Water Environmental Degradation of the Heihe River Basin in Arid Northwestern China

Water environmental degradation is a major issue in the Heihe River Basin belonging to the inland river basin of temperate arid zone in northwestern China. Mankind’s activities, such as dense population and heavy dependence on irrigated agriculture, place immense pressure on available and limited water resources during the last century, especially the recent five decades. An investigation on the water environmental degradation in the Heihe River Basin and analysis of its causation were conducted. The results indicated that water environmental changes in the whole basin were tremendous mostly in the middle reaches, which reflected in surface water runoff change, decline of groundwater table and degeneration of surface water and groundwater quality. Some new forms of management based on traditional and scientific knowledge must be introduced to solve problems of water environmental degradation in the Heihe River Basin.     

雨水口径流流量计量方法的研究及应用

针对雨水口及其他跌落水流的流量测量问题,提出一种基于动量变化率而测定来流冲击力的计量流量的方法。具体步骤是通过力传感装置和称重变送器将下落水流冲击力转化为电压信号,依据率定实验过程中电压值的变化,最终换算成雨水口径流流量。结果表明,应用该计量方法进行雨水口流量测量,其获得的流量精度较高,适应雨水口的流量变化,是一种计量雨水口流量的有效方法。     

Integrating Temporal Inequality into Conservation Planning to Improve Practice Design and Efficacy

In contrast to spatial inequality, there are currently no methods for leveraging information on temporal inequality to improve conservation efficacy. The objective of this study was to use Lorenz curves to quantify temporal inequality in surface runoff and tile drainage, identify controls on nutrient loading in these flowpaths, and develop design flows for structural conservation practices. Surface runoff (n = 94 site‐years) and tile drainage (n = 90 site‐years) were monitored on 40 fields in Ohio. Results showed, on average, 80% of nitrate‐nitrogen, soluble reactive phosphorus (P), and total P loads occurred between 7 and 12 days per year in surface runoff and between 32 and 58 days per year in tile drainage. Similar temporal inequality between discharge and load provided evidence that loading was transport‐limited and highlighted the critical role hydrologic connectivity plays in nutrient delivery from tile‐drained fields. Design flow criterion for sizing structural practices based on load reduction goals was developed by combining Lorenz curves and flow duration curves. Comparing temporal inequality between fields and the Maumee River, the largest tributary to the western Lake Erie Basin, revealed challenges associated with achieving watershed load reduction goals with field‐scale conservation. In‐field (i.e., improved nutrient and water management), edge‐of‐field (i.e., structural practices), and instream practices will all be required to meet nutrient reduction goals from tile‐drained watersheds.     

Modeling time-dependent toxicity to aquatic organisms from pulsed exposure of PAHs in urban road runoff

Understanding of the magnitude of urban runoff toxicity to aquatic organisms is important for effective management of runoff quality. In this paper, the aquatic toxicity of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in urban road runoff was evaluated through a damage assessment model. Mortality probability of the organisms representative in aquatic environment was calculated using the monitored PAHs concentration in road runoff. The result showed that the toxicity of runoff in spring was higher than those in summer. Analysis of the time-dependent toxicity of series of runoff water samples illustrated that the toxicity of runoff water in the final phase of a runoff event may be as high as those in the initial phase. Therefore, the storm runoff treatment systems or strategies designed for capture and treatment of the initial portion of runoff may be inappropriate for control of runoff toxicity.     

Sewage fluxes and seasonal dynamics of physicochemical characteristics of the Bhagirathi-Hooghly River from the lower stretch of River Ganges,India

ABSTRACT

To understand the temporal variations of the physicochemical characteristics of the Bhagirathi-Hooghly River (BHR), three locations representing three districts of West Bengal were selected. The material fluxes from 34 drains during pre-monsoon season was quantified. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed that no significant spatial variations were observed for the physicochemical parameters, whereas seasonal variations were significant. The mean discharge was found to be highest (247.2?×?10³?m³?d^?1) in the midstream drains. Highest mean concentrations of dissolved oxygen (DO) (7.35?mg?L^?1) and nitrate (0.81?mg?L ^?1) were observed during the post-monsoon season followed by the monsoon and pre-monsoon. According to the BIS, WHO and the European standard of water quality (pH, 6.5–8.5; Nitrate, 0–2.5?mg?L^?1;DO, ≥5?mg?L^?1), the results of the respective parameters revealed the BHR system is maintained at high to good water quality, meaning that the BHR system is slightly altered from its pristine environment. The mean concentrations of biological and chemical oxygen demands were found to be high during the monsoon season, revealing that a large quantity of refractory organic matter is transported to the eastern Bay of Bengal from the Ganges.     

Dissolved Organic Carbon and Estrogen Transport in Surface Runoff From Agricultural Land Receiving Poultry Litter1

Dutta, Sudarshan, Shreeram Inamdar, Jerry Tso, Diana S. Aga, and J. Tom Sims, 2012. Dissolved Organic Carbon and Estrogen Transport in Surface Runoff from Agricultural Land Receiving Poultry Litter. Journal of the American Water Resources Association (JAWRA) 48(3): 558-569. DOI: 10.1111/j.1752-1688.2011.00634.x Abstract: Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) provides a reactive substrate for the transport of organic contaminants with runoff. Very few studies have investigated the export of DOC from agricultural land, especially those receiving manure applications. We investigated exports of DOC in surface runoff from agricultural fields receiving various treatments of poultry litter (raw vs. pelletized). In addition, we also investigated how estrogens in runoff were associated with DOC. Different forms of estrogens studied were: estrone, 17β-estradiol, estriol, and their conjugates. Experimental agricultural plots were 12 m × 5 m long and had reduced tillage and no-till management practices. The aromatic content of DOC was characterized using specific ultraviolet absorbance (SUVA). Flow-weighted concentrations of DOC and SUVA in surface runoff from plots with poultry litter were significantly (p ≤ 0.10) greater than the control (no litter) plots. Compared to pelletized poultry litter, reduced-tillage plots with raw litter yielded higher DOC concentrations and SUVA values. No significant differences (p ≥ 0.10) in DOC and SUVA were observed between litter treatments for plots with no-till. Total estrogen concentrations (including all forms) were positively and significantly (p ≤ 0.10) correlated with DOC. These results can help select and guide agricultural management practices that can reduce the exports of DOC and associated contaminant from agricultural land receiving manure applications.     

黄土高原雨养农业区雨水集蓄应用研究

经过对坡度为5°和15°,集水面分别是塑料、水泥、三合土、夯实土和自然土等5种表面的车道型雨水径流试验研究结果表明,径流系数与降雨强度和坡度均有一定的关系;塑料、水泥面的平均径流系数为72％～77％,三合土、夯实土、自然土的平均径流系数为5％～18％。根据计算和试验结果,进行了垄膜沟植雨水集蓄试验研究,表明增产效果比较明显。根据设计降雨量、平均径流系数和小麦生育期需水量,估算了西峰、环县和天水等代表站集水面与耕种面积之比,其值在0.5～0.8之间。     

城市雨水径流污染物变化规律及处理方法研究

研究了武汉市交通干道、居民区和山林雨水径流水质随降雨历时、降雨时间间隔、降雨强度等的变化规律,认为应对其中的主要污染物(COD、SS等)采取措施进行处理。并探讨了自然沉降和化学混凝等处理城市雨水径流的方法及其效果。     

新疆和田河流域河川径流时序特征分析

根据新疆和田河流域3个测站的多年实测径流资料,从径流的年内分配和年际变化2个方面分析了和田河流域河川径流的变化特征。计算结果表明,在年内分配方面,由于径流补给来源的作用,流域径流绝大部分集中在夏季,这就使得径流年内分配不均匀系数和集中度普遍较高,而计算所得的集中期也与实测最大月径流出现的情况相吻合。在径流的年际变化方面,尽管和田河流域的年降雨量存在递增的趋势,但是由于源区高山的雪线高程上升、冰川退缩,再加上人类活动的影响越来越显著,从而导致流域的河川径流呈现微弱的下降趋势。经过周期图法分析得到,和田河流域的年径流量不存在明显的周期成分。     

INPUTS OF COPPER‐BASED CROP PROTECTANTS TO COASTAL CREEKS FROM PASTICULTURE RUNOFF1

ABSTRACT: Inputs of copper‐based crop protectants from tomato fields grown under plastic mulch agriculture (plasticulture) to an estuarine creek were investigated. Copper was measured in runoff from diverse land‐uses including conventional agriculture, plasticulture, residences, and natural areas. Water column and sediment copper concentrations were measured in plasticulture and control (nonagriculture) watersheds. Copper concentrations in plasticulture‐impacted creeks exceeded background levels episodically. High concentrations occurred during or immediately after runoff‐producing rains. Concentrations of 263 μg/L total copper and 126 μg/L dissolved copper were measured in a tidal creek affected by plasticulture; concentrations exceeded the shellfish LC₅₀ values and the water quality criteria of 2.9 μg/L dissolved copper. Control watersheds indicated background water column levels of ≤ 4 μg/L dissolved copper with similar copper levels during periods with and without rain. The copper concentrations in tomato plasticulture field runoff itself contained up to 238 μg/L dissolved copper. Copper concentrations in runoff from other land‐uses were less than 5 μg/L dissolved copper. Creek sediment samples adjacent to a plasticulture field contained significantly higher copper concentrations than sediments taken from nonplasticulture watersheds.