title: Effect of reservoir flushing on downstream river water quality.
abstract: The effect of short-term reservoir flushing on downstream water quality in the Geum River, Korea was studied using field experiments and computer simulations. The reservoir release was increased from 30 to 200 m(3)/s within 6 h for the purpose of this experiment. The flushing discharge decreased the concentrations of soluble nitrogen and phosphorus species considerably, but the experimental results revealed a negative impact on organic forms of nutrients and biochemical oxygen demand (BOD). A dynamic river water quality model was applied to simulate the river hydraulics and water quality variations during the event. The model showed very good performance in predicting the travel time of flushing flow and the variations of dissolved forms of nitrogen and phosphorus constituents. However, it revealed a limited capability in simulating organic forms of nutrients and BOD because it does not consider the re-suspension mechanism of these constituents from sediment during the wave front passage.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Engineering, Chungbuk National University, 12 Gaeshin-Dong, Heungduk-Gu, Cheongju 361-763, Republic of Korea. schung@chungbuk.ac.kr
authors.forename: Se Woong
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: Ick Hwan
authors.initials: IH
authors.lastname: Ko
authors.forename: Yu Kyung
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D003198:Computer Simulation; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D007723:Korea; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D009566:Nitrates / Q000032:analysis; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000032:analysis; D010710:Phosphates / Q000032:analysis; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000032:analysis; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds / Q000032:analysis; D045483:Rivers / Q000737:chemistry*; D014872:Water Movements; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*; D014881:Water Supply / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D009566:Nitrates; D010710:Phosphates; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D010758:Phosphorus; D009584:Nitrogen