Modeling floodplain filtration for the improvement of river water quality

• Published in: Transport in porous media Vol. 60; no. 3; pp. 319 - 337
• Main Authors: CHUNG, Jong-Bae, KIM, Seung-Hyun, JEONG, Byeong-Ryong, YOUNG-DEUK LEE, PRASHER, Shiv O
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer 01.09.2005; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Atmospheric models; Computer simulation; Earth sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Emission; Engineering and environment geology. Geothermics; Exact sciences and technology; Filtration; Floodplains; Hydrogeology; Hydrology; Hydrology. Hydrogeology; Leaching; Mathematical models; Nitrous oxide; Numerical methods; Organic matter; Pollution, environment geology; Rivers; Soil properties; Soil water; Spraying; Water purification; Water quality; Far East; South Korea; Korea; mathematical models; ground water; nitrates; denitrification; hydrochemistry; soil profiles; soils; rivers; floodplain filtration; streams; concentration; leaching; transport; infiltration; surface water; floodplains; filtration; water quality; Asia; organic matter removal; organic materials; mathematical modeling; competitive Michaelis-Menten model; porous media; methodology
• ISSN: 0169-3913; 1573-1634
• DOI: 10.1007/s11242-004-6325-z

A mathematical model was developed to describe a treatment method of floodplain filtration for the improvement of river water quality. The process consists of spraying poor quality river water onto the river floodplains and thus allowing soil filtration to treat water before it gets back again into the main river stream. This technique can be readily employed in Korea because it exploits the characteristics of the climate and rivers in the country, as described in an experimental study of Chung et al. The model was analyzed by numerical methods and validated by comparing the simulated values with experimental data. A scenario analysis of the model was also performed in order to have a better understanding of the floodplain filtration process. Our results show that the model was able to predict the reduction in organic matter and NO3− in river water through the floodplain filtration. Furthermore, it was found that only a few decimeters of top soil profile were enough to degrade most of the organic matter under wider operational conditions than those reported in the literature. Also, it was found that significant infiltration of atmospheric oxygen took place near the soil surface. The N2O emission and the NO3− leaching increased with the increase in the influent NO3− concentration. However, the N2O emission due to floodplain filtration was not expected to exceed 0.1 mL/m2-day.