as a prime site for recreational development by the Department of Local Government in 1985, actually presented lower risk than any other locality. Antill Creek also proved relatively safe in terms of mosquito-borne infections, whereas Toonpan during the wet season was a place to be avoided. Both Ross River and the environs of Townsville offered intermediate risk, the latter due to large numbers of saltmarsh mosquitoes breeding in intertidal wetlands. 9.5 Snails and swimmer’s itch Schistosome dermatitis, known as swimmer’s itch, is a common global problem for users of recreational swimming areas in water resource developments. The rash is caused by free living larvae called cercariae (Figure 9.4) of parasitic flukes which burrow into exposed parts of the body. Normally the life-cycle involves water birds such as ducks and pulmonate snails, so infection of humans is accidental. A large number of cercariae may penetrate the skin where they die but cause a localized allergic reaction in sensitized persons. In northern Australia, swimmer’s itch (Trichobilharzia) has been traditionally associated with Austropeplea (= Lymnaea) lessoni (= vinosa) although two planorbid snails, Amerianna carinata and Gyraulus stabilis, have also been identified as intermediate hosts in Lake Moondarra near Mt Isa, Queensland. Our recent data implicates Gyraulus gilberti at the Ross River dam. Snails are also commonly infected with other trematode cercariae, mainly echinostomes, strigeids/diplostomids and clinostomids.

1998 ◽  
pp. 148-148
Keyword(s):  
Lower Risk ◽  
The Body ◽  
Northern Australia ◽  
Intermediate Hosts ◽  
Wet Season ◽  
Large Numbers ◽  
Swimmer’S Itch ◽  
Intertidal Wetlands ◽  
Water Birds ◽  
Swimmer's Itch

scholarly journals Assessment of the Nutrients in the Leachate and the Groundwater Quality for Drinking and Farming around the Nkolfoulou Landfill in Yaoundé, Cameroon

2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-16
Author(s):  
Gilbert Feuyit ◽  
John Ngolui Lambi ◽  
Estella Njoyim-Tamungang ◽  
Samuel Laminsi
Keyword(s):  
Groundwater Quality ◽  
Major Ions ◽  
Hazard Quotient ◽  
Hazard Index ◽  
Wet Season ◽  
Cancer Risks ◽  
Groundwater Samples ◽  
Standard Set ◽  
Effluent Discharge ◽  
Pollute Groundwater

This study focuses on the assessment of the nutrients in the leachate and the groundwater quality around the Nkolfoulou landfill in Yaoundé known in French as “Centre de Traitement de Déchets (CTD).” Landfilling generates leachate that can pollute groundwater. Leachate along with groundwater samples (n=1+13) was collected in January (long dry season) and May (long wet season) 2014 and explored for various parameters including pH, temperature, EC, turbidity, TDS, TA, TSS, TH, BOD5, COD, Na+, K+, Mg2+, Ca2+, NH4+, NO3−, Cl−, F−, SO42−, PO43−, HCO3−, and colour using standard methods. In the leachate samples, values of TSS (700.2 and 130.2 mg/L), BOD5 (140 mg/L), COD (1350 and 1750 mg/L), NH4+ (82.50 and 39.51 mg/L), NO3− (159.32 and 74.82 mg/L), and Cl− (702.69 and 345.50 mg/L) exceeded the Cameroonian standards for effluent discharge. All the values of pH and some values of turbidity (4.55 and 4.50 NTU) and NH4+ (0.51 and 0.73 mg/L) in the groundwater samples violated the Cameroonian standards for drinking water. Based on the water quality index (WQI), an average of 11.53% of groundwater samples was improper for drinking in both seasons. Based on the parameters assessed, all the samples complied with the standard set for irrigation, poultry, and livestock. The hazard quotient (HQ) and the hazard index (HI) of NO3− and F− for children and adults were <1, and hence, the increased non-cancer risks due to these ions through the drinking of groundwater was low. From the statistical analysis, the Nkolfoulou landfill may not be the main source of major ions to the nearby groundwater.

Municipal wastewater characteristics at Irtah pumping station in the Tulkarem city

2000 ◽  
Vol 42 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 337-340 ◽  
Author(s):  
H.Q. Shaheen
Keyword(s):  
Dissolved Oxygen ◽  
Suspended Solids ◽  
Municipal Wastewater ◽  
Total Suspended Solids ◽  
Ammonia Nitrogen ◽  
Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen ◽  
Pumping Station ◽  
Kjeldahl Nitrogen ◽  
Sodium And Potassium ◽  
Mixed Samples

Wastewater flow samples were collected at 2-hour intervals for one week during the month of October 1998 at the Irtah wastewater pumping station in the Tulkarem city. The station collects about 32% of the wastewater of the Tulkarem city and 25% of the Tulkarem camp. The samples were mixed on 24-hour basis and tested for the pollution parameters BOD5, COD, total suspended solids, orthophosphate, total Kjeldahl nitrogen, ammonia nitrogen, nitrate, calcium, sodium and potassium. At the 2-hour intervals the wastewater flow was tested for conductivity, temperature, pH, and dissolved oxygen. The variation of the strength of these parameters and its relation to the flow values are observed and evaluated. The produced organic strength versus the flow and the 24-hour mixed samples are presented and commented upon.

Effect of irrigation on leaf gas exchange and yield of cashew in northern Australia

1996 ◽  
Vol 36 (7) ◽  
pp. 861 ◽  
Author(s):  
H Schaper ◽  
EK Chacko ◽  
SJ Blaikie
Keyword(s):  
Gas Exchange ◽  
Chlorophyll Content ◽  
Water Deficit ◽  
Leaf Gas Exchange ◽  
Water Status ◽  
Northern Australia ◽  
Wet Season ◽  
Leaf Water Status ◽  
Continuous Irrigation ◽  
Tropical Regions

Gas exchange, leaf water status, soil water use and nut yield of cashew trees were monitored during the reproductive phase in 2 consecutive years (1988 and 1989). Treatment 1 comprised continuous irrigation from the end of the wet season in April until harvest in October; T2, irrigation between flowering (mid June) and harvest; and T3, no irrigation. Irrigation was applied by under-tree sprinkler at 43 mm/week in 1988 and 64 mm/week in 1989. Measurement of leaf gas exchange, chlorophyll content and nut production showed that trees in T2 were as productive as those in T1 (>1.3 kg kernel/tree). In T3, water deficit caused a 4-fold reduction in leaf photosynthesis and reduced leaf chlorophyll content from about 600 to 400 mg/m2 during fruit development. There was no effect on the number of hermaphrodite flowers produced (both ranging from 0 to 15 hermaphrodite flowers/panicle) but the water deficit was associated with a lower kernel yield (1.16 kg kernel/tree). Commercial yields (kg kernel/tree) in irrigated treatments were 20% greater than in the non-irrigated treatment and the kernels from irrigated trees were of a higher grade (kernel recovery >32% in T1 and T2 compared with 27.4% in T3). These results suggest that irrigation of established cashew plantations in the tropical regions of northern Australia can be restricted to the period between flowering and harvest without reducing yield.

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