Watershed-Scale Impacts of Nitrogen from On-Site Wastewater Systems: Parameter Sensitivity and Model Calibration
Publication: Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 136, Issue 9
Abstract
A numerical watershed model was used to evaluate the potential influence of various point and nonpoint sources including on-site wastewater systems (OWS) on stream nitrate concentration in Turkey Creek Watershed, Colorado. A watershed analysis risk management framework model was used for this study, and was calibrated to observed stream nitrate concentrations using an automatic calibration tool. Parameter sensitivity analysis was done to select critical parameters for calibration and to reduce uncertainty in the simulated results. Sensitivity analysis of nitrate transport and transformation parameters showed that stream nitrate concentration is highly sensitive to cation exchange capacity, nitrification rate, base saturation of ammonium, initial concentration of ammonium in the soil, and some of the crop growth related parameters. The calibrated model was used to evaluate scenarios related to OWS including the impacts of population growth and new development and impacts of conversion of OWS to conventional sewers. The results showed that there would be a significant increase in stream nitrate concentration with increasing population. Conversion of OWS to sewers increased stream nitrate concentration but decreased nitrate concentration in the bottom soil layer indicating that OWS are beneficial with respect to stream nitrate concentration but may increase nitrate concentrations in groundwater.
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Acknowledgments
This work was supported by the Water Environment Research Foundation (WERF) (Project No. UNSPECIFIED04-DEC-6). Joel Herr (Systech Inc.) and Eileen Poeter (Colorado School of Mines) provided support for WARMF and UCODE. The Environmental Health Services Division, JCDHE provided data on distribution of OWS.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 136 • Issue 9 • September 2010
Pages: 926 - 938
Copyright
© 2010 ASCE.
History
Received: Aug 21, 2009
Accepted: Jan 28, 2010
Published online: Jan 30, 2010
Published in print: Sep 2010
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