title: Modelling Escherichia coli concentrations in the tidal Scheldt river and estuary.
abstract: Recent observations in the tidal Scheldt River and Estuary revealed a poor microbiological water quality and substantial variability of this quality which can hardly be assigned to a single factor. To assess the importance of tides, river discharge, point sources, upstream concentrations, mortality and settling a new model (SLIM-EC) was built. This model was first validated by comparison with the available field measurements of Escherichia coli (E. coli, a common fecal bacterial indicator) concentrations. The model simulations agreed well with the observations, and in particular were able to reproduce the observed long-term median concentrations and variability. Next, the model was used to perform sensitivity runs in which one process/forcing was removed at a time. These simulations revealed that the tide, upstream concentrations and the mortality process are the primary factors controlling the long-term median E. coli concentrations and the observed variability. The tide is crucial to explain the increased concentrations upstream of important inputs, as well as a generally increased variability. Remarkably, the wastewater treatment plants discharging in the study domain do not seem to have a significant impact. This is due to a dilution effect, and to the fact that the concentrations coming from upstream (where large cities are located) are high. Overall, the settling process as it is presently described in the model does not significantly affect the simulated E. coli concentrations.
authors: Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Analytical and Environmental Chemistry, Brussels, Belgium. adebrauw@vub.ac.be
authors: Anouk
authors: A
authors: de Brauwere
authors: Benjamin
authors: B
authors: de Brye
authors: Pierre
authors: P
authors: Servais
authors: Julien
authors: J
authors: Passerat
authors: Eric
authors: E
authors: Deleersnijder
mesh_terms: D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000254:growth & development*; D057446:Hydrodynamics; D008954:Models, Biological; D045483:Rivers / Q000737:chemistry / Q000382:microbiology*; D055871:Tidal Waves; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid; D014871:Water Microbiology; D014872:Water Movements; D014876:Water Pollution / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*