Qualitative study of Zohreh River water using QUAL2K model Mohammad Manshouri Islamic Azad University, Science and Research Branch Tehran, Iran [email protected]

Omid Pourmand Islamic Azad University, Science and Research Branch Tehran, Iran [email protected]

Ebrahim Ahmadisharaf Sharif University of Technology, Department of Civil Engineering Marzdaran Blvd.,Laleh St., Tehran, Iran [email protected]

Nasrin Alamdari Sharif University of Technology, Department of Civil Engineering Tehran, Iran [email protected]

ABSTRACT -Qualitative water modeling is a proper tool of water quality management. Therefore, different contaminating resources are detected along the river and their effect on water quality is studied. The qualitative parameters under study include dissolved oxygen (DO), pH and nitrate (NO₃) which are measured in 15 sampling stations during one water year along Zohreh River in Iran. Simulation process was performed using USEPA’s QUAL2K model. Minimum, average and maximum amounts of the parameters were determined for entering the data to the model in each station. Based on the obtained results, the simulation process was compatible with amounts of the measured parameters and is acceptable. Measured and simulated amounts of the parameters were compared with several standard levels. The amount of DO and nitrate was at the standard level in all stations, but pH was not allowable in some stations. Also, because of compatibility of simulated amounts of parameters with the measured values, allowability is same in almost all stations. Keywords: Zohreh River, QUAL2K, water quality simulation, water quality standards, pH

1. INTRODUCTION Nowadays, water resources are known as one of the main bases of sustainable development. When rivers are considered as a source of maintaining human society requirements, water quality should be taken into account along with quantity and river discharge. In case of serious water resource shortage in countries with dry and semi-dry climate like Iran, the optimum use of water resources needs a combination of qualitative and quantitative conditions. As a result, qualitative parameters of water should be precisely simulated and estimated in planning. The first step in qualitative studies is identifying and selecting qualitative parameters affecting the water quality of rivers. Zohreh basin with the area of about 16000 km2 is located between 49°, 27' to 52°, 19'E longitudes and 29°, 46' to 30°, 59'N latitudes. With its east-west extension, the basin starts from Kazeroun in Fars province and after passing the southern part of Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province in the southeast of Khouzestan province, it pours into the Persian Gulf. Having permanent rivers in this watershed, Zohreh is one of the most important basins in Iran. Since Zohreh basin is located in Fars, Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad and Khouzestan provinces, its integrated environmental management is facing a serious challenge. Zohreh basin has approximately 700000 residents. Considering the extensive consumption of river water in agricultural, drinking, sanitary and industrial segments on one hand and the possibility of water contamination and the prevalence of various diseases on the other hand, studying the

contaminating factors and planning for organization, purification and eliminating the contaminants is an essential measurement. Several studies have been conducted on evaluating the quality of rivers. Bordalo et al., (2001) studied the quality and consumption of Bangpakong river in eastern Thailand. Ajdari et al., (2007) used QUAL2K model for simulating the qualitative status of Pesikhan river in Gilan province. Fang et al., (2008) evaluated the water quality of Qiantang river in China using QUAL2K. Zainudin et al., (2010) used the same model to study the effect of contaminants on Tebrau river in Malaysia. Xiaoyun et al., (2010) used multi-variable statistical techniques to evaluate the quality of Pearl river in China.

2. METHODOLOGY Considering the area of Zohreh basin and the several branches, 13 sampling stations were located along the river. Two other stations were also identified on two major entering branches (Shiv and Kheirabad rivers). In selecting the mentioned stations, the impact of all affecting sources on the water quality of Zohreh River including the rivers, springs, cities and villages, agricultural fields and the surrounding gardens as well as its self-purification effect should be considered. The sampling stations are selected according to their accessibility for performing sampling operations, primary field studies and closeness to likely contaminating sources. Seasonal samplings were carried out during one water year (2007-2008). All sampling tests were conducted according to standard methods for water examinations in Fars province. Figure 1 shows the status of the sampling stations in relation to Zohreh basin and its rivers.

Fig 1: Stations in Zohreh River basin

QUAL2K, a model prepared by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), is used for the qualitative modeling of Zohreh River. Running the model requires climatic, hydrologic, hydraulic, and quality (physical and chemical) parameters as well as NSF index, which were collected in the manner mentioned above. Moreover, minimum, average and maximum amounts were determined for entering the data in each station. Figure 2 shows minimum, average and maximum annual amounts of DO, pH and nitrate in the respective stations.

10.00 9.00 8.00

DO (mg/lit)

7.00 6.00 Min

5.00

Ave

4.00

Max 3.00 2.00 1.00 0.00 0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7 8 9 Stations No.

10

11

12

13

14

15

8.30

8.20 8.10

8.00

pH

7.90 Min

7.80

Ave

7.70

Max 7.60 7.50 7.40 7.30

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7 8 9 Stations No.

10

11

12

13

14

15

2.00 1.80 1.60

Nitrate (mg/lit)

1.40 1.20 Min

1.00

Ave

0.80

Max 0.60 0.40 0.20 0.00 0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7 8 9 Stations No.

10

11

12

13

14

15

Fig 2: Minimum, average and maximum annual amounts of DO, pH and nitrate in the respective stations.

DO, pH and nitrate were simulated by QUAL2K. In all resulting figures of the model, the parameters are simulated from the downstream to the upstream of the river; distances from stations No.15 to No.1 are also presented. Based on the obtained results, the simulation process was compatible with amounts of the measured parameters and is acceptable. Variations of the simulated parameters are displayed in Figure 3.

DO(mgo₂/lit)

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 400

350 300 250 DO(mgO2/L) DO(mgO2/L) Min Minimum DO-data

200

150 100 50 DO (mgO2/L) data DO(mgO2/L) Max Maximum DO-data

0

NO₃(ugN/lit)

1000 900 800 700 600 500 400 300 200 100 0 400

350

300

250

200

NO3 (ugN/L) data NO3(ugN/L) Min

150

100

50

0

NO3(ugN/L) NO3(ugN/L) Max pH

9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 400

300

200

pH pH Min Minimum pH-data

100

0

pH data pH Max Maximum pH-data

Fig 3: Variations of the simulated parameters

3. Comparing simulated and measured amounts with standards Measured and simulated amounts of mentioned parameters were compared with seven standards including the Iranian Ministry of Energy, Iran Standard and Industrial Researches Institute, World Health Organization (WHO), European Union (EU), Canadian National Standards, Russian National

Standards and Integrated Land Management of British Columbia (ILMBC); the results are presented in Table 1. Table 1: Comparing the amount of parameters to different standard levels Measured pH

1 2 3 5 6 7 8 10 11 12 13 14

Energy Ministry (Issue Number 116-3) + + + + + + + + + + + +

Iran Institute of Standards and Industrial Research (Standard 1053) + + + + + + + + + + + +

15

+

+

Station No.

ILMBC WHO

EU

Canada

Russia

Drinking

Irrigation

Recreation

* * * * * * * * * *

* * * * * * * * * * * *

* * * * * * * * * * * *

* * * * * * * * * * * *

* * * * * * * * * * * *

* * * * * * * * * * * *

* * * * * * * * * * * *

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

Simulated pH Station No.

Energy Ministry (Issue Number 116-3)

1 2 3 5 6 7 8 10 11 12 13 14

+ + + + + + + + + + + +

Iran Institute of Standards and Industrial Research (Standard 1053) + + + + + + + + + + + +

15

+

+

1 2 3 5 6 7 8 10 11 12 13 14

Energy Ministry (Issue Number 116-3) O O O O O O O O O O O O

Iran Institute of Standards and Industrial Research (Standard 1053) O O O O O O O O O O O O

15

O

O

ILMBC WHO

EU

Canada

Russia

* * * -

* * * * * * * * * * * *

* * * * * * * * * * * *

-

*

*

Drinking

Irrigation

Recreation

* * * * * * * * * * * *

* * * * * * * * * * * *

* * * * * * * * * * * *

* * * * * * * * * * * *

*

*

*

*

Measured DO Station No.

ILMBC WHO

EU

Canada

Russia

O O O O O O O O O O O O

O O O O O O O O O O O O

O O O O O O O O O O O O

O

O

Drinking

Irrigation

Recreation

* * * * * * * * * * * *

O O O O O O O O O O O O

O O O O O O O O O O O O

* * * * * * * * * * * *

O

*

O

O

*

Simulated DO Station No. 1 2

Energy Ministry (Issue Number 116-3) O O

Iran Institute of Standards and Industrial Research (Standard 1053) O O

ILMBC WHO

EU

Canada

Russia

O O

O O

O O

* *

Drinking

Irrigation

Recreation

O O

O O

* *

3 5 6 7 8 10 11 12 13 14

O O O O O O O O O O

O O O O O O O O O O

15

O

O

O O O O O O O O O O

O O O O O O O O O O

O O O O O O O O O O

* * * * * * * * * *

O O O O O O O O O O

O O O O O O O O O O

* * * * * * * * * *

O

O

O

*

O

O

*

Measured nitrate

1 2 3 5 6 7 8 10 11 12 13 14

Energy Ministry (Issue Number 116-3) * * * * * * * * * * * *

Iran Institute of Standards and Industrial Research (Standard 1053) O O O O O O O O O O O O

15

*

O

Station No.

ILMBC WHO

EU

Canada

Russia

Drinking

Irrigation

Recreation

* * * * * * * * * * * *

O O O O O O O O O O O O

O O O O O O O O O O O O

O O O O O O O O O O O O

* * * * * * * * * * * *

O O O O O O O O O O O O

* * * * * * * * * * * *

*

O

O

O

*

O

*

Simulated nitrate Station No. 1 2 3 5 6 7 8 10 11 12 13 14 15

+ * O

Energy Ministry (Issue Number 116-3) * * * * * * * * * * * *

Iran Institute of Standards and Industrial Research (Standard 1053) O O O O O O O O O O O O

*

O

ILMBC WHO

EU

Canada

Russia

Drinking

Irrigation

Recreation

* * * * * * * * * * * *

O O O O O O O O O O O O

O O O O O O O O O O O O

O O O O O O O O O O O O

* * * * * * * * * * * *

O O O O O O O O O O O O

* * * * * * * * * * * *

*

O

O

O

*

O

*

Desirable Allowable Unallowable Unlimited

4. CONCLUSION Considering the tables in previous section, the following points are resulted: pH: With reference to the mentioned amounts according to the standards of Iran Ministry of Energy and Iran Standard and Industrial Researches Institute, simulated and measured amounts of pH were allowable in all stations. According to the standards of EU, National Canadian and Russian standard as well as ILMBC, this parameter was allowable in all stations. Only amounts measured at stations No.2 and 3 were not allowable based on WHO standards. According to the mentioned standards, simulated pH amounts in stations No.1, 2 and 3 were the only allowable ones.

DO: According to ILMBC and Russian National Standards, DO amounts were allowable in all stations. Other standards do not determine any specific level for this parameter. Nitrate: Nitrate amounts were allowable in all stations based on the standards of Iran Ministry of Energy, WHO and ILMBC. Other standards have not determined any specific level for this parameter. Furthermore, since the simulated amounts of parameters are compatible with the measured values, allowability is same in almost all stations.

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