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Assessing the influence of nutrient reduction on water quality using a three-dimensional model: case study in a tidal estuarine system

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Abstract

A coupled three-dimensional hydrodynamic and water quality model has been developed and applied to the Danshuei River estuarine system and adjacent coastal sea. The water quality model considers various species of nitrogen, phosphorus, organic carbon, and phytoplankton as well as dissolved oxygen and is driven by a three-dimensional hydrodynamic model. The hydrodynamic and water quality models were validated with observations of water surface elevation, velocity, salinity distribution, and water quality parameters. Statistical error analysis shows that predictions of hydrodynamics, salinity, dissolved oxygen, and nutrients from the model simulation quantitatively agreed with the observed data. The validated model was then applied to predict water quality conditions as a result of a reduction in nutrient loadings based on different engineering strategies. The simulated results revealed that the dissolved oxygen concentration would increase significantly and would be higher than 2 mg/L in the main stream and in three tributaries to meet the minimum statutory requirement for dissolved oxygen. Active estuarine management focused on the reduction of anthropogenic nutrient loads is needed for improvement in water quality.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported in part by Taiwan’s National Science Council under grant no. 102-2,625-M-239-002. This financial support was greatly appreciated. The authors also thank the Taiwan Water Resources Agency, Central Weather Bureau, and Environmental Protection Administration for providing the observed data that was used in our model validation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Civil and Disaster Prevention Engineering, National United University, Miao-Li, 36003, Taiwan

    Wen-Cheng Liu & Wen-Ting Chan

  2. Taiwan Typhoon and Flood Research Institute, National Applied Research Laboratories, Taipei, 10093, Taiwan

    Wen-Cheng Liu

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  1. Wen-Cheng Liu
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  2. Wen-Ting Chan
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Correspondence to Wen-Cheng Liu.

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Liu, WC., Chan, WT. Assessing the influence of nutrient reduction on water quality using a three-dimensional model: case study in a tidal estuarine system. Environ Monit Assess 186, 8807–8825 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-014-4045-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-014-4045-6

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