Water Quality Management Based on the Integral Approach
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I. K. DIADOVSKI and M. P. ATANASSOVA, Water Quality Management Based …, Chem. Biochem. Eng. Q. 21 (2) 189–194 (2007) 189 Water Quality Management Based on the Integral Approach I. K. Diadovski and M. P. Atanassova Bulgarian Academy of Science, Central Laboratory of General Ecology, Original scientific paper 2 Gagarin St., Sofia 1113 Received: April 19, 2006 [email protected], [email protected] Accepted: January 12, 2007 We offer a model for integrated water quality management. The proposed model in- tegrates water protection, land and water use, preservation of ecosystem sustainability, preservation of functional unity of catchment and river flow and socio-economic activity in the catchment. The model has been developed on the basis of combining existing models, including balancing, deterministic (2D) and statistical models and ecological as- sessment systems, which are used for description, evaluation and prognosis of water and ecosystem quality on a catchment scale. The catchment and the river are studied in phys- ical and functional unity of separate elements and their interaction. A scheme for practi- cal application of the model for water quality management in the catchment is presented. The model is applied for water quality management of the Mesta River catchment in Bulgaria. On the basis of simulation studies using the model, a management solution is pro- posed for improving the water quality of the Mesta River on the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria. The construction of wastewater treatment plants in the towns of Razlog, Gotse Delchev, Bansko, Yakoruda and Hadzhidimovo is proposed, as well as regulation of the Mesta River runoff by means of constructing a water reservoir in the river gorge above the Nevrokop valley. Regulation is also proposed for some low water tributaries, as well as corrections of river sections and repair of melioration facilities. At present, the model is applied for integrated water quality management of the Struma River in cooper- ation with the University of Ghent (Belgium). Key words: Modelling, action plan, integral approach Introduction water quality management could be realized with certain tools concerned in analyzing spatial and The EU Water Framework Directive14 urges temporal variety of water resources within the member states to develop methods for integrated catchment and predicting their state for different and sustainable water quality management at a variants by the plan of action.26,27,28 Two main eco- catchment scale. logical factors determine the structure and function- Management at a catchment scale means that ing of aquatic ecosystems: river flow hydraulics water resources are considered as a complex system and transit time. They are the major limiting fac- of mutually interrelated elements as river flow, tors, which determine the development and adapta- 23 catchment and different anthropogenic impacts (wa- tion of aquatic organisms. The anthropogenic im- ter and land use). The application of modelling pact on these factors should not disturb the sustain- methods provides the possibility of improving the able development of river ecosystems. Hydro- investigation and facilitating management deci- energy, irrigation, river correction, industrial and sion-making. drinking water use lead to different river flow hy- draulics and transit time.1,17,22 This study presents a The concept of integrated management is being model for integrated water quality management at developed in the course of a number of years. river basin scale based on the obtained results In France, the water act of 1992 prescribes an within the framework of international joint research integrated water resources management at the scale projects. The management must achieve preserva- of watershed or regional aquifer. The water man- tion of ecosystems and water quality considering agement plans in the water act are designed by a de- natural and anthropogenic factors in the river basin. cision team, which brings together state agents, lo- The proposed concept is applied for water quality cal representatives and water users in order to man- management of the catchment basin of the Mesta age the resources.19 The integrated approach takes River in Bulgaria. At present the model is applied under consideration different elements of water re- for integrated water quality management of the sources and interactions between them. Integrated Struma River. 190 I. K. DIADOVSKI and M. P. ATANASSOVA, Water Quality Management Based …, Chem. Biochem. Eng. Q. 21 (2) 189–194 (2007) Materials and methods For assessment of climate and economic activ- ity impact on the river flow formation we propose a Realization of integrated water quality man- system of integral indices.6,8,9 The level of climate 10 agement requires development of particular tools. impact is determined by the index Ki (flow mod- 5 The model elaborated by Diadovski for integrated ule), the coefficient Ci for the deviation of the aver- water quality management and preservation of wa- age annual water volume Qi from the flow norm Qo ter ecosystems was used as a basis for the proposed and the index hi for the deviation of the average an- model. The model of integrated water quality man- nual rainfall volume Hi from the average multi-an- agement has been developed based on a combina- nual rainfall volume Ho. A decision support tool for tion of existing models including balancing, deter- simulating the effects of alternative policies affect- ministic (2D) and statistical models and ecological ing water quality is applied (MULINO-DSS).20,21 assessment systems, which are used for description, We consider the application of Multiple Criteria evaluation and prognosis of water and ecosystem Decision Analysis (MCDA) in solving problems for quality at catchment scale. The migration of pollut- water quality management. The formulated MCDA ants from point and diffuse sources along the river problem is solved with the help of the MULINO course, and the prediction of water quality is de- computer interactive Decision Support System. scribed by the deterministic model.7 The (2D) Three alternative methods are realized in MULINO model proposed is based on advection-dispersion DSS-SWA (simple additive weighting), OWA (or- mass transport, the biological processes in the der weighted averaging) and TOPSYS (Technique aquatic systems and the river runoff dynamics.7 The for order Preferences by Stimulant to Ideal Solu- QUALZE model24 may also be applied for this pur- tion) for multiple criteria analysis. The evaluation pose, since it is almost equivalent with respect to of the alternative solutions may be performed using the concept, considered processes and range of the the three methods for multiple criteria analysis on necessary information. A statistical model based on the basis of defined ecological criteria. time series analysis12 is applied for the assessment This study presents the possibilities for cou- and prediction of water quality and river runoff dy- pling different tools for integrated water quality namics in single points along the river course. To management. assess the pollution level of waters, sediments and Simulation research of water quality is realized rivers, we propose a system of integral ecological on the basis of information provided by the Na- indices.10,11,12 The integral indices are based on the tional Ecological Monitoring network. The goal of ratio Ki between the actually measured values of the this study is to propose a conceptual model for inte- individual indices and the standard values for a wa- grated water quality management at river basin ter body, which serves as a standard of pollution scale based on results obtained from existing meth- (level of trophic pollution It, level of pollution with ods applied for river basins, the integral approach hazardous substances In, and level of microbiologi- and in conformity with EU Water Framework Di- cal pollution Im). The integral index of the trophic rective. The integral approach combines water and pollution level It for a certain period is determined ecosystem protection with appropriate surface wa- as the arithmetic mean for the ratio Ki of the indi- ter, groundwater and land use in accordance with vidual indices K(BOD), K(COD), K(MES), actual socio-economic activity in the investigated area. The integral approach takes under consider- K(NTOT), K(PTOT), K(NO3), K(PO4), K(O2). The in- tegral index of the level of pollution with hazardous ation different elements of water resources (quality, quantity, and distribution) and their interaction (Fig. substances In is based on the indices for metal con- tent, organic compounds like aromatic hydrocar- 3). bons, phenols, detergents. The integral index In is This approach integrates different objectives determined as the arithmetic mean for the ratio Kj and criteria as follows: of the individual indices – K(Cd), K(Cr), K(Cu), – protection of water from pollution K(Zn), K(Pb), K(As), K(Phenol), K(Det). The inte- – optimization of water and land use gral index I of the level of microbiological pollu- m – preservation of functional unity of catchment tion is based on the indices overall coli titer and and river net overall number of microorganisms. The integral in- dex I is determined as the arithmetic mean for the – setting up the socio-economic framework for m river basin development ratio Kk of the individual indices – K(coli titer), – solving and preventing conflicts in water pro- K(microorg). Ip is determined as the geometric tection