Stormwater harvesting for irrigation purposes: An investigation of chemical quality of water recycled in pervious pavement system

Most available water resources in the world are used for agricultural irrigation. Whilst this level of water use is expected to increase due to rising world population and land use, available water resources are expected to become limited due to climate change and uneven rainfall distribution. Recycled stormwater has the potential to be used as an alternative source of irrigation water and part of sustainable water management strategy. This paper reports on a study to investigate whether a sustainable urban drainage system (SUDS) technique, known as the pervious pavements system (PPS) has the capability to recycle water that meets irrigation water quality standard. Furthermore, the experiment provided information on the impact of hydrocarbon (which was applied to simulate oil dripping from parked vehicles onto PPS), leaching of nutrients from different layers of the PPS and effects of nutrients (applied to enhance bioremediation) on the stormwater recycling efficiency of the PPS. A weekly dose of 6.23×10-3L of lubricating oil and single dose of 17.06g of polymer coated controlled-release fertilizer granules were applied to the series of 710mm×360mm model pervious pavement structure except the controls. Rainfall intensity of 7.4mm/h was applied to the test models at the rate of 3 events per week. Analysis of the recycled water showed that PPS has the capability to recycle stormwater to a quality that meets the chemical standards for use in agricultural irrigation irrespective of the type of sub-base used. There is a potential benefit of nutrient availability in recycled water for plants, but care should be taken not to dispose of this water in natural water courses as it might result in eutrophication problems. © 2014 Elsevier Ltd

Stormwater harvesting from landscaped areas:effect of herbicide application on water quality and usage

The suitability of stormwater harvested from pervious pavement system (PPS) structures for reuse purposes was investigated in conditions where glyphosate-containing herbicides (GCH) are applied as part of PPS maintenance procedure. The experiment was based on the four-layered design previously described as detailed in CIRIA C582. Results indicated that the highest sodium absorption ratio (SAR) of 1.6 recorded in this study, was less than that at which loss of permeability begins to occur as well as deterioration of matrix structure. Furthermore, the maximum electrical conductivity (ECw) of 2990 μS cm−1, recorded for 7200 mg L−1 concentration (GCH) was slightly below the unstable classification range at which salinity problems related to water quality occur such that salts accumulate in the root zone to the extent that crop yields are adversely affected. However, GCH concentration of 720 mg L−1 was within ‘permissible’ range while that of 72 mg L−1 was within ‘excellent’ range. Current study raises some environmental concerns owing to the overall impact that GCH at concentrations above 72 mg L−1 exerts on the net performance of the organic decomposers, heavy metal and hydrocarbon release from the system and thus, should be further investigated. However, effluent from all the test models including those dosed with high GCH concentration of 7200 mg L−1 do not pose any threat in terms of infiltration or deterioration associated with salinity although, there are indications that high dosage of the herbicide could lead to an elevated electrical conductivity of the recycled water.<br/

Sediment tracing from the catchment to reef 2016 to 2018: Flood plume, marine sediment trap and logger data time series

The sediment dynamics at marine sites in the inshore GBRL region likely fall into three separate categories including sites where: 1. input of new terrigenous sediments have by far the greatest influence on sediment exposure and subsequent resuspension (e.g. Dunk Island, Orpheus Island, Havannah Island, Cleveland Bay?); 2. input of new terrigenous sediments are at least equivalent to resuspension events which likely increases upon larger river discharge events (e.g. Cleveland Bay?, Orchard Rocks). 3. input of new terrigenous sediments are less than or equal to common resuspension events (e.g. Middle Reef, Geoffrey Bay). This provides some of the first empirical data to support the findings of the satellite photic depth modelling of Fabricius et al. (2014, 2016) where the delivery of new terrigenous sediment considerably influences water clarity on the inshore Great Barrier Reef

Subsurface hydrology of a riparian buffer zone

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Identifying groundwater flow regimes in riparian buffer zones

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Interaction of Surface Water and Groundwater and its Potential Effects on Denitrification in Riparian Buffers

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Clinical assessment of chloramine-T and freshwater as treatments for the control of gill amoebae in Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L

Infections of gill amoebae that manifest as amoebic gill disease (AGD) occur in Atlantic salmon in Tasmania. The treatment of choice is freshwater bathing; however, the effectiveness of this treatment has declined over time. In this experiment, cage trials of chloramine-T (Cl-T) to treat AGD in Atlantic salmon were conducted over 3 months, and involved an initial bath in either freshwater or seawater with Cl-T, followed by a second bath 6 weeks later. Amoeba densities were reduced to 50-80% of original values for both treatments. Neoparamoeba sp. density was not affected by bathing, and was not significantly different over the course of the experiment. Lesion prevalence was higher for Cl-T-treated fish than for freshwater-treated fish, with overall prevalence levels of 14.30 ± 1.00% and 8.03 ± 0.57% respectively. This was also seen for gross gill scores. In the fortnight after each of the two baths, Cl-T-treated fish had significantly higher lesion levels, although this difference was then resolved by 4 weeks post bathing. The use of Cl-T in seawater is at least as effective as freshwater at reducing amoebae density, and may be a more practical alternative when freshwater is in short supply. © 2005 Blackwell Publishing Ltd

The hydrology of riparian buffer zones; two case studies in an ephemeral and a perennial stream

Riparian zones can provide a protective buffer between streams and adjacent land-based activities by removing nitrate from shallow groundwater flowing through them. Hydrological factors are an important influence on the effectiveness of riparian buffer zones in reducing pollutant loads delivered to streams. In this paper, we present results from a study of the hydrology of two riparian buffers belonging to an ephemeral and a perennial stream, which are part of a research project to study nitrogen transport and transformation processes in shallow groundwater in South-East Queensland, Australia. The investigation at the ephemeral site has shown that a shallow perched water table forms shortly after stream flow commences as a result of lateral flow from the stream to floodplain; it resides within the carbon-rich root zone and drains off after stream flow ceases. The low head gradient of 1% results in a low flow rate of about 6 cm/day along the floodplain, slow enough to allow effective removal of nitrate via denitrification to occur. The investigation at the perennial site has shown that water table dynamics within the floodplain are dissociated from the up-slope area except during over-bank flood events. During non-event conditions, there is low streamward gradient that results in a base flow component to the stream; the water table depth is about 3.5 m, hence missing most of the carbon-rich soils located close to the soil surface. During flood events, a reverse gradient towards the floodplain is formed; the streamward gradient is re-established after the flood wave passes. The water table fluctuates between 1.8 and 3.5 m under these conditions thus having a higher chance of interacting with more active floodplain sediments. Water stored in the floodplain has a residence time of 2-10 days, providing an opportunity for denitrification to reduce nitrate concentrations prior to water draining back to the stream.No Full Tex

Denitrification potential of aquifer sediments in a southeast Queensland riparian zone

Griffith Sciences, Griffith School of EnvironmentNo Full Tex