ENVL 505 - Surface Water Quality Modeling


Catalog Description:

Principles governing the transport and fate of contaminants in surface water systems. Water quality standards, wastewater inputs, water quality modeling for water-borne disease, dissolved oxygen, and toxic chemicals. Engineering controls to meet water quality objectives and case studies are presented. Computer solution to some problems is required.

Three credit. Prerequisites: ENGS 204.


Textbook(s):

Thomann, R.V. and J.A. Mueller (1987). Principles of Surface Water Quality Modeling and Control. Harper and Row Publishers, Inc. New York. 644 pp.


Goals:

The goal of this course is to introduce students to the basic concepts of water quality and sediment quality modeling, and to teach the basic modeling approaches used by environmental engineers in quantifying impacts of contaminant sources on coliform bacteria levels, dissolved oxygen, and toxic contamination in natural water systems.


Objectives:

  1. To review mass balance equations for well-mixed lakes, rivers, and streams.
  2. To introduce students to concepts of diffusive and dispersive mixing processes, and to analytical solutions for near-field and far-field mixing of contaminants.
  3. To provide students with skills to perform statistical analysis of stream flow and wastewater loads (using advanced functions in EXCEL).
  4. To introduce students to probabilistic dilution calculations using Monte Carlo simulations.
  5. To provide students with skills to perform mass balance/statistical modeling analyses for bacterial contamination in rivers and streams.
  6. To provide students with skills to perform modeling analyses dissolved oxygen depletion in rivers and streams.
  7. To introduce students to problems of toxic organic contamination and to modeling approaches for analyzing toxic contamination in surface waters and sediments.
  8. To keep students abreast of current water and sediment quality problems (particularly for the NYC area).


Prerequisites by Topics:

  1. Differential and integral calculus
  2. Fluids
  3. Environmental chemistry


Topics Covered:

  1. Review of mass balance equations for water quality analysis (3 classes)
  2. Surface water hydrology (2 classes)
  3. Mixing processes and time-variable responses in rivers and streams (4 classes)
  4. Variable input loads, statistical analysis of loads, probabilistic dilution (8 classes)
  5. Oxidation of Organic Matter; Dissolved Oxygen Depletion (9 classes)
  6. Introduction to Toxic Contamination; Risk Assessment (3 classes)
  7. Chemical Speciation and Transport Modeling (2 classes)
  8. Transport and Fate of Hydrophobic Organic Contaminants (HOCs) (3 classes)
  9. Bioaccumulation (2 classes)
  10. Case Study (2 classes)
  11. Tests (two tests, final examination) (6 classes)

Computer Usage:

Students are required to use personal computers, primarily for EXCEL spreadsheet calculations. In addition to basic spreadsheet operations, students are required to use several advanced EXCEL functions (e.g., pivot tables; statistical analyses using histograms, log probability distributions, and Monte Carlo calculations). Students also perform computer model simulations for dissolved oxygen in the Delaware River and pesticide contamination of a quarry. (The Delaware River and the quarry contamination models are interactive computer models that were developed by Dr. Farley using Microsoft EXCEL spreadsheets with Visual Basic macros.)


Laboratory Experience:

Students are required to take ENVL 535 - Surface Water Quality Laboratory as an accompanying course.


Relationship to Environmental Engineering Program:

This course is required for students in the Environmental Engineering program. It introduces students to the basic concepts of water quality and sediment quality modeling, and teaches the basic modeling approaches used by environmental engineers in quantifying impacts of contaminant sources on coliform bacteria levels, dissolved oxygen, and toxic contamination in natural water systems.


Outcome Criteria Addressed:

  1. An ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, science, and engineering (ABET Criterion 3a)
  2. An ability to identify, formulate, and solve engineering problems (ABET Criterion 3e)
  3. An ability to use the techniques, skills, and modern engineering tools necessary for engineering practice (ABET Criterion 3k)An ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, science, and engineering (ABET Criterion 3a)


Assessment Tools:

Exams, Homework


Professional Component Contribution:

Engineering Science 2 Credits (67%)
Engineering Design 1 Credits (33%)


Prepared by the Course Coordinator, Dr. Kevin J. Farley, Professor of Environmental Engineering........May 2002