Summary
The collaborative project studies the different aspects of drinking water dams. The aim is to develop a decision-making tool that meets all the key requirements for integrated dam management. Flood retention, extreme events, good ecological conditions in the downstream section and a sufficient volume of untreated water for drinking water treatment at all times are different interests that frequently require diametrically opposed management measures at different times and complicate decision-making processes. The participants in this subproject are focusing on the dam water quality.
The aim was to extend the hydrophysical/ecological SALMO-HR model by introduction of external turbid and humic materials into the water and their vertical distribution. Particularly during flood events, these materials can have a significant negative impact on untreated water quality and thus on the treatment required. A further aim is to link this model to the TalSim water volume model, which was also developed as part of this collaboration. Together, the tools should provide improved integrated management of water volume and quality.
Results:
- The SALMO-HR model was applied to both oligotrophic example watercourses (TSL and TSK), and plausible results were obtained in comparison with observed values.
- The SALMO-HR model was successfully extended to include the water quality variables of humic materials and particulate materials (turbidity). However, the parameters are specific to the watercourse and must be adapted when applying the model to other dams.
- SALMO-HR enabled a stochastic simulation to be developed, based on the input variables provided by TalSim. Using this as a basis, different water volume management scenarios were studied and evaluated in terms of their impacts on water quality.
