Reviewing source water protection strategies: A conceptual model for water quality assessment

• Published in: Environmental reviews Vol. 19; no. NA; pp. 68 - 105
• Main Authors: Islam, Nilufar, Sadiq, Rehan, Rodriguez, Manuel J, Francisque, Alex
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: NRC Research Press 01.12.2011
• Subjects: aménagement de l'eau des tempêtes; best management practices (BMP); conceptual model; Drinking water; développement à faible impact (LID); fuzzy-based methods; index de qualité de l'eau; Lead; low-impact development (LID); meilleures pratiques gestion (BMPs); modèle conceptuel; méthodes basées sur la logique floue; source water protection strategy; Stormwater; Stormwater management; stratégie de protection des sources d'eau; Surface water; Water pollution; Water quality; Water quality assessment; water quality index; Water treatment; Watersheds; Canada
• ISSN: 1181-8700; 1208-6053
• DOI: 10.1139/a11-001

Source water protection (SWP) is the most important step in the implementation of a multi-barrier approach that ensures cost-effective delivery of safe drinking water. However, implementing SWP strategies can be a challenging task owing to technical and administrative issues. Decision support tools for effective implementation of SWP strategies can be very helpful that may lead to saving time and resources. This paper critically reviews different SWP strategies available for surface waters and also discusses various formulations for water quality assessment at the source. Source water quality regulations in Canada and other jurisdictions around the world are also discussed. Stormwater management ponds, vegetated filter strips, pollution control by effective agricultural practice (e.g., cover crop and crop rotation) and fencing are found to be frequently mentioned in those regulations. These strategies are discussed in details in terms of their key features to achieve the highest possible removal efficiencies for selected water quality parameters. Finally, a conceptual model is proposed to evaluate water quality changes at the source based on selected source water protection strategies. The model uses SWP strategies as a means to reduce possible pollutants in the source water. It also utilizes simple mass balance equations (dilution) to estimate the concentrations in the receiving water bodies and does not consider physicochemical and other reactions. A surrogate measure, water quality index (WQI), based on selected water quality parameters, is used for the assessment of source water quality.