Improvement of River Water Quality Through a Seasonal Effluent Discharge Program (SEDP)

Full text for this resource is not available from the Research Repository.

Ng, A. W. M, Perera, B. J. C and Tran, D. H (2006) Improvement of River Water Quality Through a Seasonal Effluent Discharge Program (SEDP). Water, Air, and Soil Pollution, 176 (1-4). pp. 113-137. ISSN 0049-6979 (print) 1573-2932 (online)

Abstract

In an attempt to improve water quality in rivers and streams or to maintain water quality without further degradation, most Environmental Protection Authorities throughout the world set stringent effluent discharge limits on sewage treatment plants. In most cases, these limits are based on Best Available Technology. The use of this technology is expensive, and does not consider the ability of the flow condition of receiving waters in digesting wastewater. An alternative strategy called ‘seasonal effluent discharge program’ (SEDP) was investigated in this study, which utilises different flow conditions in the river, in different periods in order to accommodate various wastewater discharge concentrations. A river water quality model was developed for Yarra River in Victoria (Australia). A genetic algorithm optimisation procedure was used for estimating the reaction parameters and calibrating the model. The river water quality model was then used to study the effectiveness of SEDP. The results of the study revealed that the SEDP is a feasible strategy for improving water quality in Yarra River, since the river has high assimilative capacity in winter compared to summer. This allows a lower wastewater treatment (via a lower chemical dosage) during winter, because of the high dilution capacity in the river.

Dimensions Badge

Altmetric Badge

Item type Article
URI https://vuir.vu.edu.au/id/eprint/25257
DOI 10.1007/s11270-006-9153-7
Official URL http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs11270-...
Subjects Historical > FOR Classification > 0502 Environmental Science and Management
Historical > FOR Classification > 0907 Environmental Engineering
Current > Division/Research > College of Science and Engineering
Keywords QUAL2E, river water quality modelling, seasonal effluent discharge program, design low flow, calibration
Citations in Scopus 10 - View on Scopus
Download/View statistics View download statistics for this item

Search Google Scholar

Repository staff login