The Rio Blanco watershed in Mexico experiences several pollution problems, including pesticides, fertilizers, and wastewater from agriculture and residential areas. Efforts to address the pollution have been limited due to lack of funds and government support. A project aims to analyze water quality, suggest solutions, and create a watershed model. The project encountered challenges with delineating the watershed and communicating with local partners. Water quality modeling software was used to simulate conditions and identify key parameters needed to improve the model, such as channel geometry data, water quality information, reaction rates, and climate data.
The Rio Blanco watershed in Mexico experiences several pollution problems, including pesticides, fertilizers, and wastewater from agriculture and residential areas. Efforts to address the pollution have been limited due to lack of funds and government support. A project aims to analyze water quality, suggest solutions, and create a watershed model. The project encountered challenges with delineating the watershed and communicating with local partners. Water quality modeling software was used to simulate conditions and identify key parameters needed to improve the model, such as channel geometry data, water quality information, reaction rates, and climate data.
The Rio Blanco watershed in Mexico experiences several pollution problems, including pesticides, fertilizers, and wastewater from agriculture and residential areas. Efforts to address the pollution have been limited due to lack of funds and government support. A project aims to analyze water quality, suggest solutions, and create a watershed model. The project encountered challenges with delineating the watershed and communicating with local partners. Water quality modeling software was used to simulate conditions and identify key parameters needed to improve the model, such as channel geometry data, water quality information, reaction rates, and climate data.
Physical Characteristics Main river is about 14 miles long Watershed area of roughly 65 mi 2 Approximately 100,000 residents within watershed boundary Water was used as a culinary source before it became so polluted Water is currently used for agriculture
Physical Characteristics Watershed Problems Pesticides and fertilizers from agriculture Residential wastewater is not treated prior to discharge Waste from cattle, pork, and poultry farms Small, local factories Dead animals Garbage
Suds from detergents in Rio Blanco Little Hispanic Girl for Scale Residential Discharge Why Nothing has Been Done Money Social apathy Lack of funds Lack of government support No cash Project Goals Water quality analysis of the watershed Suggest possible solutions Create WMS/GIS model of watershed
Project Snags Watershed delineation Communication Lack of a clear definition of objectives from the beginning Lack of data Different classification systems
Initial Delineation from Supplied DEMs Initial delineation compared to Mexicos given delineation Initial Delineation Mexicos Delineation Closer look at differences Examining the differences Initial Delineation Mexicos Delineation Water Quality Analysis Using QUAL2Kw QUAL2K and QUAL2Kw QUAL2K is a computer model developed by Greg Pelletier and Steve Chapra It is used to simulate water quality in streams and rivers QUAL2K was preceded by QUAL2E, which was originally developed in 1987 QUAL2K expands on the capabilities of QUAL2E by adding: Functionality to segment river systems into river reaches Input of carbonaceous BOD (CBOD) as slowly or rapidly oxidizing forms Specify algae growth, PH, pathogen quantities A user interface integrated into Microsoft Excel QUAL2Kw is related to QUAL2K and simply adds greatly functionality QUAL2Kw is available from the Washington State Department of Ecology QUAL2Kw Uses Simulate the variation of water quality parameters Along the length of stream Over the course of a day Can create a water quality model for a river, which can then be verified through validation and sensitivity analyses If the model gives good results in the validation and sensitivity analyses, it then can be used for forecasting QUAL2Kw Parameters The most sensitive parameters are: 1. Head water Info Lat/long and elevation (location info) Temperature Dissolved Oxygen BOD Nitrogen Phosphorus Alkalinity pH 2. Reach Info Lat/Long and Elevation Hydraulic Model (Weir Overrides Rating Curves; Rating Curves Override Manning Formula) Algal Info QUAL2Kw Parameters (contd..) 3. Air Temperature (Better if hourly) 4. Dew point temperature (Better if hourly) 5. Wind speed and day light info 6. Source info Inflow rate and quality (point or distributed) Outflow rate and quality (point or distributed) 7. Rates for various chemical reactions Input Parameters Mannings n
RioBlonco (8/17/2004) Mainstem 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0.0 5.0 10.0 15.0 20.0 25.0 30.0 DO(mgO2/L) DO (mgO2/L) data DO(mgO2/L) Min DO(mgO2/L) Max Minimum DO-data Maximum DO-data DO sat Graphs
RioBlonco (8/17/2004) Mainstem 0.00 50.00 100.00 150.00 200.00 250.00 300.00 0.0 5.0 10.0 15.0 20.0 25.0 30.0 CBODs (mgO2/L) CBODs (mgO2/L) data CBODs (mgO2/L) Min CBODs (mgO2/L) Max Graphs
RioBlonco (8/17/2004) Mainstem 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 NO3 (ugN/L) data NO3(ugN/L) NO3(ugN/L) Min NO3(ugN/L) Max Minimum NO3-data Maximum NO3-data Graphs
In Order to Improve Our Model The following data is needed: Sufficient channel geometry data Water quality info Reaction rates Climatological data Inflow/Outflow locations, rates and quality info
Environmental Effects of River Sand Mining: A Case Study of Periyar River, Kerala, Southwest India Shiekha E John, K Maya and D Padmalal Centre For Earth Science Studies, Trivandrum