Hot,Salty Water: A Confluence of Issues in Managing Stormwater Runoff for Urban Streams

Research increasingly highlights cause and effect relationships between urbanization and stream conditions are complex and highly variable across physical and biological regions. Research also demonstrates stormwater runoff is a key causal agent in altering stream conditions in urban settings. More specifically, thermal pollution and high salt levels are two consequences of urbanization and subsequent runoff. This study describes a demonstration model populated with data from a high gradient headwaters stream. The model was designed to explain surface water‐groundwater dynamics related to salinity and thermal pollution. Modeled scenarios show long‐term additive impacts from salt application and suggest reducing flow rates, as stormwater management practices are typically designed to do, have the potential to greatly reduce salt concentrations and simultaneously reduce thermal pollution. This demonstration model offers planners and managers reason to be confident that stormwater management efforts can have positive impacts.     

Factors Influencing Prymnesium parvum Population Dynamics During Bloom Initiation: Results from In-lake Mesocosm Experiments1

Roelke, Daniel L., Leslie Schwierzke, Bryan W. Brooks, James P. Grover, Reagan M. Errera, Theodore W. Valenti, Jr., and James L. Pinckney, 2010. Factors Influencing Prymnesium parvum Population Dynamics During Bloom Initiation: Results from In-Lake Mesocosm Experiments. Journal of the American Water Resources Association (JAWRA) 46(1):76-91. DOI: 10.1111/j.1752-1688.2009.00392.x Abstract: The alga Prymnesium parvum forms large fish-killing blooms in many Texas lakes. In some of these lakes, however, P. parvum occurs but does not develop blooms. In this study, we investigated factors that may influence bloom initiation by conducting a series of in-lake experiments involving mixing of waters from Lake Whitney, which has a history of P. parvum blooms, with waters from Lake Waco where no blooms have occurred. In all experiments, the addition of Lake Waco waters resulted in a poorer performance of P. parvum. Various experimental treatments and field data show that differences in grazing, pathogens, nutrients, and salts between the two lakes were not likely factors that contributed to this observation. Industrial and agricultural contaminants, allelochemicals and algicidal chemicals were not measured as a part of this research. However, anthropogenic contaminants other than nutrients were not observed at levels exceeding water quality standards in Lake Waco in recent years. On the other hand, nuisance cyanobacteria are common in Lake Waco, where Microcystis sp. and Anabaena sp. were abundant during the initiation of our experiments, both taxa are known to produce chemicals with allelopathic properties. In addition, the emergent field of algal-heterotrophic bacteria interactions suggests that chemicals produced by heterotrophic bacteria should not be overlooked. Further research focusing on the chemical interactions between cyanobacteria and P. parvum, as well as the potential role of algicidal bacteria, in the initiation of P. parvum blooms is necessary, as it may be important to the management of these blooms.     

北方高盐景观水体氮磷时空分布特征及富营养化评价

为掌握北方高盐景观水体的水环境状况,选取天津市中新生态城3个景观水体(清净湖、蓟运河和蓟运河故道)为研究对象,于2013年12月—2014年11月对其进行定期取样监测,开展水体氮磷污染特征分析及富营养化评价。结果表明:1)蓟运河、清净湖和蓟运河故道的TDS均值分别为3.42,4.64,20.2 g/L,属于高盐景观水体;2)水体TN和TP浓度逐月变化显著,水质整体上冬春季优于夏秋季,其中蓟运河TP和TN的浓度最大,且波动较大;3)根据TN/TP比值判定,研究区水体除清净湖在短时间表现为氮限制外,水体大部分时间段内表现为磷限制,P为主要限制因子;4)富营养化评价表明:水体均处于富营养状态,且有蓟运河蓟运河故道清净湖;5)相关性结果表明:TDS与电导率、水温及EI呈显著正相关,相关系数分别为0.905、0.822和0.645,盐度也是影响富营养化的关键因素。     

Ti/SnO_2-Sb阳极-空气阴极电催化降解染料废水

为解决电化学法处理高盐染料废水存在的能耗大、成本高等问题,分别采用溶胶-凝胶法和辊压法制备Ti/SnO_2-Sb阳极和空气阴极,构建了Ti/SnO_2-Sb阳极-空气阴极双极体系(TSSA-ADC)。甲基橙(MO)作为高盐染料废水的典型污染物,考察了电流强度、MO浓度、电解液浓度和初始p H对TSSA-ADC体系和TSSA单阳极体系降解MO的影响。结果表明:与TSSA单阳极体系相比,TSSA-ADC体系具有更好的抗有机负荷冲击、抗盐分冲击、抗酸碱波动能力,能够维护酸碱平衡防止硬度离子结垢。最佳反应条件为电流强度为0.030 A,电解液浓度为3%,MO浓度为100 mg/L,初始pH=6。以MO去除率达到98%为基准,TSSA-ADC体系比TSSA体系可节能74.26%。     

模型模拟土壤性质和植被种类对再生水灌溉水盐运移的影响

为推动再生水安全灌溉,本研究运用ENVIRO-GRO模型模拟了不同土壤性质、植被条件下土壤盐分的分布规律及累积趋势,探讨了土壤性质和植被种类对再生水灌溉水盐运移的影响.研究发现,不同土壤初始含盐量下,经多年重复模拟后最终达到统一的平衡状态;而不同土壤质地下,随着灌溉年份的增加,壤土、黏壤土中的土壤ECe年均值逐渐增加直到平衡,砂壤土中的土壤ECe年均值逐渐减少直到平衡,平衡时土层中的ECe值砂壤土〈壤土〈黏壤土.3种植被下,大叶黄杨、油松的土壤ECe值增加量小于早熟禾;土壤盐分在土层中的空间、时间分布也均有所不同.此外,不同模拟情景下,土壤盐分累积都不会影响植被的生长（黏壤土除外）,但均出现轻度盐渍化（砂壤土除外）.     

模型模拟再生水灌溉对土壤水盐运动的影响

随着水资源供需矛盾日益尖锐,污水再生利用成为了缓解北京水资源紧缺的重要举措.为推动北京再生水安全灌溉,本研究运用ENVIRO-GRO模型模拟缺水城市北京再生水灌溉土壤水盐运动规律,并对土壤盐分累积进行预测,探讨了不同灌溉措施对土壤水盐运动规律和盐分累积的影响.结果表明,高水量、常规、低水量灌溉,平衡时土壤含盐量（ECe）年均值分别增加了29.5%、97.2%、197.8%;灌溉频率对土壤水盐运动规律影响不大,但低频灌溉下土壤中盐分的累积有减少的趋势;灌溉水含盐量（ECw）为0.6、1.2、2.4 dS.m-1灌溉条件下,平衡时ECe的年均值分别增加了23.7%、97.2%、208.5%,自来水灌溉下土壤盐分虽有增加,但土壤未出现盐渍化.总的来说,目前北京常规再生水灌溉,平衡时土壤盐分累积不会影响早熟禾的生长,但土壤会出现轻度盐渍化.     

人工湿地净化海水养殖外排水影响因素与效果实验研究

以海水养殖外排水为处理对象,构建芦苇复合垂直流人工湿地模拟系统进行处理效果的影响因素(盐度,水力负荷,污染负荷)实验。植物选择芦苇,种植密度为48株/m2,基质填料选择细纱、蛭石、高炉矿渣、沸石和砾石。实验结果显示,随着盐度的升高,人工湿地对CODMn和NH4-N的去除率差异不显著(P>0.05),对PO4-P的去除率在逐渐降低,变化显著(P<0.05),但芦苇表现出较强的耐盐性,在盐度20时生长良好。随着水力负荷的增加,人工湿地对CODMn、NH4-N和PO4-P的去除率呈现出降低的趋势,变化显著(P<0.05);而当污染负荷增加时,去除率呈现出先增加后降低的趋势。综合考虑运行合理性及运行效果,得出合理工况为盐度20,水力负荷0.4 m3/(m2.d),污染负荷CODMn 10 mg/L,NH4-N 2 mg/L,PO4-P 0.5 mg/L。在此工况下,系统稳定运行2个月,显示人工湿地对海水养殖外排水中的污染物具有较好的去除效果。     

SBR工艺处理高盐有机废水的试验研究

采用SBR工艺分别研究了不同盐度驯化下的活性污泥的生物相和结构,及对COD、NH4＋-N、TP的去除率。结果表明,随着盐度的升高,活性污泥的微生物种类减少,结构变得紧密细小;盐度在1.5%范围内,SBR工艺对COD、NH4＋-N的去除率均达到90%以上;盐度为1%时,TP的去除率为76%。     

The continuing conundrum of the LEA proteins

Research into late embryogenesis abundant (LEA) proteins has been ongoing for more than 20 years but, although there is a strong association of LEA proteins with abiotic stress tolerance particularly dehydration and cold stress, for most of that time, their function has been entirely obscure. After their initial discovery in plant seeds, three major groups (numbered 1, 2 and 3) of LEA proteins have been described in a range of different plants and plant tissues. Homologues of groups 1 and 3 proteins have also been found in bacteria and in certain invertebrates. In this review, we present some new data, survey the biochemistry, biophysics and bioinformatics of the LEA proteins and highlight several possible functions. These include roles as antioxidants and as membrane and protein stabilisers during water stress, either by direct interaction or by acting as molecular shields. Along with other hydrophilic proteins and compatible solutes, LEA proteins might also serve as “space fillers” to prevent cellular collapse at low water activities. This multifunctional capacity of the LEA proteins is probably attributable in part to their structural plasticity, as they are largely lacking in secondary structure in the fully hydrated state, but can become more folded during water stress and/or through association with membrane surfaces. The challenge now facing researchers investigating these enigmatic proteins is to make sense of the various in vitro defined functions in the living cell: Are the LEA proteins truly multi-talented, or are they still just misunderstood?