Water quality of arctic rivers in Finnish Lapland

The water quality monitoring data of eight rivers situated in the Finnish Lapland above the Arctic Circle were investigated. These rivers are icebound annually for about 200 days. They belong to the International River Basin District founded according to the European Union Water Framework Directive and shared with Norway. They are part of the European river monitoring network that includes some 3,400 river sites. The water quality monitoring datasets available varied between the rivers, the longest comprising the period 1975–2003 and the shortest 1989–2003. For each river, annual medians of eight water quality variables were calculated. In addition, medians and fifth and 95th percentiles were calculated for the whole observation periods. The medians indicated good river water quality in comparison to other national or foreign rivers. However, the river water quality oscillated widely. Some rivers were in practice in pristine state, whereas some showed slight human impacts, e.g., occasional high values of hygienic indicator bacteria.     

Qualitative evaluation of Kanhan river and its tributaries flowing over central Indian plateau

Water quality evaluation of Kanhan river and its tributaries viz. Pench and Nag rivers was carried out in order to assess the qualitative changes and possibility of point and non-point pollution loads in these rivers for the post monsoon and summer seasons. pH, turbidity, conductivity, total alkalinity and total hardness were found in the range 7.18.7, 0.835 (NTU), 227970 (microScm(-1)), 7.18.7, 158486 (mg/L) and 142246 (mg/L), respectively. Ca, Mg, Na and K were in the range 2462, 1328, 15183 and 333 mg/L, respectively. The respective ranges of Cl, SO(4), NO(3) and PO(4) were observed between 19102, 823, 332 and 0.11.4 mg/L. DO and COD in the rivers ranged between nil to 8.5 and 7172 mg/L, respectively. Absence of DO and higher COD in Nag river is due to its sewage content from Nagpur city. Nag river showed higher bacterial counts than Kanhan and Pench rivers. The temporal and spatial variability in the river water quality may be attributed to catchment characteristics, agricultural and urban activities in catchment and on the bank of the river. The values of RSC, ESP and SAR indicated that the water of Kanhan and Pench rivers are suitable, whereas that of Nag river is unsuitable for irrigation purpose.     

Evaluating climatic and non-climatic stresses for declining surface water quality in Bagmati River of Nepal

Both climatic and non-climatic factors affect surface water quality. Similar to its effect across various sectors and areas, climate change has potential to affect surface water quality directly and indirectly. On the one hand, the rise in temperature enhances the microbial activity and decomposition of organic matter in the river system and changes in rainfall alter discharge and water flow in the river ultimately affecting pollution dilution level. On the other hand, the disposal of organic waste and channelizing municipal sewage into the rivers seriously worsen water quality. This study attempts to relate hydro-climatology, water quality, and impact of climatic and non-climatic stresses in affecting river water quality in the upper Bagmati basin in Central Nepal. The results showed that the key water quality indicators such as dissolved oxygen and chemical oxygen demand are getting worse in recent years. No significant relationships were found between the key water quality indicators and changes in key climatic variables. However, the water quality indicators correlated with the increase in urban population and per capita waste production in the city. The findings of this study indicate that dealing with non-climatic stressors such as reducing direct disposal of sewerage and other wastes in the river rather than emphasizing on working with the effects from climate change would largely help to improve water quality in the river flowing from highly populated urban areas.     

River habitat monitoring and assessment in Germany

Whereas assessing the biological and chemical quality of water is a standard environmental procedure in many countries, the use of habitat survey methods that assess the ecomorphological quality of rivers is relatively new. In Europe, the EC Water Framework Directive requires such assessment from all EU Member States. In Germany, the first river habitat assessments were introduced in the late 1990 s. Each federal state develops its own river habitat map using the 'On-site Survey' and/or the 'Overview Survey'. The assessment describes the difference of the actual condition from a previously defined reference condition. In practice, a defined 'potential for restoration', a more realistic condition, makes restoration activities much easier and more successful. In Germany, the first River Habitat Map 2001 was published in 2002. The survey covered 33,000 km of river length, which equates to 10% of all rivers. A wide range from 'Undisturbed' (class 1) to 'Totally Disturbed' (class 7) river units exists; 77% of them are 'Clearly Disturbed' (class 4) or in worse condition. These result reflects extensive anthropogenic impact on the environment in general, but also past intense technical river 'improvements' that focused on the protection of settlements and traffic routes from flooding, better shipping conditions, the use of water power, and drainage of floodplains for agriculture and urban development. For comparability of survey results between EU Member States, a harmonization of national survey methods is in progress. A crucial point here is the definition of the reference condition for each river (near-natural conditions), since it influences the survey results.     

Public perceptions of air quality and quality of life in urban and suburban areas of London

A comparative study was undertaken at two different sites (one urban, one suburban) in Greater London in order to examine whether there was a relationship between publicly available air quality data and the public's perception of air quality. Perceptions of air quality and its role as a potential quality of life indicator was also investigated. A total of 200 people were interviewed in Wood Green and Wimbledon in 1999 and air quality data were obtained simultaneously from the nearest appropriate monitoring station. The study has enabled a comparison between the public's perception of air quality and the actual monitored concentration values. The survey results reveal how seriously the public regards air pollution from road traffic in terms of their quality of life and identifies the attitudes of the public to nuisance from road traffic. The results reveal that the public's perception of air quality is not a reliable indicator of the actual levels of air pollution in their area. The results also revealed that air pollution issues generated as a result of road traffic are of high importance in terms of people's quality of life when compared to other aspects of their quality of life. The study revealed that residents in the urban area (Wood Green) were more disturbed by road traffic than residents in the suburban area (Wimbledon). Out of all the disturbances listed, it was found that residents were more disturbed by vehicle-derived fumes, dust and dirt than other aspects of road traffic related nuisance. The TELETEXT/CEEFAX service on air quality was little used by the public as a means of obtaining information on air pollution.     

太湖主要入湖河流排污控制量研究

利用2006—2008年的监测数据对太湖主要入湖河流的水环境状况进行了分析,通过对研究区工业污染源、农业污染源和城镇生活污水排污的分布以及入河情况的调查,对各种污染源的入河量进行了计算,根据确定的水质目标,分别计算出主要入湖河流以及区域水系的水环境容量和排污控制量。结果表明:15条主要入湖河流超标现象显著,近3a来污染程度有所波动,N、P污染最为严重。研究区内污染物入河量较大,未接管的生活源污染物入河量所占比重最大,各类污染物均在50%～60%之间;张家港市的污染物入河量最大,各类污染物所占比重达总入河量的18%～20%。研究区内河网密布,水环境容量分布不均匀,望虞河、直湖港、武进港等7条河流水环境容量较大,张家港市区域水环境容量较大。为保证水质达标,研究区内近期共须削减CODCr66554.38t/a、NH4-N8105.71t/a、TP1324.42t/a;远期共须削减CODCr96719.08t/a、NH4-N11541.45t/a、TP1788.71t/a。     

杭州市钱塘江干支流水质多元统计分析

运用多元统计方法分析了杭州市钱塘江干支流上26个断面的水质监测指标。利用系统聚类分析方法将断面所在河流分为3组,与钱塘江流域污染空间分布现状基本一致。对各组水质的主成分分析表明,第1组河流水质以有机污染为主,水体中氮、磷营养盐浓度较高,水体污染程度较轻,污染来源相对单一;第2组河流水体受有机物、重金属、石油类等多个污染指标的影响,水体水质较第1组差,污染来源相对复杂;第3组河流水体既有一般有机污染,也有重金属、有毒有害物质的污染,水体水质污染严重。     

南宁市城市内河黑臭分级综合评价研究

为有效避免南宁市城市内河水质出现仅透明度超标导致黑臭等级误判的情况,通过相关性分析、方差分析和多重对应分析确定评价指标和临界值,建立基于综合水质指数法的城市内河黑臭分级评价方法。结果表明:以溶解氧、氨氮、总磷和化学需氧量为黑臭分级评价指标,水体轻度黑臭和重度黑臭综合水质指数临界值分别为6.3和8.5。该评价方法结果符合实际情况,且能反映水质的时空变化情况。     

Assessment of heavy metals and their interrelationships with some physicochemical parameters in eco-efficient rivers of Himalayan region

Most precious and world famed Himalayan rivers like Ganga, Yamuna, and their tributaries are originated from Uttarakhand state of India. Over the years, increased industrial activities and urban growth along the rivers and lakes have resulted in increased load over the water bodies. In the present study, a comparison of characteristics of water quality with respect to heavy metals (Fe, Zn, Cu, and Pb) and their interrelationships with some physiological parameters during different seasons of year 2010 has been made in the water bodies flowing through the two geographical regions, namely Garhwal and Kumaon regions of the Himalayan State of India. All observed values of Pb, 02 observation of the Cu, and 59 observations of Fe are found exceed with the WHO standard for drinking water; 83 observations of Pb, 110 observations of Cu, and 59 observations of Fe are found exceed with the Bureau of Indian Standards. However, none of the observation of Zn is found exceeding with the standard limit. Cu shows the highest concentration 7.30 mg/l among all observations and also its higher concentration in Kumaon rivers. All the metals show negative correlation with dissolved oxygen and pH. Fe in river Yamuna system and Zn in Kumaon rivers show significant temporal variations at 90 % level of significance (LOS). However, no significant temporal difference of remaining metals is observed even at 95 % LOS. All metals except Fe in river Yamuna system show very significant variation in spatial distribution in different river systems at 95 % LOS.     

城市河流水质参数空间变异性研究——以苏南某市为例

基于现场的采样数据,结合河流自身特点,应用地质统计学的理论和方法分析了苏南某城市河流水质参数的空间变异规律及其原因。研究结果表明,根据变差函数模型分析,发现研究区河流3个水质参数在一定范围内存在空间相关性;研究区河流的CODMn呈现中南部较高,其他部位相对均匀的趋势,CODMn的空间变异性主要是由居民的日常活动及河道的自身特点引起;研究区河流的TP和NH3-N含量严重超标,水体富营养化程度严重。TP和NH3-N的空间变异性相似,含量较高区域集中在研究区的西南部、东南部和东北部,其空间变异性主要由工业活动和居民日常生活共同作用引起,其中工业活动占主导作用。     

深圳市河流水质评价指标筛选方案探讨

通过计算各条河流的综合污染指数和各项水质指标的污染分担率,对深圳市8条主要河流1999—2008年水质监测数据进行分析,最终从15项常规水质指标中筛选出氨氮、总磷、生化需氧量、化学需氧量、高锰酸盐指数、石油类、挥发酚、硫化物和六价铬9项指标,建议作为深圳市河流水质评价的统一指标。     

Biological monitoring of a pulp and paper mill wastewater

The physico-chemical testing required under the E.P.A. licence enables one to gauge the chemical effects of the APM wastewater on the Latrobe River, but it tells us nothing about likely effects on the aquatic biota. The APM bio-monitoring programme was instigated to provide evidence of any effects of wastewater discharges on the rivers biota. To date the programme has shown no adverse impact downstream. The laboratory bioassays on fish and algae have recently given way to the river fauna surveys as the regular monitor of wastewater quality. It is intended to continue with regular river surveys using the river's residents as indicators of water quality and future surveys will investigate reasons for the presently obscure variation in macro-invertebrate populations.     

Chemical monitoring of river water bodies in an EU outermost region: examples from the Azores archipelago (Portugal)

Chemical monitoring of water quality on a total of 16 rivers in the Azores archipelago (Portugal), since 2003, made it possible to identify the major pressures and spatial geochemical variations along main course of the rivers. River water pollution is to a large extent associated to point sources, namely domestic wastewater discharges, especially in urban areas, and diffuse sources, associated with pasture land, and explain the high values on BOD(5) and nutrients (P and N). Heavy metals and metalloids, as well as hydrocarbons and pesticides, are generally under the detection limits of the analytical methods. Generally, river water reflects pollution loads according to a simple model, derived from land use in the watershed: in the upper part conditions are pristine, in the intermediate portion of the basin pasture land dominates and near the coast urban discharges are increasingly important. Results stress the role that an approach based on the watershed scale, coupled with land use management measures, are crucial to water management procedures and a successful WFD implementation in small river basin districts like the Azores. The paper also shows the need for full compliance regarding EU directives on urban wastewater and nitrate pollution due to agriculture.     

Short-term accumulative signatures of heavy metals in river bed sediments in the industrial area, Tehran, Iran

In modern civilization, numerous anthropogenic activities release a variety of pollutants into the environment and with anomalous enrichment of heavy metals it causes surface and subsurface contamination. The aquatic sediments provide pertinent tools for the quality assessment of urban and industrial environments in large cities. The present study reveals short-term accumulative trends of heavy metals (Co, Cd, and Pb) in the sand and silt dominated riverbed sediments from Chitgar industrial area (Tehran, Iran) between the period of May 2007 and May 2008. Lead demonstrates highest concentration in residential areas, cadmium in and around industrial areas, whereas cobalt shows least variability. Geo-accumulation index implies moderately to highly polluted sediments with respect to Cd and Pb. With few exceptions, all three metals at different sampling stations display short-term increasing trends, independent of seasonal variability with urban and industrial distends along the river being the chief sources of contamination.     

Factors affecting river health and its assessment over broad geographic ranges: the Western Australian experience

AusRivAS is an Australia-wide program that measures river condition using predictive models to compare the macroinvertebrate families occurring at a river site with those expected if the site were in natural condition. Results of assessment of 685 sites across all major rivers in Western Australia are presented. Most rivers were in relatively natural condition in the northern half of the state where the human population is low and pastoralism is the major land use. In the south, where the human population is higher and agriculture is more intensive, rivers were mostly more disturbed. AusRivAS assessment produced some erroneous results in rivers of the south-west cropping zone because of the lack of appropriate reference site groups and biased distribution of sampling sites. Collecting low numbers of animals from many forested streams, because of low stream productivity and samples that were difficult to sort, also affected assessments. Overall, however, AusRivAs assessment identified catchment processes that were inimical to river health. These processes included salinisation, high nutrient and organic loads, erosion and loss of riparian vegetation. River regulation, channel modification and fire were also associated with river degradation. As is the case with other assessment methods, one-off sampling at individual sites using AusRivAS may be misleading. Seasonal drought, in particular, may make it difficult to relate conditions at the time of sampling to longer-term river health. AusRivAS has shown river condition in Western Australia is not markedly different from other parts of Australia which, as a whole, lacks the substantial segments of severely degraded river systems reported in England.     

Assessing the health of an urban stream: a case study of Suzhou Creek in Shanghai, China

Restoration of urban streams and rivers has increased rapidly in developing countries in recent years. Estimating river health provides a new perspective on evaluating the ecological conditions of streams and rivers. The Suzhou Creek restoration project in Shanghai, China is a milestone for environmental protection. Based on the environmental and ecological data, including 17 indicators in five categories, collected from March 11 to April 20, 2007, the river health index (RHI) for Suzhou Creek was constructed and analysed to quantify the ecosystem of this urban river after a restoration project. The RHI scores of 34 sites ranged from 19.24 to 33.36, i.e. from poor to good. There were no significant RHI differences among stream orders, while differences in land use resulted in significant differences in channel flow status (B12), channel alteration (B21), channel sinuosity (B22), bank stability (B23), bank profile type (B25) and riparian vegetative zone width (B31). River restoration led to improved hydrological condition and channel physical form, while ammonia nitrogen (B44) and indicator scores of the presence of macro-invertebrate families (B51) were the lowest of any indicator. This case study supports the use of river health assessment as a supplement to water quality analysis in China.     

改进模糊综合评价和主颜色提取模型对河道黑臭独立评价

为实现水体黑度和臭度的独立评价,以四川省11个市17条黑臭或曾黑臭的河道为研究对象,利用相关性分析法、主成分分析法,提取出影响河道水体黑度和臭度的特征因子,采用改进模糊综合评价法和基于K-均值聚类的主颜色提取法搭建出黑臭程度独立评价模型。结果表明：影响河道水体发黑的特征因子是总铁、COD和DO;影响河道水体发臭的特征因子是COD、NH₃-N、TP和DO;改进模糊综合评价和主颜色提取模型对河道黑度和臭度的独立评价与实测值误差基本在一个等级以内的准确率为85.7%。河道的黑臭程度独立评价模型的确定能够实现对城市河道水质更为客观与快速的评价,为黑臭水体针对性治理与水质提升提供理论依据。     

The influence of the methods of measuring odours nuisance on the quality of life

Quality of life in urban space has become an increasingly common problem arising from cooperation between various stakeholders, especially in the context of increasing odour nuisance. That is why it is extremely important to know and shape the expectations and perceptions of residents regarding quality of life by accepting the place of residence, especially in the context of the development of cities and urban areas.The analysis of the previous research has revealed a research gap that results from the imperfections of existing odour measurement methods and the lack of an objective measurement methodology that would allow for objectification of the subjective feelings of people to the extent of perception of unpleasant odours.The purpose of this article is to verify the hypothesis about the possibility of objectifying the assessment of odour nuisance based on the comparison of quantitative research results based on the opinions of residents and sensory tests. The specific objective is to verify residents' assessments of odour nuisance by an expert team and identify a gap in those assessments.The analysis of discrepancies gives the opportunity to identify the imperfections of various research methods and look for ways to improve them. The analysis of compliance of results, on the other hand, gives the opportunity to objectify measurements and build a methodology that may be used for the purpose of assessing odour nuisance by various stakeholders.Systematic measurement of odours in a public space may serve the basis for resolving local conflicts, creating maps of odour nuisance, assessing the attractiveness of places to live, work, spending free time and tourist value, as well as conscious actions of public authorities in shaping local policies in a specific area.     

南通市区河流底泥营养物质污染特征及环境风险分析

以南通市区的学田河、南川河、法伦寺河、城山河及西山河为研究对象,测定了河流表层底泥中的有机质、总氮、氨氮、硝氮、总磷、无机磷及活性有机磷等营养物质指标,分析了污染最重的监测点的污染原因。此外,采用有机指数法、营养物质比值法进行了环境风险评价。得出各条河流底泥均为肥污染级,尤其污染最重的是西山河;各研究河流底泥的碳氮比都很高,说明其营养物质主要来源于周围环境;学田河和西山河底泥的氮磷比较高,说明它们的富营养化程度相对较高。通过回归分析,得出学田河、南川河、法伦寺河及城山河底泥中有机质与总氮及南川河有机质与总磷之间具有良好的线性相关性。     

Evaluating Quality of Life, Economic Vulnerabilities, and Drivers of Ecosystem Change

We examined regional conditions and trends related to quality of life and potential vulnerabilities of these factors to changes in the condition of natural resources in the Mid-Atlantic Region, USA. We selected a variety of variables on economic and socio-demographic conditions that demonstrate links between the condition of natural areas and human concerns and that quantify dependencies on resources. We extracted data from economic and population census databases for counties within the study area and present a subset of results of the cluster analyses used to describe condition and potential risks due to distinct combinations of variables. We found that the same variables used to judge quality of life were often correlated with increasing population and thus were likely to be related to land pressures and risks to natural resources. Within the region, economic dependence on resource-harvesting industries such as forestry and fisheries was low (less than 4% of total earnings at most), however, the potential for natural amenities to attract residents appeared to be growing as the self-employed and otherwise mobile people settled in areas with affordable housing and natural amenities. Suburban residential spread had been occurring in both the close-in and distant suburbs of the region's urban areas and some rural, growth appeared to be driven, in part, by businesses migrating to suburbs. Further work is needed to tease apart causal factors for the trends we observed, but correlations clearly existed in some areas between increasing populations and quality of natural surroundings.