Nonpoint source pollution: a distributed water quality modeling approach.

A distributed water quality model for nonpoint source pollution modeling in agricultural watersheds is described in this paper. A water quality component was developed for WATFLOOD (a flood forecast hydrological model) to deal with sediment and nutrient transport. The model uses a distributed group response unit approach for water quantity and quality modeling. Runoff, sediment yield and soluble nutrient concentrations are calculated separately for each land cover class, weighted by area and then routed downstream. With data extracted using Geographical Information Systems (GIS) technology for a local watershed, the model is calibrated for the hydrologic response and validated for the water quality component. The transferability of model parameters to other watersheds, especially those in remote areas without enough data for calibration, is a major problem in diffuse modeling. With the connection to GIS and the group response unit approach used in this paper, model portability increases substantially, which will improve nonpoint source modeling at the watershed-scale level.

Experimental determination of the kinetic rate law for the oxidation of perchloroethylene by potassium permanganate.

Flushing soils contaminated with trichloroethylene (TCE) and perchloroethylene (PCE) with a permanganate (MnO4-) solution has been shown to reduce the solvent content of the soil. Experiments were performed to quantify the rate at which KMnO4 oxidizes aqueous solutions of PCE over a range of concentrations. In a series of homogeneous reactors, aqueous phase PCE concentrations were monitored over time in nine experimental trials with excess oxidant concentrations ranging from 5 to 30 g/l. Analysis of the data was performed to quantify the oxidation reaction order with respect to PCE and KMnO4 and the reaction rate constant. The reaction between PCE and KMnO4 was determined to be first-order with respect to both PCE and KMnO4 with an overall specific reaction rate coefficient of 2.45+/-0.65 M(-1) min(-1).

Modeling diffuse pollution with a distributed approach.

The transferability of parameters for non-point source pollution models to other watersheds, especially those in remote areas without enough data for calibration, is a major problem in diffuse pollution modeling. A water quality component was developed for WATFLOOD (a flood forecast hydrological model) to deal with sediment and nutrient transport. The model uses a distributed group response unit approach for water quantity and quality modeling. Runoff, sediment yield and soluble nutrient concentrations are calculated separately for each land cover class, weighted by area and then routed downstream. The distributed approach for the water quality model for diffuse pollution in agricultural watersheds is described in this paper. Integrating the model with data extracted using GIS technology (Geographical Information Systems) for a local watershed, the model is calibrated for the hydrologic response and validated for the water quality component. With the connection to GIS and the group response unit approach used in this paper, model portability increases substantially, which will improve non-point source modeling at the watershed scale level.