Impact of Sewage Effluent Discharges prediction using QUAL2Kw in a sensitive protected area – Portugal

Abstract

The quality of water, under the influence of the wastewater treatment plant’s discharges, makes the simulation of the water parameters a key issue, broadly when considering intermittent rivers. In the case of study, the Pracana reservoir works as an example of the characterization, monitoring and control of the impact of several wastewater treatment plants’ discharges, directly contributing to water quality. Proenca-a-Nova’s wastewater treatment plant contributes directly to the Pracana reservoir (Central Portugal), which is a protected field. Twelve georeferenced water samples were gathered, between the sewage discharge and downstream to the Pracana reservoir, at almost equal distances. Sampling campaigns were taken during three different periods: rainy winter (January), intermediate conditions (March) and dry season (June). The following chemical parameters were analyzed: biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5), dissolved oxygen (DO), dry residue, Ptotal, Ntotal, pH, temperature and microbiological parameters. DO, BOD5 and microbiological parameters served as indicators for environmental pollution evaluation. A coupled hydrodynamic and water dispersion model, QUAL2kw, was used for water’s quality simulation. The results lead to conclude that the water quality is acceptable for multiple purposes, except for human consumption, mainly due to moderate-to-high values of BOD5.