Water quality characteristics along the course of the Huangpu River (China)

Available online at www.sciencedirect.comJOURNAL OENVIRONMENTALScienceDirectSCIENCESISSN 10-0740-ChLEJoumnal of Ervironmnentul Sciences 19(200)0 193-119189www.jesc.sc.cnWater quality characteristics along the course of the Huangpu River (China)YANG Hong-jun12, SHEN Zhe min'", ZHANG Jin-ping', WANG Wen-hual1. School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong Universiy, Shanghai 200240, China E-mail: yanghj@h. sh.cn2. Xwhui Districr Envirormental Protection Burean, Shanghai 200030, China3. Shanghai Enmironmental Monitoring Center, Shanghai 200030, ChinaReceived 19 Deccember 2006; revised 15 March 2007; accepted 8 April 2007AbstractHuangpu River is about 114.5 km from upriver Dianfeng to downriver Wusong, Dear the estuary of the Yangtze River. It plays a keyrole in supplying water for production, life, shipmeat and irigation. With the industrial development, the pollution of the HuangpuRiver has bcome serious recently. The biological oxygen demand (BOD), total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), oil, phenol andsuspended solids (SS) were lower in the upstream sites than in the downstream sites, indicating pollutants being input along its course.Water quality was the worst in the Yangpu site, near the center of Shanghai City. Dissolved oxygen (DO) Ccontent was less than 2mg/L in the site of Yangpu in July. Among relations between thinteen characteristics, relations between BOD, DO, TN, TP, NH4*-N,NO3~-N and the count of total bacteria or Escherichia coli were significant and interdependent. Inner relationships between these maincharacteristics in the Huangpu River were studied. High nutrient concentration led to growth of microorganisms, including E. coli.Degradation of organic matters and respiration of bacteria made oxygen concentration decreased in the water body, and DO was a keyfactor for nitification-denitrification process of nitrogen. In the Yangpu site, DO was decreased to less than 3.0 mg/L with BOD higherthan 7.5 mg/L in May and July. Low DO concentration will decrease nitrifcation rate. Nitrification need at higher DO value than otherorganic substrate oxidation. Consequently, river water contains low NO3"-N values with high amounts of TN and NH4*-N there. Thiswill block the self-purification of surface water, by decreasing the rate of nitrifcation-denitrifcation transformation process in the waterbody.Key words: water quaity; ecological asessment; Huangpu River; nitrificationIntroductionFC, although most E coli stains are non-pathogenic,some strains, such as E. coli 0157:H7, pose a seriousFreshwater ecosystems play unique roles for society health risk to humans. The United States Eavironmentalthrough provision (e.g., products and food), supporting Protection Agency (USEPA) recommended that E. coli be(e.g. waster processing and supply of clean water) and en-used as the principle indicator organism in freshwaters,riching or cultural (e.g., aesthetic and recreational) servicesinstead of FC. Research has shown that E. coli density(Postel and Carpenter, 1997; Covich et al, 2004). Howev-was more strongly correlated with swimming-associateder, with the development of industry and agriculture, thegastroenteritis than FC (USEPA, 2001). Examining E.number and magnitude of anthropogenic stressors arosecoli and total bacteria, together with physico chemicalfrom the myriad of buman activities including pollution, characteristics, helps discemn changes brought about byengineering and overexploitation of water resource that industrial and domestic wastewater discharge along thethreaten these services was growing rapidly (Giller, 2005;river course. A combination of physical, chemical andPostel and Carpenter, 1997).biological indicators should be used to assess water qualityIn the past, water resource managers relied primarily on (L avado et al, 2006). However, inner relations betweenwater chemistry data and chemical toxicity test to deter-main physico-chemical and biological characteristics inmine the condition of the water chemistry and to assess thesurface water need to be fully discussed to criticallyquality of surface waters. The collection of biological data evaluate surface water ecosystems.has been tested significantly for water quality predictionAs an important potable water source river for nearlyand water resource management (Brian et al, 2003). Fecal 20 million citizens in Shanghai, China, Huangpu Rivercoliforms (FC) were most commonly used as indicatorsalso中国煤化I iter for production,of microorganisms. Escherichia coli is the most common shipm二B, 2002). With thedevelYHcNMHGre,ispluionhasPropject supported by the Special Eaviroamental Protection Develop-become serious (Shanghai EPB, 2005). Pollution frommeat Foundation of Shanghai, China (No. 00980014). +Correspondingdomestic, industrial and agricultural activities has led toauthor. E-mail: zmshen@ sjpu.cdu.cn.1194YANG Hongjun et al.Vol. 19deterioration of water quality. The water quality undergoesYangpu site: near the center of Shanghai City, at alarge changes in chemistry and biology along its course as distance of about 90 km from Dianfeng site, and whicha result of growing human interference.located in the old industrial base of last century.With the Shanghai municipality was implementing theWusong site: the estuary joint with the Yangtze River,2nd potable water resource protection project (WRPP) in and the distance along the Yangtze River to the East Sea isthe sub-upstream of the Huangpu River, monitoring theabout 80 km.current water quality status scientifically and analyzing1.2 Sample cllctiono and processingthe characteristics of pollutants systemically was one ofthe most important basic work, which can provide con-Water sample were collected at bimonthly intervalsstructive directions for controlling the water pollution andduring 2004 and analyzed for several chemical parametersimproving the water quality. In 2004, characteristics of theincluding TP and TN. Measurements of temperature andeleven physico-chemical and two microbial factors along DO were conducted at 0.5 m underwater in the water col-the whole river were analyzed at bimonthly intervals (Jan. umn using a portable dissolved oxygen meter“DO-11P"2004 Nov.2004), the objective of this study was to eval-(TOA Electronics Ltd, Japan). Measurement of pH wasuate natural water quality changes brought by non-point conducted using CyberScan PH3 10 pH/mV Meter (Eutechpollutant discharges along the Huangpu River, to discem Instruments Pte Ltd, Singapore). TN, NO3-N, NO2-the microbial water quality of surface water affected byN, NH4*-N and TP were analyzed by San++ Automatedphysico-chemical characteristics, and to elucidate effectWet Chemistry Analyzer (Skalar, The Netherlands), aftermechanisms between main characteristics in surface water. water samples filtered through pre-rinsed Whatman Grade934-AH glass fber filters. Total count of bacteria colonies1 Methodology(TCBC) was analyzed by plate count method (Rolf andLars, 1987). The count of E. coli was numbered in light1.1 Study areawith the method proposed by Chang and Lum (1995).A spectrophotometric method has been developed for theThe study area covered the whole Huangpu River, whichdetermination of phenol in water, according to Kang etis about 114.5 km from upriver Dianfeng to downriveral. (2000). Oil in water was determined using infrared byWusong, the estuary near the Yangtze River. The widthspectrophotometric methods (Simard et al, 1951). All theof the river is about 500 800 m and depth is about 10 -20experiment data were presented with mean of five tests.m, the annually average fux is about 316 m/s. Dianfeng,Songpu, Linjiang, Yangpu and Wusong sites were chosen2 Results and discussionas the investigation sites, fully according to the routinemonitoring sites of Shanghai environmental monitoringThe bimonthly variations of water properties are givencenter, as shown in Fig,1.in Figs.2-6 and correlation cofficients between variousparameters are indicated in Table 1.Yangue River2.1 Physical-chemical features| Jiangsu Province2.1.1 pHWusong RiverpH value is a significant factor for water ecosystems,including toxicity to vegetations and animals. pH valuesin all the sites in Huangpu River showed slightly alkalineas shown in Fig.2. pH of natural waters is govermedDianfecng(Chuanyang Riverby the carbonate-bicarbonat-carbon dioxide equilbrium.、Huangpu RiverLinjiangSlightly alkaline pH is preferable in waters, as heavy met-Sougpuals are removed by carbonate or bicarbonate precipitates(Ahipathy and Puttaiah, 2006). On average, river waterZhbejiung Provineein Dianfeng site was a lttle more alkaline than in othersites in the whole year. It might be due to that water wasFig. 1 The bridged general view of the sampling locations in Huangpucleaner in upriver sites, with lower ss and BOD; while inRiver.the polluted water, decomposition of organic matters canDianfeng site: the headstream of the Huangpu River.lead to acidification and lowered pH values (Chetana andThe reach between this site and Linjiang site was used asSomashekar, 1997).There was significant negative correlation with BOD,raw water supply for drinking purposes to the city.Songpu site: an upriver outskirt site of drinking waterTN, and ss with pH (Table 1). It aligned with the resultsresources for Shanghai City at a distance of about 40 kmof Che中国煤化工from Dianfeng site.2.1.2SCHCNMH GLinjiang site: at a distance of about 70 km from Di-Highr valuces of o inaIcae an enianced pollution statusanfeng site, and which located near the famous Jinshanof a water body. It is indicated in Fig.2 that ss in thepetrochemical industry area.water increased along the river stream. Downstream sitesNo.10Water quality charateristics along the course of the Huangpu River (China)1195Thable 1 Correlation cficients between the water characteristis h the Huangpu River (n=30)pH ssDOBODsINPNH4*-N NO3"-N Phenol OiCrTotalE. colibacteria.0000.570"0.392-0.357 -0.482**0.289 -0.291 0.042. -0.419* -0.135 0.081 -0.106-0.108SS1.000 -0.080 0.645**0.329 0.463** -0.238 0.355 0.298 0.164 0.2670.1641.000 -0.407* -0.151-0.176 -0.37 0.542* -0.464*** -0.357 0.210. -0.319 -0.519**0.398*0.479* 0.722** -0.403* 0.495** 0.537*** 0.250 0.657**TN1.000NH4*-N .1.000 -0.261 0.488** 0.725* 0.392* 0.765**NO3-N.0000 -0.314 -0.4400.148 -0.299Phenol1.000 0.380* 0.252 0.2570.390*Oil1.000 0.183 0.822*** 0.538**1.00 0.1800.121Total bacteria0.652**E coli●r>0.463 means sgnifiant at p=0.01;“r20.361 means sigiant a p=0.05; n=30.were heavily polluted wit very high content of SS, while and microorganisms (Ling et al, 2002).the content of SS was lower in the upstream sites, which2.1.3 Dissolved oxygenindicated that the polluting process of the river was acting.Yangpu site had the highest sS concentration. However, sSconcentation decreased in the Wusong site, which was due parameters in water ecological health, and it showed theto the dilution of tides at the estuary of the Huangpu River.visible spatial and seasonal variations in the whole yearThe river water contained the higher sS concentrationin the Huangpu River (Fig.2). DO values were higher induring the dry season, spring, and on the contary during winter than in summer in the river. The highest valuesthe rainy season, summer and autumn. A large amount ofof DO were observed in upstream sites and lowest in thewater input diluted the ss in the river in the rainy season.Yangpu site. DO content was less than 2 mg/L in theSignificant positive correlation was found with BOD,Yangpu site in July. The low DO values in summer wereNH4*-N and ss, and negative correlation with DO and ss.possibly due to high water temperature and considerableIt was owing to that ss can adsorb many organic mattersactivities of microorganisms, which consumed appreciableamount of oxygen as a result of metabolizing activities and* SO3.2 r00 r,0 t50 t,900 t250 t天727.0 t200 F6.8 t6.0Dianfeng Songpu Linjiang Yangpu WusongDianfeng Songpu Linjimg Yangpu Wusong120.8公公中国煤化工oDianfeng Sougpu LinjiangYangpu:YHCNMHG- -11ugp0 WasongFig. 2 Variation of comprehensive water quality charectristics (pH, ss, DO and BOD) in the Huangpu River (2004).1196YANG Hongjun er al.Vol. 19 .decay of organic matters.of NH4*-N concentrations were similar to those of TN.The oxygen content in water samples depends on a num-There were many densely cultivated farms and oyster bedber of physical, chemical, biological and microbiologicalin the upriver areas near Songpu and Linjiang sites, annualactivities. Signifcant negative correlation was observedfertilizer used in this area was about five thousand tonswith BOD, E. coli, and DO and positive corelation with(Shanghai EPB, 2001). Land runoff and pollutants from theNO3"-N.oyster bed should be the main input resources of nurient.As spring is the cultivation time along the river, surplus2.1.4 Biological oxygen demandBOD is another important factors used to assess thenitrogen and phosphorous are fertilized in March. Sowater quality regarding organic matter both suspended andriver water contained the highest nutrient concentration inMarch. However, the highest NO3-N values were found indissolved. In all the tested sites, highest BOD5 values wereSongpu site and the lowest NO3"-N values in the Yangpuobserved in the Yangpu site with lowest values in Dianfengsite. It was due to DO values in the Yangpu site was verysite in the study of the whole year (Fig.2). The high BODslow. Nitrification process needs not only certain amountvalues in the downstream sites indicated organic matterof nitrogen but also oxygen existing in water body. DObeing input during its course.value is a key factor relating to nitrogen removal capacityBOD was significantly in positive correlation withby nitrification-denitrification in surface water.NH4*-N, total bacteria and E. Coli. BOD and NH4*-N mayThere were significant positive correlations betweenbe input in company with each other during the pollutingBOD, TN, TP, NH4*-N, total bacteria and E. coli. Nev-process along the stream. It was aligned with the previousertheless, NO3"-N values were in significant positivework of Ahipathy and Puttaiah (2006).correlations with DO.2.1.5 Nutrients2.1.6 Phenol and oillPhenol and oil are main specifc chemical pollutants inproblems of inland water bodies is eutrophication. TN, am-the river. Their results are given in Fig.4. Although phenolmonia nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen and TP are main nutrientsconcentration gradually increased from the upstream sitesenriched in water body. Surplus nutrients will promote theto the downstream sites, there was no significant inputexcessive growth of algae and producing much microcystinsite. The lowest oil concentrations were observed in thein water body,. It poses great bhealth risks to consumers,Linjiang site and the highest concentrations were observedand produces serious environmental issues. In the Huangpuin the Yangpu site. As Yangpu District was the old industryRiver the lowest of TN and TP values were observed inbase of Shanghai City in the last century, and there wereDianfeng site, as shown in Fig.3. They quickly increasedmore conveying ships in the Yangpu site than in the otherfrom the upstream sites to the downstream sites. Variationssites. Oil must mainly come from ships transporting in the.6 r.5 t.4-0.3 Fz 3-2t.1 tDianfeng Soagpu LinjiangYangpu WusongDianfeng Soogpu Linjing Yogpu Wusong5.44..0 t3.53.2:; 2.虽15中国煤化工/沙。1.0.MHCNMHG-。L0DianfengSongpu LinjiangYangpuWusongDianfeng Soogpu Linjiang Yangpu WasongFig.3 Variation of urieats (TN, TP, NH4*-N and NO-"-N) in the Huangpu River (2004).No.10Water quality characteristics along the course of the Huangpu River (China)11970.0071.0.06120.005//s10.04。,t 0.80.003i 0.0.0020.0.0010Dianfeng Songpu LijiangYangpuWusongDianfeng Songpu Lijang Yangpu WusongFig 4 Variation of typical chemicals, pheaol and oil in the Huangpu River (2004).river.the dry season. Salinity showed no specific relation withOil was in signifcant positive correlations with NH4*-Nother characteristics.and total bacteria.2.1.8 Total bacteria and E. coli2.1.7 SalinityMicroorganism and their activities indicate decomposi-CI~ concentrations were detected to show the variationstion capacity of organic matters in the water body. Totalof alkalinity in the river. It was concluded from Fig.5 thatbacteria and E. coli were detected and given in Fig.6.there was no significant change along the stream except inThe highest total counts of bacteria and E. coli werethe Wusong site. Wusong site had the highest salinity, as itall observed in the Yangpu site. Microorganism amountswas the estuary of the river. Much salt from the oCean wasincreased with the concentration of biodegradable organicmixed with water there with the tides. In all the present matters and nitrogen. It has been approved that removalinvestigation, maximum salinity was observed in January,rates of organic matters were significant positive in cor-relations with numbers of bacteria Liang et al, 2003).00 rThe microbial loading may come from point sources,00 .... msuch as storage facilities and feedlots, and from non-point sources, such as grazed pastures and rangelands.00 tMicroorganisms can be transported by both advection and500 F-.-. Nov.dispersion processes in stream environments. Advectionrefers to transport with the mean water flow, and dispersionrepresents the movement of contaminants through the ac-i300ttion of random motions. However, availability of nutrientsshould be one of the major factors which have been shownto infuence microbial survival in the aquatic environments,besides temperature, light, pH, and salinity (Jamieson etSongpu Linjiang Yuogpu Wusongal, 2004).Significant positive correlation was found with BOD,Fig 5 Variaion of slinit, Cl in the Huangpu River (2004).NH4*-N, oil and total bacteria or E. coli, and negative一-第一 Sep.80000 .35007000030006000025005000004000050030000A20000中国煤化工10000TYHCNMHGSDianfeng Songpu Liajimng Yaugpu WasoogDianfeng Songpr Linjiang Yangpu WusongFig. 6 Variation of microorganisms, total baceria and E. coli in the Huangpu River (2004).1198YANG Hong-jon et alVol. 19correlation with DO, NO3' -N and total bacteria or E. coli.in water[P]. US Patent 5411867, May 2, 1995. Appl. No: .091528. Filed: August 12, 1993.2.2 Mechanisms between the main characteristicsChetana s A, Somasekhar R K, 1997a. Ecological study onAmong relations between thirteen characteristics, re-the riverine ecosystem of Karnataka. I Physico-chemicallations between BOD, DO, TN, TP, NH4*-N, NO3 -Ncharacteristics of River Cauvery[]. J Environ Pollut, 4(1):57-63.and total bacteria or E. coli were significant and in-Chetana S A, Somasekhar R K, 1997b. Ecological study onterdependent. Effect mechanisms between these mainthe riverine ecosystem of Karnataka. II. Physico chemicalcharacteristics in the Huangpu River are shown in Fig.7.characterisation of River Vrishabhathi[J]. J Environ Pol-lut, 4(1): 71-77.High BODvaloca High TN and NIHL2.N valucaCovich A P, Ewel K C, Hall R 0 et al, 2004. Ecosystem servicesprovided by freshwater benthos[M]. Sustaining biodiversityand ecosystem services in soils and sedimnents (Wall D. H,More micoorganisms- Less DO valuea-→Low NO:-N valuesed.). Washington, DC: Sland Press. 45- -72.Fig. 7 Efect mechanisms between the main caracrestics in the Huang-Giller P s, 2005. River restoration: seeking ecological stan-dars[J]. J Appl Ecol, 42: 201- -207.pu River.Jamieson R, Gordon R, Joya D et al, 2004. Assessing microbialpollution of rural surface waters- A review of current water-High nutrient concentration led to growth of microor-shed scale modeling approaches[J]. Agric Water Manage,ganisms, namely, if there was a large quantity of organic70: 1-17.waste in the water supply, there would also be a lotKang C, Wang Y, Li R er al, 200.0 A modified spectrophotomet-of bacteria present working to decompose this waste.ric method for the determination of trace amounts of phenolDegradation of organic matters and respiration of bacteriain water[I]. Microchem J, 64: 161-171.decreased oxygen concentration in water body; BOD wasLavado R, Uren R, Martin R et al, 2006. The combined use ofa measure of the oxygen used by the microorganisms. DOchemical and biochemical markers to assess water qualityalong the Ebro River[]. J Environ Pollut, 139: 330 -339.was a key factor for nitrification-denitrification process ofLi B K, Bishop P L, 2004. Oxidation- reduction potential changesnitrogen. Due to the high oxygen demand for ammoniain aeration tanks and microprofiles of activated sludge focoxidation, decrease of DO must lead to low nitrificationin medium- and low-strength wastewaters[J]. Water Environrate in water body (Ruiz et al, 2006). It had been testifedRes. 76(5): 394403.that DO higher than 1.0 mg/L was necessary for degra-Liang Vdation of cell-biodegradable organic matters. Nitificationganisms and urease actvities in wastewater purification inaneed at higher ORP values (380 420 mV) than it did inconstructed wetland system[J]. Ecol Eng, 21: 191-195.the case for organic substrate oxidation (250- 300 mV).ing T, Achberger E, Drapcho C et al, 2002. 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