Water quality modelling
Water quality modeling involves the prediction of water pollution using mathematical simulation techniques. A typical water quality model consists of a collection of formulations representing physical mechanisms that determine position and momentum of pollutants in a water body. Models are available for individual components of the hydrological system such as surface runoff; there also exist basinwide models addressing hydrologic transport and for ocean and estuarine applications. Often finite difference methods are used to analyse these phenomena, and, almost always, large complex computer models are required.
Formulations and associated Constants
Water quality is modeled by one or more of the following formulations:
- Advective Transport formulation
- Dispersive Transport formulation
- Surface Heat Budget formulation
- Dissolved Oxygen Saturation formulation
- Reaeration formulation
- Carbonaceous Deoxygenation formulation
- Nitrogenous Biochemical Oxygen Demand formulation
- Sediment oxygen demand formulation (SOD)
- Photosynthesis and Respiration formulation
- pH and Alkalinity formulation
- Nutrients formulation (fertilizers)
- Algae formulation
- Zooplankton formulation
- Coliform bacteria formulation (e.g. Escherichia coli)
See also
- Hydrological transport models
- Stochastic Empirical Loading and Dilution Model
- Storm Water Management Model
- Volumes of water on earth
- Water resources
- Water quality
- Wastewater quality indicators
- Streeter-Phelps equation
- PCDitch
- PCLake
References
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Environmental Research Laboratory, Athens, GA (1985). "Rates, Constants and Kinetics Formulations in Surface Water Quality Modeling." 2nd ed. Document no. EPA/600/3-85/040.
External links
- SPARROW Surface Water-Quality Modeling - US Geological Survey
- BASINS - EPA environmental analysis system integrating GIS, national watershed data, environmental assessment and modeling tools
- Water Quality Models and Tools - EPA
- Models for Total Maximum Daily Load Studies - Washington State Department of Ecology
- Catchment Modelling Toolkit - eWater Cooperative Research Centre, Australia
- Water Evaluation And Planning (WEAP), an integrated water resources planning model, including water quality - Stockholm Environmental Institute (US)
- Stochastic Empirical Loading and Dilution Model (SELDM) - US Geological Survey stormwater quality model
- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Water Quality - New water quality modeling software developed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers