Assessing the Effects of Environmental Flows on Water Quality for Urban Supply

This paper analyses the effects of environmental flows on water quality within a highly regulated basin, focusing on the Turia River basin in the eastern Iberian Peninsula. Through water management and water quality models, a series of simulations were conducted, introducing variations in the outflo...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Water (Basel) 2024-06, Vol.16 (11), p.1509
Main Authors: Ghannem, Syrine, Paredes-Arquiola, Javier, Bergillos, Rafael J., Solera, Abel, Andreu, Joaquín
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aquatic ecosystems
Aquatic resources
Aquifers
Biodiversity
Case studies
Climatic changes
Data analysis
Data collection
Datasets
Decision making
Decision support systems
Hydrology
Management
Nitrates
Pollutants
Rivers
Spain
Visualization
Water
Water quality
Water resources management
Water shortages
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Summary:This paper analyses the effects of environmental flows on water quality within a highly regulated basin, focusing on the Turia River basin in the eastern Iberian Peninsula. Through water management and water quality models, a series of simulations were conducted, introducing variations in the outflows of the Loriguilla reservoir to evaluate the effects of different environmental flow scenarios on water quality, particularly at the location of the intake for the water supply to Valencia. Three environmental flow scenarios were analyzed, alongside an alternative management scenario, considering their implications on water quality and reliability of water demand. The findings of this paper, particularly the nitrate (NO3−) concentration evolution, highlight the influence of minimum e-flow and e-flow regimes on water quality within the basin. These results suggest that while modifying the current flow regime can lead to some improvements in nitrate concentrations at the Valencia supply intake point, the primary cause of high nitrate concentrations is attributed to irrigation return flow and the pre-existing contamination of the aquifer. This analysis offers valuable insights into the complexities of water quality management in regulated basins, emphasizing the need for a multi-faceted approach to address the diverse factors influencing water quality and demand supply reliability.
ISSN:2073-4441
2073-4441
DOI:10.3390/w16111509