The work presented in this paper, supported by a bilateral Italo-Brasilian project, concerns water quality planning in view of long-term use sustainability for the Pojuca River Basin (Bahia, Brasil). Planning was performed with the aid of a Decision Support System (DSS) consisting of several submodel components. Among these, a surface-water quality model for the definition of the concentration distribution of total phosphorus, BOD, dissolved oxygen concentration and thermo-tolerant coliform bacteria pollution. Another submodel evaluates the riverine microhabitat applying autochthonous fish species habitat suitability indexes (water depth, velocity, substrate and dissolved oxygen) as evaluated by local ichthyologists. Surface-water quality and microhabitat models are based on a hydrologic and hydraulic model. Models have been calibrated and validated using discharge and water quality measurements collected during a 1.5-year period of monitoring. Output data are available on a spreadsheet and ready to be spatially analyzed in a GIS software. The DSS can help the decision-making process to achieve the sustainable development of the basin, considering population growth, economic activities, climate change, management of sewage and wastewater treatment systems.

Water Quality Planning for Sustainability in the Pojuca River Basin (Brazil)

TORRETTA, VINCENZO;URBINI, GIORDANO
2014-01-01

Abstract

The work presented in this paper, supported by a bilateral Italo-Brasilian project, concerns water quality planning in view of long-term use sustainability for the Pojuca River Basin (Bahia, Brasil). Planning was performed with the aid of a Decision Support System (DSS) consisting of several submodel components. Among these, a surface-water quality model for the definition of the concentration distribution of total phosphorus, BOD, dissolved oxygen concentration and thermo-tolerant coliform bacteria pollution. Another submodel evaluates the riverine microhabitat applying autochthonous fish species habitat suitability indexes (water depth, velocity, substrate and dissolved oxygen) as evaluated by local ichthyologists. Surface-water quality and microhabitat models are based on a hydrologic and hydraulic model. Models have been calibrated and validated using discharge and water quality measurements collected during a 1.5-year period of monitoring. Output data are available on a spreadsheet and ready to be spatially analyzed in a GIS software. The DSS can help the decision-making process to achieve the sustainable development of the basin, considering population growth, economic activities, climate change, management of sewage and wastewater treatment systems.
2014
3th IWA International Specialist Conference on Watershed & River Basin Management
3th IWA International Specialist Conference on Watershed & River Basin Management
San Francisco, USA
9-12 September 2014
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11383/1901920
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