Operating Rules for an Off-Stream Blending Reservoir to Control Nitrate in a Municipal Water System
Publication: Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management
Volume 140, Issue 8
Abstract
Municipal water supply systems dependent on surface water sources that are susceptible to both low flows and contamination can use off-stream blending reservoirs (OSBR) both to increase their yield and avoid investments in expensive treatment technology. Three water quality operating rules (WQORs) are simulated from a retrospective planning perspective using the OSBR system that controls nitrate contamination for Pontiac, Illinois as an example case. These rules regulate pumped reservoir inflow based on (1) a maximum river concentration (Riv-CR), (2) a maximum reservoir concentration (Res-CR), and (3) a hybrid rule incorporating both maximum reservoir and river concentrations (Hyb-CR). The Hyb-CR rule typically registers the highest yield when nitrate is modeled as a conservative contaminant, while Res-CR tends to produce the highest yields when nitrate losses are considered. In general, reservoir concentration-based WQORs are effective for increasing the yield of OSBR systems that control the concentration of nonconservative contaminants, and often produce higher yields than a traditional Riv-CR, even with conservative contaminants. However, numerous circumstances are identified under which Riv-CR may outperform both Res-CR and Hyb-CR.
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Acknowledgments
We would like to acknowledge H. Vernon Knapp of the Illinois State Water Survey and the Illinois-American Water Company for providing data and guidance in the early stages of this study.
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Published In
Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management
Volume 140 • Issue 8 • August 2014
Copyright
© 2014 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Sep 19, 2012
Accepted: Jun 13, 2013
Published online: Jun 15, 2013
Published in print: Aug 1, 2014
Discussion open until: Sep 9, 2014
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