Riparian wetlands for enhancing the self-purification capacity of streams

2007 ◽  
Vol 56 (1) ◽  
pp. 49-57 ◽  
Author(s):  
B.J. D'Arcy ◽  
N. McLean ◽  
K.V. Heal ◽  
D. Kay
Keyword(s):  
Best Management Practices ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Vegetation Type ◽  
Holistic Approach ◽  
Diffuse Pollution ◽  
Indicator Organisms ◽  
Wetland Area ◽  
Riparian Wetland ◽  
Bathing Waters ◽  
Nitrogen Concentrations

Best Management Practices (BMPs) are increasingly used to restore river water quality but design guidance is limited. An alternative approach to remediating diffuse pollution loads is to identify the most polluting high flows from pollutographs and hydrographs and spill these flows into riparian treatment wetlands for treatment before drainage back into the watercourse. The approach is demonstrated for two contrasting catchments in Scotland impacted by diffuse pollution. The Caw Burn receives industrial estate drainage with high suspended solids, hydrocarbons, BOD and ammoniacal-nitrogen concentrations. Applying the proposed design criteria demonstrated that the existing retrofit BMP system at the site is undersized (4950 m2) compared to the required wetland area (11,800 m2), but accommodating the additional area is likely to be expensive. The second case-study is Brighouse Bay where bathing waters are impacted by faecal indicator organisms derived primarily from livestock runoff. In this catchment the riparian wetland area required to retain runoff so that E. coli bacteria would die-off to concentrations below bathing water standards was estimated to be 3–6 ha (0.5–1% of catchment area). Further refinement and testing of the design approach is required, including consideration of other factors such as vegetation type, ownership and maintenance, to develop a more holistic approach to river restoration.

scholarly journals The Effects of Soil Drying Out and Rewetting on Nitrogen and Carbon Leaching—Results of a Long-Term Lysimeter Experiment

Water ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (18) ◽  
pp. 2601
Author(s):  
Holger Rupp ◽  
Nadine Tauchnitz ◽  
Ralph Meissner
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Best Management Practices ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Global Climate ◽  
Significant Risk ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Leaching Losses ◽  
Lysimeter Experiment ◽  
Nitrogen Concentrations ◽  
Northeastern Germany

As a result of global climate change, heavy rainfall events and dry periods are increasingly occurring in Germany, with consequences for the water and solute balance of soils to be expected. The effects of climate change on nitrogen and carbon leaching were investigated using 21 non-weighable manually filled lysimeters of the UFZ lysimeter facility Falkenberg, which have been managed since 1991 according to the principles of the best management practices and organic farming. Based on a 29-year dataset (precipitation, evaporation, leachate, nitrate and dissolved organic carbon concentrations), the lysimeter years 1995/96, 2018/19, and 2003/04 were identified as extremely dry years. Under the climatic conditions in northeastern Germany, seepage fluxes were disrupted in these dry years. The reoccurrence of seepage was associated with exceptionally high nitrogen concentrations and leaching losses, which exceeded the current drinking water limits by many times and may result in a significant risk to water quality. In contrast, increased DOC leaching losses occurred primarily as a result of increased seepage fluxes.

scholarly journals Review of attitudes and awareness in the agricultural industry to diffuse pollution issues

2005 ◽  
Vol 51 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 373-381 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Merrilees ◽  
A. Duncan
Keyword(s):  
Best Management Practices ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Technical Information ◽  
Diffuse Pollution ◽  
Mitigation Measures ◽  
Agricultural Industry ◽  
Agricultural Enterprises ◽  
Farming Industry ◽  
Farm Business ◽  
The Impact

The Scottish Executive considers ‘Diffuse Pollution from Agricultural Enterprises’ as a priority issue over the next 5-10 years and recognises the need to improve knowledge transfer, advice and training amongst farmers, crofters, contractors and advisers. The Scottish Environment Protection Agency commissioned SAC to survey advisory staff on diffuse pollution issues, mitigation measures and delivery of environmental advice to the farming industry. This showed that the impact of agricultural diffuse pollution on the environment is considered a serious problem as is the future impact of legislation on farm business. There is an urgent requirement to raise advisers' awareness of environmental legislation and of mitigation measures. Advisers consider that farmers have limited awareness of diffuse pollution problems but those that do would consider the impact on the environment to be serious. There is a lack of knowledge on the effectiveness of pollution mitigation measures. Better technical information, supported by research, is required. This information is best conveyed to advisers via the internet, technical notes and directly by environmental specialists and delivered on to farmers by farm visits. Lack of funds prevents most farmers adopting best management practices and more than 80% of advisers consider that environmental advice should be free.

Diffuse pollution abatement – a key component in the integrated effort towards sustainable urban basins

2007 ◽  
Vol 56 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. Novotny ◽  
K. Hill
Keyword(s):  
Best Management Practices ◽  
Water Conservation ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Hydrological Cycle ◽  
Pollution Abatement ◽  
Urban Pollution ◽  
Diffuse Pollution ◽  
Urban Systems ◽  
Best Management

Water bodies are highly stressed by overdrafts of water for many purposes upstream and in the cities, and effluent domination and excessive point and diffuse pollution downstream. Pollution is also caused by the urban landscape which prefers impervious rather than porous surfaces; fast-conveyance infrastructure rather than “softer” approaches like ponds and vegetation; and stream channelization instead of natural stream courses, buffers and floodplains, and development in the floodplains. In future, the comprehensive and complex problems of urban pollution must be solved within the framework of the total hydrological cycle concept. This provides a new impetus to diffuse pollution management in urban areas. The best management practices that have been developed in the past could become key components of the new urban total hydrological cycle paradigm for solving the water shortage and pollution problems in an integrated manner, and making the urban systems hydrologically and ecologically sustainable. The paradigm will include landscape changes (less imperviousness, more green space used as buffers and groundwater recharge) as well application of the best management practices that provide water conservation, storage and reuse.

scholarly journals Lifecycle cost assessment of best management practices for diffuse pollution control in Han River Basin

2016 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 448-455
Author(s):  
Soyoung Lee ◽  
Marla C. Maniquiz-Redillas ◽  
Jeong Yong Lee ◽  
Hyunsaing Mun ◽  
Lee-Hyung Kim
Keyword(s):  
River Basin ◽  
Best Management Practices ◽  
Pollution Control ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Diffuse Pollution ◽  
Cost Assessment ◽  
Best Management ◽  
Han River ◽  
Han River Basin

scholarly journals Identification of Critical Diffuse Pollution Sources in an Ungauged Catchment by Using the Swat Model- A Case Study of Kolleru Lake, East Coast of India

2020 ◽  
pp. 53-68
Author(s):  
Meena Kumari Kolli ◽  
Christian Opp ◽  
Michael Groll
Keyword(s):  
Best Management Practices ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Swat Model ◽  
Temporal Distribution ◽  
Agricultural Runoff ◽  
Freshwater Ecosystems ◽  
Diffuse Pollution ◽  
Lake Water Quality

Freshwater ecosystems are facing severe threats from human activities. As a consequence of this, they can get disturbed. In developing countries, like India, freshwater lakes are endangered primarily by agricultural activities, which often accelerate erosion and the runoff. The massive application of pesticides and chemical fertilizers to agricultural lands is one of the reasons for eutrophication in Kolleru Lake. The different natural and anthropogenic influences increase the highly complex ecosystem of the lake. Therefore, the objectives of this study are to ascertain the priority control areas, aiming at socio-economic development for the protection of the lake water quality by applying the Best Management Practices (BMPs).  For this purpose, the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) was used to identify the critical areas of the lake's catchment in terms of pollution from agricultural runoff into the tributaries of the Kolleru Lake and the lake itself. The results demonstrated that the diffuse pollution load in the western and downstream watersheds the highest and that agricultural land was the primary pollutant source besides the accumulation of nutrients in the downstream areas. The differences in the sub-basin loads were observed in the catchment mainly depends on the topographic features, soil properties, land use, vegetation, and drainage patterns. From where the major outlet sub-basin has the highest accumulation of nitrate-nitrogen (NO3_N), and total phosphorus (TP) emissions were quantified. The temporal distribution of runoff and diffuse sources were estimated from 2008 – 2014. The runoff mainly governed diffuse pollution was found to be a significant contributing factor to the lake. Further, suggestions were provided for the implementation of agricultural management practices to minimize pollution levels.   Graphical Abstract:   (Own Source: Diagrammatic representation showing the interrelationship of the SWAT run model)

Importance of diffuse pollution control in the Patzcuaro Lake Basin in Mexico

2008 ◽  
Vol 58 (11) ◽  
pp. 2179-2186 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marco Mijangos Carro ◽  
Jorge Izurieta Dávila ◽  
Antonieta Gómez Balandra ◽  
Rubén Hernández López ◽  
Rubén Huerto Delgadillo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Best Management Practices ◽  
Catchment Area ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Point Sources ◽  
Diffuse Pollution ◽  
Lake Basin ◽  
Nitrogen And Phosphorus ◽  
Best Management ◽  
Critical Areas ◽  
Animal Farm

In the catchment area of the Lake Patzcuaro in Central Mexico (933 km2) the apportionments of erosion, sediment, nutrients and pathogen coming from thirteen micro basins were estimated with the purpose of identifying critical areas in which best management practices need to be implemented in order to reduce their contribution to the lake pollution and eutrophication. The ArcView Generalized Watershed Loading Functions model (AV-GWLF) was applied to estimate the loads and sources of nutrients. The main results show that the total annual contribution of nitrogen from point sources were 491 tons and from diffuse pollution 2,065 tons, whereas phosphorus loads where 116 and 236 tons, respectively during a thirty year simulation period. Micro basins with predominant agricultural and animal farm land use (56% of the total area) accounts for a high percentage of nitrogen load 33% and phosphorus 52%. On the other hand, Patzcuaro and Quiroga micro basins which comprise approximately 10% of the total catchment area and are the most populated and visited towns by tourist 686,000 people every year, both contributes with 10.1% of the total nitrogen load and 3.2% of phosphorus. In terms of point sources of nitrogen and phosphorus the last towns contribute with 23.5% and 26.6% respectively. Under this situation the adoption of best management practices are an imperative task since the sedimentation and pollution in the lake has increased dramatically in the last twenty years.

scholarly journals Comparison of the presence and partitioning behavior of indicator organisms and Salmonella spp. in an urban watershed

2009 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 44-59 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leigh-Anne H. Krometis ◽  
Gregory W. Characklis ◽  
Patricia N. Drummey ◽  
Mark D. Sobsey
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Best Management Practices ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Water Quality Modeling ◽  
Fecal Coliforms ◽  
Urban Watershed ◽  
Indicator Organisms ◽  
Salmonella Spp ◽  
Transport Behavior ◽  
Partitioning Behavior

The appropriateness of indicator organisms as surrogates for human pathogens in water quality modeling is dependent on similarities in both presence and transport behavior; however, very little data relating indicator and bacterial pathogen transport behavior in receiving waters is available. In this study observations of presence, partitioning behavior (i.e. association with settleable particles) and removal by upland detention basins were used to assess the suitability of six indicator organisms as surrogates for Salmonella spp. bacteria in an urban watershed. The fecal indicator bacteria (fecal coliforms, E. coli and enterococci) were most closely correlated with Salmonella in terms of presence and partitioning behavior (25–35% associated with settleable particles on average); however, further resolution of the variability associated with Salmonella partitioning is required. Higher removal of particle-associated microbes relative to the total microbial concentration by the detention ponds suggests that sedimentation may be an important removal mechanism. However, large fluctuations in pond performance between storm events and occasional net microbial exports in effluents indicate that these best management practices (BMPs), as currently implemented, will be unlikely to achieve water quality objectives.

scholarly journals Review on uncertainty of the first-flush phenomenon in diffuse pollution control

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Abdullah Al Mamun ◽  
Shahriar Shams ◽  
Md. Nuruzzaman
Keyword(s):  
Best Management Practices ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Nonpoint Source ◽  
Diffuse Pollution ◽  
Storm Runoff ◽  
Storm Event ◽  
First Flush ◽  
Storm Events ◽  
Treatment Facility ◽  
Small Catchments

AbstractSeveral definitions and criteria of the first-flush are being used to assess and control the nonpoint source (diffuse) pollution. The common consensus is that the first-flush is generally noticed in the small catchments (e.g. < 10 ha) of regular shapes. It is also considered that 80% of the pollution load can be captured by capturing 30% of the runoff volume, which is assumed to be due to first-flush of the storm event. However, such phenomenon is uncertain in the considerably large catchments, principally due to the dilution and delay in transport of the pollutant. This paper critically examines the ‘first-flush’ phenomenon in controlling diffuse pollution based on various studies conducted by the researchers. Based on the review, it can be inferred that the first-flush may be an effective criterion for sizing on-site treatment facilities for small catchments (with similar dimensions of length and width), from where the runoff is expected to reach the treatment facility (roughly) at the same time. However, for the large and elongated catchments with an area covering more than 10 ha, a huge volume of storm runoff needs to be captured that would make the treatment system large or less effective. As such, for the community and regional facilities; the presence of the first-flush needs to be confirmed based on the sampling and analysis of data collected from several storm events of different durations and intensities. Therefore, the use of the first-flush phenomenon should not be applied for the design of storm runoff treatment facility in large drainage system (say > 10 ha) without on-site monitoring being conducted. However, it is also recommended to come up with a simplistic approach of designing the best management practices (BMPs) to capture and treat certain depth of the initial storm runoff (e.g. first 20 mm), which will help reduce the effect of nonpoint source (NPS) pollution.

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