Eutrophication Levels of Hydropower Plant Water Reservoirs Via Trophic State Index With Evaluation of the Fate of Pollutants Affected By the Land Use Model

• Published in: Water, air, and soil pollution air, and soil pollution, 2024-10, Vol.235 (10), p.625, Article 625
• Main Authors: Cabral, João Batista Pereira, de Barcelos, Assunção Andrade, Ramalho, Fernanda Luisa, da Silva Gomes, Patrícia, Nogueira, Pollyanna Faria, Paulino, Alexandre Tadeu
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; Biomonitoring; Chlorophyll; Chlorophylls; Climate Change/Climate Change Impacts; Drainage basins; Earth and Environmental Science; Environment; Environmental management; Eutrophication; Hydroelectric plants; Hydroelectric power; Hydroelectric power plants; Hydrogeology; Lakes; Land pollution; Land use; Phosphorus; Reservoirs; Soil Science & Conservation; Statistical analysis; Statistical methods; Trophic state; Water analysis; Water Quality/Water Pollution; Water reservoirs; Water sampling
• ISSN: 0049-6979; 1573-2932
• DOI: 10.1007/s11270-024-07428-3

Phosphorus and chlorophyll- a are considered the main responsible for the eutrophication of lakes and water reservoirs around the world. Monitoring of the physical, chemical, and biological variables of water provides the basis for environmental management and protection policies. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the level of eutrophication in waters of hydropower plant reservoirs, considering the Espora hydropower plant as model system, by applying the trophic state index. In this context, water samples were collected at 34 sampling points in four different periods of the year. It was possible to conclude that the study reservoir shows fluctuations in relation to the trophic state, influenced by the rains, which carry the phosphorus existing in the drainage basin into the reservoir. Statistical analysis showed the existence of a weak and negative correlation, dismantling the idea that the enrichment of the waters with phosphorus does not influence the increase in chlorophyll- a concentration to the point of causing eutrophication. It is expected that the results of this study can assist in the management and monitoring of lakes and reservoirs in different countries. Graphical Abstract