Point and diffuse source analysis of heavy metals in the Elbe drainage area: Comparing heavy metal emissions with transported river loads

Vink, Rona; Behrendt, Horst; Salomons, Wim

doi:10.1007/978-94-017-2163-9_32

Cited by 10 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 5 publications

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“…Other uncertainties are the role of processes of retention (sedimentation) and release (resuspension) of material within the river network (Foster and Charlesworth, 1996). A discrepancy between measured heavy metal loads and heavy metal inputs into a river system exists (Behrendt, 1993;Vink et al, 1997Vink et al, , 1999b. Asselman (1997) reported a net loss of sediments, due to overbank sedimentation.…”

Section: Model Uncertainty and Sensitivitymentioning

confidence: 95%

Modelling point and diffuse heavy metal emissions and loads in the Elbe basin

Vink

Peters²

2003

Hydrological Processes

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Abstract:The reduction of pollutant loads in rivers requires a good comprehension of the contribution of all major (point and diffuse) sources in each sub-basin. Due to the sudden change of a centrally planned economy to a free-market economy in 1989, the River Elbe is one of the fastest changing transboundary river basins in Central Europe. The quantification of fluxes of heavy metals in the Elbe basin requires information on the spatial and temporal characteristics of emissions and on physical boundary conditions of the entire river basin. In this paper, a GIS-based model METALPOL will be presented, that describes the load of five heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Hg, Pb, Zn) in the Elbe basin over the period 1985-1999 as a function of (1) emissions from point and diffuse sources, (2) runoff, (3) soil types, (4) land use and (5) hydrogeology. The results from the model were validated with the measured heavy metal loads and showed reasonable agreement. Between 64% (for Hg) and 84% (for Pb) of the total heavy metal emissions in the Elbe basin is supplied by inputs from diffuse sources. The diffuse hydrological pathways with the highest share are erosion and urban areas. In most cases the measured heavy metal load is lower than the sum of the heavy metal emissions. Retention processes (e.g. sedimentation) largely explain this behaviour and are found to be dependent on the specific runoff of a catchment. About 81-97% of variance for the different heavy metals can be explained by the dependency on specific runoff. The uncertainty analysis presented in this paper has also illustrated that the reliability of the model simulations is directly affected by the quality of the input data (especially point source and urban emissions) and the distribution of the input data like rainfall data, emission data, soil data and land cover data. Finally, scenario analysis indicated that the current proposed measures are not stringent enough to achieve large reductions in heavy metal loads in the Elbe basin.

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Section: Model Uncertainty and Sensitivitymentioning

confidence: 95%

Modelling point and diffuse heavy metal emissions and loads in the Elbe basin

Vink

Peters²

2003

Hydrological Processes

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“…Emissions along the groundwater pathway are estimated by multiplying the volume of groundwater flowing to the river and measured concentrations in the groundwater from the various German Federal States (see Vink and Behrendt (2002)). Area-specific emission rates of paved urban areas are estimated as the sum of several pathways and sources occurring within an urban area (Behrendt, 1993;Rautengarten, 1993;Vink et al, 1997). There are several sources: traffic, atmospheric deposition and corrosion of building materials.…”

Section: Moneris (Modeling Nutrient Emissions Inmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The heavy metal inputs from different pathways were estimated (see Vink et al (1997Vink et al ( , 1999a). For all sources, emission factors from various studies were evaluated and averages were used to describe the magnitude of the heavy metal emissions in this study (Vink et al, 1997(Vink et al, , 1999aVink and Behrendt, 2002). A detailed description of the point and diffuse pathways in MONERIS is given in Behrendt et al (2000).…”

Section: Moneris (Modeling Nutrient Emissions Inmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It comprises the following information: rate of utilization, treated population equivalents, treated population equivalents (inhabitants), treated population equivalents (indirect industrial discharges). The heavy metal emissions of a WWTP were estimated based on an inhabitant-specific heavy metal emission and the treatment efficiency for different types of wastewater treatment (see Vink et al (1999b)). The direct input of heavy metals into the river by atmospheric deposition is estimated by multiplication of the deposition rate of heavy metals and the total area of surface water in a specific region (see Vink and Behrendt (2002)).…”

Section: Moneris (Modeling Nutrient Emissions Inmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Heavy metal transport in large river systems: heavy metal emissions and loads in the Rhine and Elbe river basins

Vink

Behrendt

2002

Hydrological Processes

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Abstract:Pollutant transport and management in the Rhine and Elbe basins is still of international concern, since certain target levels set by the international committees for protection of both rivers have not been reached. The analysis of the chain of emissions of point and diffuse sources to river loads will provide policy makers with a tool for effective management of river basins. The analysis of large river basins such as the Elbe and Rhine requires information on the spatial and temporal characteristics of both emissions and physical information of the entire river basin. In this paper, an analysis has been made of heavy metal emissions from various point and diffuse sources in the Rhine and Elbe drainage areas. Different point and diffuse pathways are considered in the model, such as inputs from industry, wastewater treatment plants, urban areas, erosion, groundwater, atmospheric deposition, tile drainage, and runoff. In most cases the measured heavy metal loads at monitoring stations are lower than the sum of the heavy metal emissions. This behaviour in large river systems can largely be explained by retention processes (e.g. sedimentation) and is dependent on the specific runoff of a catchment. Independent of the method used to estimate emissions, the source apportionment analysis of observed loads was used to determine the share of point and diffuse sources in the heavy metal load at a monitoring station by establishing a discharge dependency. The results from both the emission analysis and the source apportionment analysis of observed loads were compared and gave similar results. Between 51% (for Hg) and 74% (for Pb) of the total transport in the Elbe basin is supplied by inputs from diffuse sources. In the Rhine basin diffuse source inputs dominate the total transport and deliver more than 70% of the total transport. The diffuse hydrological pathways with the highest share are erosion and urban areas.

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“…As a consequence of this, diffuse emissions became more important. For instance, groundwater became the dominant pathway for heavy metal inputs [17].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessment of Water Quality in the Elbe River at Low Water Conditions Based on Factor Analysis

Baborowski

Büttner

Einax

2011

CLEAN Soil Air Water

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An assessment of water quality measurements during a long-lasting low water period in the Elbe River is presented. Weekly samples were taken from May to December 2003 at a sampling site in the middle part of the Elbe River. For multivariate data analysis, 34 parameters of 46 samplings were considered. As a result of this analysis, 78% of the variance of the data set is explained by five factors. They can be assigned to the following latent variables: season (37.5%) > tributaries (12.7%) > re-suspension (10.4%) > discharge (9.4%) > complexation (8.5%). For the investigated sampling site, two key processes were identified as dominating factors on the water quality during low water conditions. First, seasonal phytoplankton development caused changes in redox conditions with consequences for re-solution of pollutants from sediments. Second, tributaries have a higher impact on the main stream, due to changes in mixing processes. Therefore, in addition to flood investigations, monitoring strategies, and management plans should be developed in order to survey changes in water quality during low water conditions.

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Point and diffuse source analysis of heavy metals in the Elbe drainage area: Comparing heavy metal emissions with transported river loads

Cited by 10 publications

References 5 publications

Modelling point and diffuse heavy metal emissions and loads in the Elbe basin

Modelling point and diffuse heavy metal emissions and loads in the Elbe basin

Heavy metal transport in large river systems: heavy metal emissions and loads in the Rhine and Elbe river basins

Assessment of Water Quality in the Elbe River at Low Water Conditions Based on Factor Analysis

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