We have collected data from a river and we are trying to map the findings and calculate the level of pollution for the river. We collected and analysed water samples from fixed small interval (20km) for the river. Now we have data like BOD, COD, DO, water Colouration, heavy metals and some other physical properties.
Can someone suggest model to map the river pollution and also to evaluate the level of pollution using the data we have?
Hi Anand,
There are multiple possibilities to map pollution levels based on GIS applications. Take a look at for instance:
http://mycoordinates.org/gis-mapping-to-determine-river-pollution/
My favorite application is using a R software package. If you are familiar with the R software (https://www.r-project.org/), you might use the gstat package for mapping the pollutants. There is a good introduction to this package, and once you have installed R you will soon learn how to use the package. It's based on measured levels of pollution combined with coordinates of the sampling points. Link:
https://cran.r-project.org/web/packages/gstat/index.html
To evaluate the level of pollution you might apply for instance the priority list from the European Water Framework Directive, at least for some heavy metals.
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/water/water-dangersub/pri_substances.htm#list
For parameters like COD there are no binding limit values, but you can compare them with other situations and locations, like in
http://www.eea.europa.eu/data-and-maps/indicators/biochemical-oxygen-demand-in-rivers/oxygen-demand-at-river-stations
good luck!
Marcel
Dear Anand,
There are many software that can help you. for example
WEAP, WASP, Mike 11, Qual2E or Qual2k, SCIMAP. The fine spatial scale that SCIMAP works on makes it possible to identify the fields and parts of fields that may be the origin of the non-point source pollution problems in the rivers.
With my best regards
Prof. Bachir ACHOUR
Hi, Anand!
In the answers to your question you can find models that could be used. I just want to warn you that an important step is the model validation. It is better to start with a model that has been used (with good results) in conditions close to yours.
Adelmo.
Dear Anand,
There are many software’s to calculate water quality, such as Mike 11,Qual2E or Qual2k, WASP and etc. To evaluation heavy and trace metal pollution you must be used the indexes such as Heavy Metal Index (HMI), Metal Index (MI), and etc.
The Kisters product called WISKI (Water Information Systems KISTERS)is a water data management software solution. WISKI automates data collection processes for faster analysis and better decisions, improves data quality, provides powerful visualization tools, and offers an easy way to report and share your hydrological data. WISKI is a powerful and flexible software solution that can manage all of your water data in one location.
Water is essential for all forms of life and ecosystems. Rivers are essential as they serve humans with ample fresh water supply. Although rivers contain only 0.0001% of the total global water, they are key carriers of nutrients and water worldwide. The evolution of human civilization is associated with rivers and its adjoining fertile flood plains. However, a dynamic shift in human civilizations resulted in variation of water use patterns along with unavoidable discharge of sewage and solid wastes into water bodies.
the condition of river pollution in third world countries worsens day-by -day, where the rivers are considered easy disposal points for effluents.
Regards,
Prem Baboo
Dear all,
water samples particularly from a river are sometimes difficult to locate to their origin. In terms of metals it might be useful to analyze the metals in the river bed sediments and also their leach ability (US EPA TCLP) as well. Sediment data are also easier to map (contour map - pollution gradient map). The water sampling data hopefully will correspond with the leaching test results.
At first, you have to define, what is your Pollution Problem. With respect to nutrient Levels and Oxygen demands, a 5-step categorization is widely used. For metals, Sediment Analysis is preferred, in categories referring to total concentrations given as log based on 2 (geo-accumulation index after Mueller), with respect to Background abundance. For organic poisons, refer to the LC 50 Levels (lethal concentration). Having just one map, is too simple. E.g.: a Mercury polluted site may be oligotrophic at the biological scale.
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