Register      Login
Marine and Freshwater Research Marine and Freshwater Research Society
Advances in the aquatic sciences
RESEARCH ARTICLE

Reservoir water-quality simulation using simplified mathematical models (case study: Seymareh Reservoir)

Nima Heidarzadeh https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3130-407X A B , Hesam Mahdavi A and Mahtab Yaghouti A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Kharazmi University, No. 43. South Mofatteh Ave., Tehran, Iran.

B Corresponding author. Email: N.heidarzadeh@khu.ac.ir

Marine and Freshwater Research - https://doi.org/10.1071/MF20334
Submitted: 19 November 2020  Accepted: 5 May 2021   Published online: 29 June 2021

Abstract

In this research, the performance of simple mathematical models was evaluated for predicting total dissolved solids (TDS), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and nitrate (NO3) in a case study, the Seymareh Reservoir located in the south-west of Iran. The accuracy of the mathematical models was compared with a two-dimensional model, called CE-Qual-W2, and real observations. The models were considered as two different input-data scenarios and one scenario for applied mathematical equations (completely mixed reactor). The modelling period was from October 2012 to September 2013. The results of the simple mathematical models show an acceptable performance with the mean relative error (MRE) of 10.8–73.8 compared with the complex CE-Qual-W2 model, whereas they require fewer input data and take less time to execute. To verify the accuracy of the equations, the results were also compared with the sampling data from the reservoir. The best performance of the proposed mathematical models showed a MRE of ~10.8%, 31.5% and 16.5% for TDS, BOD and NO3 respectively. These findings suggest using such simple models for screening/feasibility studies and also to model water quality in several dams across the basin to save time and cost.

Keywords: BOD, CE-QUAL-W2, completely mixed model, mathematical model, NO3, TDS.


References

Azmi, M., and Heidarzadeh, N. (2013). Dynamic modelling of integrated water resources quality management. Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers–Water Management 166, 357–366.
Dynamic modelling of integrated water resources quality management.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Boyer, J. N., Kelble, C. R., Ortner, P. B., and Rudnick, D. T. (2009). Phytoplankton bloom status: chlorophyll a biomass as an indicator of water quality condition in the southern estuaries of Florida, USA. Ecological Indicators 9, S56–S67.
Phytoplankton bloom status: chlorophyll a biomass as an indicator of water quality condition in the southern estuaries of Florida, USA.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Chapman, D. V. (1996). ‘Water quality assessments: a guide to the use of biota, sediments and water in environmental monitoring.’ (CRC Press: London.)

Chapra, S. C. (1997). ‘Surface water-quality modeling.’ (McGraw Hill Companies, Inc.: New York, USA.)

Chaves, H. M., and Alipaz, S. (2007). An integrated indicator based on basin hydrology, environment, life, and policy: the watershed sustainability index. Water Resources Management 21, 883–895.
An integrated indicator based on basin hydrology, environment, life, and policy: the watershed sustainability index.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Cole, T. M., and Wells, S. A. (2013). ‘CE-QUAL-W2: a two-dimensional, laterally averaged, hydrodynamic and water quality model, version 3.7.’ (Portland State University: Portland, OR, USA.)

Figueroa, M. E., and Kincaid, D. L. (2010). ‘Social, cultural and behavioral correlates of household water treatment and storage.’ Center Publication HCI 2010-1: Health Communication Insights. Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Center for Communication Programs, Baltimore, MD, USA.

Hassanizadeh, M., and Gray, W. G. (1979). General conservation equations for multi-phase systems: 2. Mass, momenta, energy, and entropy equations. Advances in Water Resources 2, 191–203.
General conservation equations for multi-phase systems: 2. Mass, momenta, energy, and entropy equations.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Heidarzadeh, N., and Nejad, O. M. (2017). Evaluating sedimentation effect on reservoirs water quality: a case study, Shahriyar reservoir. International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology 14, 2623–2636.
Evaluating sedimentation effect on reservoirs water quality: a case study, Shahriyar reservoir.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Hossain, S. Z., Al-Bastaki, N., Alnoaimi, A. M. A., Ezuber, H., Razzak, S. A., and Hossain, M. M. (2020). Mathematical modeling of temperature effect on algal growth for biodiesel application. In ‘Renewable Energy and Sustainable Buildings’. pp. 517–528. (Springer: Germany.)

IWRMC (Iran Water Resources Management Company) (2017). Available at http://dams.wrm.ir/ [verified 22 June 2017].

Karamouz, M., and Kerachian, R. (2018). ‘Water quality planning and management.’ (Amirkabir University of Technology: Tehran, Iran.)

Karr, J. R. (1991). Biological integrity: a long‐neglected aspect of water resource management. Ecological Applications 1, 66–84.
Biological integrity: a long‐neglected aspect of water resource management.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 27755684PubMed |

Ki, S. J., Park, J., Park, Y., Jeon, D. J., and Kim, J. H. (2016). Developing statistical models for estimating chlorophyll-a and total suspended solid levels at an estuarine reservoir with nutrient inputs from satellite observations. Desalination and Water Treatment 57, 27587–27600.

Kuo, J. T., Lung, W. S., Yang, C. P., Liu, W. C., Yang, M. D., and Tang, T. S. (2006). Eutrophication modelling of reservoirs in Taiwan. Environmental Modelling & Software 21, 829–844.
Eutrophication modelling of reservoirs in Taiwan.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Loucks, D. P., and van Beek, E. (2017). Water resource systems modeling: its role in planning and management. In ‘Water Resource Systems Planning and Management’. pp. 51–72. (Springer: Netherlands.)

Makinia, J., Wells, S. A., Crawford, D., and Kulbik, M. (1998). Application of mathematical modeling and computer simulation for solving water quality problems. In ‘Fourth International Symposium and Exhibition on Environmental Contamination in Central and Eastern Europe’. Warsaw, Poland.

Mateus, M., Vieira, R. S., Almeida, C., Silva, M., and Reis, F. (2018). ScoRE: a simple approach to select a water quality model. Water 10, 1811.
ScoRE: a simple approach to select a water quality model.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Mohseni, O., Stefan, H. G., and Erickson, T. R. (1998). A nonlinear regression model for weekly stream temperatures. Water Resources Research 34, 2685–2692.
A nonlinear regression model for weekly stream temperatures.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Nejad, O. M. (2014). Evaluation of the Use of Simple Mathematical Models for Predicting Water Quality in Reservoirs in Comparison with CE-QUAL-W2 Software. Masters thesis, Faculty of Engineering, Kharazmi University, Tehran, Iran.

Ongley, E. D. (1996). ‘Control of water pollution from agriculture. Vol. 55.’ (FAO: Rome, Italy.)

Rahimi-Movaghar, M., Mirbagheri, S. A., and Kerachian, R. (2019). Total dissolved solid and dissolved oxygen modeling, thermocline calculation and applying reservoir salinity reduction scenarios in Shahid Rajaee reservoir using CE-QUAL-W2. Water Supply 19, 424–433.
Total dissolved solid and dissolved oxygen modeling, thermocline calculation and applying reservoir salinity reduction scenarios in Shahid Rajaee reservoir using CE-QUAL-W2.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Sato, C., and Schnoor, J. L. (1991). Applications of three completely mixed compartment models to the long-term fate of dieldrin in a reservoir. Water Research 25, 621–631.
Applications of three completely mixed compartment models to the long-term fate of dieldrin in a reservoir.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Singh, K. P., Mohan, D., Sinha, S., and Dalwani, R. (2004). Impact assessment of treated/untreated wastewater toxicants discharged by sewage treatment plants on health, agricultural, and environmental quality in the wastewater disposal area. Chemosphere 55, 227–255.
Impact assessment of treated/untreated wastewater toxicants discharged by sewage treatment plants on health, agricultural, and environmental quality in the wastewater disposal area.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 14761695PubMed |

Streeter, H. W., and Phelps, E. B. (1925). ‘A study of the pollution and natural purification of the Ohio River.’ Public Health Bulletin No. 146. US Public Health Service.

Vesali, N. M. (2005). Two-dimensional numerical simulation of thermal and salinity stratification in Panzdah khordad dam reservoir. Masters thesis, Faculty of Engineering, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.

Wang, C., Bi, J., and Ambrose, R. B. (2015). Development and application of mathematical models to support total maximum daily load for the Taihu Lake’s influent rivers, China. Ecological Engineering 83, 258–267.
Development and application of mathematical models to support total maximum daily load for the Taihu Lake’s influent rivers, China.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Wells, S. A. (Ed.) (2020). ‘CE-QUAL-W2: A two-dimensional, laterally averaged, hydrodynamic and water quality model, version 4.2, user manual Part 1. Introduction.’ (Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Portland State University: Portland, OR, USA.)

White, J. D., Prochnow, S. J., Filstrup, C. T., Scott, J. T., Byars, B. W., and Zygo-Flynn, L. (2010). A combined watershed–water quality modeling analysis of the Lake Waco reservoir: I. Calibration and confirmation of predicted water quality. Lake and Reservoir Management 26, 147–158.
A combined watershed–water quality modeling analysis of the Lake Waco reservoir: I. Calibration and confirmation of predicted water quality.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Zhu, S., Du, X., and Luo, W. (2019). Incorporation of the simplified equilibrium temperature approach in a hydrodynamic and water quality model-CE-QUAL-W2. Water Science and Technology: Water Supply 19, 156–164.
Incorporation of the simplified equilibrium temperature approach in a hydrodynamic and water quality model-CE-QUAL-W2.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Ziemińska-Stolarska, A., and Skrzypski, J. (2012). Review of mathematical models of water quality. Ecological Chemistry and Engineering. S 19, 197–211.
Review of mathematical models of water quality.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Zimmerman, J. B., Mihelcic, J. R., and Smith, J. (2008). Global stressors on water quality and quantity. Environmental Science & Technology 42, 4247–4254.
Global stressors on water quality and quantity.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |