Author(s): Panayotis C. Yannopoulos; Ioannis D. Manariotis; Alexandros I. Ziogas; Vassilios K. Kaleris
Linked Author(s): Panayotis Yannopoulos
Keywords: Water Framework Directive 2000/60/EC; River basin management; Hydro-geologic information management; Geographic information management; Water quality; Pollution loads; Point sources; Non-point sources; Hydrological modelling
Abstract: The present work proposes a methodology to monitor and predict river water pollution in regard to the requirements posed by the European Union (EU) Water Framework Directive (WFD) 2000/60/EC and taking into consideration current peculiarities of the Greek status (water management diffused in several authorities, multiple stakeholder conflicts, irregular and inadequate pollution monitoring programs, low financial resources e. t. c. ). Particular costeffective tools of quick performance for either predicting or measuring river pollution have been identified. The Erymanthos River watershed (360 km2), which is a sub-basin of the Alfeios River basin, Greece, was selected as a case-study. The total nitrogen and phosphorus loads of the watershed occurring during each season of the year were estimated on the basis of typical inputs due to municipal and agricultural land uses met in the study area for the period 1999-2001. The river discharge was simulated using a rainfall–runoff model calibrated for the period October 1963 – September 1976 with daily rainfall data and sufficient discharge data. Simulated discharge values in monthly basis were used to compute the necessary mean seasonal discharge, its standard deviation, as well as the minimum and maximum values, and then the seasonal values of the pollution loads of total phosphorus and total nitrogen were estimated. Finally, the relevant pollution factors were calculated as the ratios of the corresponding watershed loads and river-transported loads. During the year 2006, four expeditions (one per season) were made for direct discharge and concentration measurements to allow direct computation of the related pollution loads transported in the river and subsequent pollution factors. The discharge was determined by employing quick measurement techniques combined with the logarithmic– parabolic velocity distribution. Present findings show justifiable behaviour and could be used as preliminary results in incoming river pollution monitoring and watershed management programs imposed by the WFD.
Year: 2007