title: Application of a dynamic 2-D mixing model to assess the impact of chemical spills on raw water quality.
abstract: A non-steady-state two-dimensional river mixing model was used in conjunction with the Hec-2 water surface profile model to develop a "spill model" by which impact of chemical spills on the raw water quality of a water treatment plant can be assessed. The dynamic 2-D mixing model was applied to the North Saskatchewan River between Devon and the Rossdale Water Treatment Plant in Edmonton, Alberta. Hec-2 compatible data were used to estimate surface water elevations for the river under varying discharge conditions. To ensure accurate estimates of the surface water elevations, Hec-2 was calibrated using the high water mark data, which were collected by the Alberta Environment during the 1986 Edmonton flood. The calibrated Hec-2 model was then used to estimate surface water elevations using flowrates from 50 m3 s1 to 5000 m3 s1. The dynamic mixing model was modified so it could utilize the cross sectional geometry data and estimated water surface elevations obtained from the Hec-2 model. Several input files were prepared for the mixing model, representing various discharge conditions of the river. A user-friendly interface was developed allowing operators easy manipulation of the mixing model. Provisions were also incorporated to allow input of required spill data such as the location of the spill, types of chemicals involved, and the magnitude of the spill. The two-dimensional mixing model estimates the concentration of a conservative chemical(s) at any point downstream of the chemical spill.
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Farahbakhsh
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Putz
authors.forename: D W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D000059:Accidents; D005544:Forecasting; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D011786:Quality Control; D012525:Saskatchewan; D014872:Water Movements; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical