Back
 JWARP  Vol.3 No.6 , June 2011
Application of Index Analysis to Evaluate the Water Quality of the Tuul River in Mongolia
Ochir Altansukh*, G. Davaa
Abstract: A study of water pollution determinands of the Tuul River was carried out in surrounding area of Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia at 14 monitoring sites, using an extensive dataset between 1998 and 2008. An index method, developed by Ministry of Nature and Environment of Mongolia, applied for assessment and total, seven hydro-chemicals used in the index calculation. The research indicates that the Tuul River is not polluted until the Ulaanbaatar city and the contamination level spike appears when the river entering the city. The upper reaches of the river and tributaries have relatively good quality waters. Several pollution sources exist in the study area. Among them, the Central Wastewater Treatment Plant (CWTP) is a strongest point source in the downstream section of the river, recently. Pollutions at sites 7-10 are strongly dependant effluent treatment levels from the plant, and it contains a high amount of chemicals that can cause of major decrement of the water quality. This would definitely kill aquatic fauna in the stretch of the river affected. It certainly happened in 2007. The general trend of water quality gradually has been decreased in the study period. Clearly, there is a need to improve the water quality in the Tuul River in surrounding area of the Ulaanbaatar. In order to change this situation, operation enhancement of treatment plants, a water quality modeling and artificial increment of dissolved oxygen concentrations become crucial to improve the water quality significantly. Perhaps a new wastewater treatment plant is needed for Ulaanbaatar city.
Keywords: Tuul River, Water Quality Assessment, Pollution Point Source, Water Quality Map, Water Quality Index
Cite this paper: nullO. Altansukh and G. Davaa, "Application of Index Analysis to Evaluate the Water Quality of the Tuul River in Mongolia," Journal of Water Resource and Protection, Vol. 3 No. 6, 2011, pp. 398-414. doi: 10.4236/jwarp.2011.36050.
References

[1]   R. C. Ferrier et al., “Water Quality of Scottish Rivers: Spatial and Temporal Trends,” The Science of the Total Environment, Vol. 265, No. 1-3, 2001, pp. 327-342. doi:10.1016/S0048-9697(00)00674-4

[2]   C. Neal et al., “Water Quality of Treated Sewage Effluent in a Rural Area of the Upper Thames Basin, Southern England, and the Impacts of Such Effluents on Riverine Phosphorus Concentrations,” Journal of Hydrology, Vol. 304, No. 1-4, 2005, pp. 103-117. doi:10.1016/j.jhydrol.2004.07.025

[3]   H. P. Jarvie, C. Neal and P. J. A. Withers, “Sewage-Effluent Phosphorus: A Greater Risk to River Eutrophication than Agricultural Phosphorus?” Science of the Total Environment, Vol. 360, No. 1-3, 2006, pp. 246-253. doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2005.08.038

[4]   C. Neal et al., “Phosphorus-Calcium Carbonate Saturation Relationships in a Lowland Chalk River Impacted by Sewage Inputs and Phosphorus Remediation: An Assessment of Phosphorus Self-Cleansing Mechanisms in Natural Waters,” The Science of the Total Environment, Vol. 282-283, 2002, pp. 295-310. doi:10.1016/S0048-9697(01)00920-2

[5]   P. G. Whitehead, P. J. Johnes and D. Butterfield, “Steady State and Dynamic Modelling of Nitrogen in the River Kennet: Impacts of Land Use Change Since the 1930s,” The Science of the Total Environment, Vol. 282-283, 2002, pp. 417-434. doi:10.1016/S0048-9697(01)00927-5

[6]   P. G. Whitehead et al., “A Review of the Potential Impacts of Climate Change on Surface Water Quality,” Hydrological Sciences Journal, Vol. 54, No. 1, 2009, pp. 101-123. doi:10.1623/hysj.54.1.101

[7]   P. G. Whitehead et al., “Impacts of Climate Change on in-Stream Nitrogen in a Lowland Chalk Stream: An Appraisal of Adaptation Strategies,” Science of the Total Environment, Vol. 365, No. 1-3, 2006, pp. 260-273. doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2006.02.040

[8]   P. J. Johnes, “Uncertainties in Annual Riverine Phosphorus Load Estimation: Impact of load Estimation Methodology, Sampling Frequency, Baseflow Index and Catchment Population Density,” Journal of Hydrology, Vol. 332, No. 1-2, 2007, pp. 241-258. doi:10.1016/j.jhydrol.2006.07.006

[9]   C. P. Mainstone and W. Parr, “Phosphorus in Rivers—Ecology and Management,” The Science of the Total Environment, Vol. 282-283, 2002, pp. 25-47. doi:10.1016/S0048-9697(01)00937-8

[10]   T. Sato, F. Kimura and A. Kitoh, “Projection of Global Warming onto Regional Precipitation over Mongolia Using a Regional Climate Model,” Journal of Hydrology, Vol. 333, No. 1, 2007, pp. 144-154. doi:10.1016/j.jhydrol.2006.07.023

[11]   D. Couillard and Y. Lefebvre, “Analysis of Water-Quality Indices,” Journal of Environmental Management, Vol. 21, No. 2, 1985, pp. 161-179.

[12]   N. Stambuk-Giljanovic, “Water quality evaluation by a in Dalmatia,” Water Research, Vol. 1999, No. 33, 1999, pp. 3423-3440. doi:10.1016/S0043-1354(99)00063-9

[13]   C. Javzan, A. Sauleguli and B. Tsengelmaa, “Study of Tuul River Contamination,” Geo-ecology in Mongolia, Vol. 4, 2004, pp. 213-219.

[14]   “Report on State of Environment for 2004-2005,” Ministry of Nature and Environment, Ulaanbaatar, 2006, pp. 27.

[15]   N. Roza-Butler, “An Overview of the Current Condition of the Tuul River,” Geo-ecology in Mongolia, Vol. 4, 2004, pp. 220-226.

[16]   Orchlon, “Pollution Mitigating Measures for the Tuul River—Three Assessments,” Daily News, Ulaanbaatar, 1995.

[17]   Orchlon, “Pollution Mitigating Measures for the Tuul River—Three Assessments,” Geographic Issues, Vol. 245, 2005, pp. 8.

[18]   O. Altansukh, “Surface Water Quality Assessment and Modelling—A Case Study in the Tuul River, Ulaanbaatar city, Mongolia,” MSc, Water Resource Management, International Institute for Geo-information Science and Earth Observation, 2008.

[19]   D. Basandorj and G. Davaa, “Tuul River Basin of Mongolia—Integrated Water Resource Management,” Interpress, Ulaanbaatar, 2006.

[20]   NAMHEM, “Surface Water in Mongolia,” Interpress, Ulaanbaatar, 1999.

[21]   “Causes of Decreasing Water Resource of Tuul River and Ways of Its Protection,” Ministry of Nature and Environment, Ulaanbaatar, 1997.

[22]   O. Altansukh, “Surface Water Quality Study in Ulaanbaatar City,” Geoecological Issues, Vol. 4, No. 250, 2005, pp. 127-132.

[23]   R. K. Horton, “An Index Number System for Rating Water Quality,” Journal of Water Pollution Control Federation, Vol. 37, No. 3, 1965, pp. 300-306.

[24]   R. M. Brown et al., “A Water Quality Index—Do We Dare,” Water Sewage Works, Vol. 117, 1970, pp. 339- 343.

[25]   G. Davaa, D. Oyunbaatar and M. Sugita, “Surface Water of Mongolia,” Environmental Book of Mongolia, Vol. 2006, pp. 55-82.

[26]   “Permissible Level of Surface Water Variables,” NSA, Ulaanbaatar, 1998.

[27]   Y. Erdenebayar and T. Bulgan, “Formulae for Water Quality Index,” Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, 2006.

[28]   “Definition of Quality Grades Used to Surface Water in Mongolia,” Ministry of Nature and Environment, 1997, pp. 14.

 
 
Top