Research in the use of ozone in water treatment conducted by many authors support the idea that the nature and characteristics of natural organic matter (NOM) present in raw water determines the efficiency of ozonation in water purification. An ozone contact chamber was designed and made to allow pre-ozonation of water to take place. The concentration of ozone in the chamber was determined using the Indigo method. For the duration of one year, water samples were collected from four different sampling sites and analyzed to determine their overall ecological status with regard to several variables such as pH, chlorophyll-a, SAC254, turbidity, DOC, algal species composition and sum of NOM. Two dams sites and two riverine sites were chosen, Hartbeespoort Dam (a hyper-eutrophic impoundment), Boskop Dam (a mesotrophic impoundment), Midvaal Water Company at Orkney and Sedibeng Water at Bothaville. The samples were treated in Jar Tests with FeCI3 and the same variables were measured. Preozonation followed by Jar Tests was performed on each sample at twoconcentrations of ozone and the variables were measured to examine the efficiency of ozonation. In general, the ph was high and stayed the same for all the samples and for all the treatments. DOC was variable and showed no relationship to any other variable or to the treatments. Hartbeespoort Dam was found to be a eutrophic impoundment characterized by high algal bloom of the cyanobacteria Microcystis sp., Turbidity, SAC254, and the sum of NOM were lower than for the riverine sites but higher than for Boskop Dam. The NOM constituted more intermediate molecular weight(1MW)and low molecular weight (LMW) fractions than the riverine sites. Ozone was effective in reducing chlorophyll-a, turbidity and SAC254 from Hartbeespoort Dam, but the presence of large numbers of algal cells interferes with its efficiency. Release of cell-bound organics after ozonation can lead to increases instead of decreases in these variables. Jar Test results demonstrate that ozonation improves water quality when compared to conventional treatment although the interference of algal cells can alter results. Boskop Dam is a mesotrophic impoundment characterised by low productivity, low SAC254, tow turbidity and low sum of NOM. However, it has a large portion of the LMW fraction of NOM present. This LMW fraction affects the treatment process as this fraction is not acted upon by ozone. Therefore it was found that ozonation did not improve the quality of the water when compared to conventional treatment. The two riverine sites, Midvaal and Sedibeng were similar to each other. Both sites had high algal productivity with high chlorophyll-a values indicative of algal blooms observed at certain times. These blooms consisted either of members of Bacillariophyceae or Chlorophyceae. High turbidity and SAC254 was observed during the rainy season and was related to the high percentage HMW and IMW fractions of NOM present. There was correlation between the turbidity and SAC254 of these sites leading to the assumption that the turbidity of the river is due to the presence of HMW humic fractions of NOM. Ozonation was effective in improving water quality with respect to turbidity, SAC254 and chlorophyll-a removal, both on its own and after conventional treatment when combined with a coagulant. However, the species of algae present affects ozonation as members of Bacillariophyceae are not affected by the actions of ozone because of the presence of a silica frustule whereas members of Chlorophyceae are easily removed by ozone. In general, ozone acts upon the HMW and LMW fractions of NOM causing them to breakdown into smaller fractions. Ozone has no effect on samples that have a high percentage of the LMW fraction of NOM. This LMW fraction is more readily removed by conventional treatment than by ozonation. The presence of large numbers of algal cells as well as the species of cells can negatively affect the treatment process with regard to ozone. / Thesis (M. Environmental Science (Water Science))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2007.

Water column methane measurements have been used to understand both the global distribution of methane in the oceans and the local flux of methane from geologic sources on the continental margins, including methane vents and gas-hydrate-bearing sites. We have measured methane concentrations in 1607 water samples collected along the central California continental margin. Methane supersaturation of the surface mixed layer (0-50 msbsl) is widespread and above a well-defined subsurface particle maximum (~50 mbsl) that generally corresponds with the pycnocline. Local production of methane appears to be occurring in the surface mixed layer above the particle maximum and may not be particle-associated. Methane concentrations in water column CTD cast profiles and ROV-collected bottom waters obtained in Partington, Hueneme, Santa Monica, and Redondo submarine canyons increase towards the seafloor and are distinctly higher (up to 186 nM) compared to open-slope and shelf waters at similar depths. These values are in excess of measured surface water methane concentrations and could not be generated by mixing with surface water. Elevated methane concentrations in these submarine canyons and persistent mid-water methane anomalies in Ascension and Ano Nuevo Canyons could result from restricted circulation and/or proximity to gas vents, seafloor exposure of methane gas hydrates, recently-eroded methane-rich sediment, submarine discharge of methane-rich groundwater, or particle-associated methane production. On the Santa Barbara shelf water column methane profiles near known gas vents also increase in concentration with increasing depth. Thus, elevated bottom water methane concentrations observed in submarine canyons may not be diagnostic of proximity to methane vents and may be caused by other processes.

Background: 884 million people do not have access to clean water, which is a potential contributor to diarrhea (JMP, 2010). The purpose of this study was to examine the potential associations between the occurrence of diarrhea and the levels of turbidity, total coliforms, and Escherichia coli (E. coli), in 185 households in Bonao, Dominican Republic in 2005-2006. Methods: A biweekly water quality dataset and a weekly diarrhea occurrence dataset were merged using three different methods. T-tests and odds ratios were calculated for all three different datasets. Multivariate logistic regression was also conducted. Results: There were 430 cases of diarrhea out of 14,245 observations. In the age-adjusted multivariate logistic regression, turbidity (OR = 1.36; p-value = .012) and total coliforms (OR = .842; p-value = .006) were found to be significant for an association with the occurrence of diarrhea. E. coli was not found to be significant for an association. Conclusions: This study strengthens the evidence supporting a positive association between turbidity and the occurrence of diarrhea. This study also showed a negative association between total coliforms and diarrhea. Future studies are needed to clarify these associations.

Studies In other parts of the world have proved that turbidity affects aquatic life and work In Australia and North America has shown that the distribution of some fish species may be determined by the level of turbidity present. This, coupled with the fact that: (i) Natal estuaries are important as nursery areas for the juveniles of many marine fish species, (ii) the estuaries exhibit a wide range of turbidities and (iii) little was known of the effects of turbidity on the fish populations in estuaries, led to this study being undertaken. Turbidity and its effects on fish distribution In Natal estuaries was investigated from January 1980 to June 1983. Lake St. Lucia, which is predominantly turbid but also has clear water areas, was the main study area. Six other estuarine systems sampled were chosen to cover a wide range of estuarine types and turbidities. Field sampling was undertaken to determine which species were present under different turbidities, simultaneously physical factors which were potentially affecting fish distribution were also monitored. In addition to this, laboratory equipment which enabled a turbidity gradient to be established In a choice chamber tank was used to test the turbidity preferences of 10 common estuarine species for which field data were available. These tests allowed the elimination of all physical factors except turbidity. Of the physical parameters monitored In the field, turbidity, temperature and food availability In the benthos, were determined as being important In affecting fish distribution within estauries. However, comparison of fish distribution data for twenty species, with these factors showed that turbidity was exerting the major influence. It was also found that fish species occurred In one of five groups, inhabiting either clear, 'clear to partially turbid', intermediate or turbid waters or they were indifferrent to turbidity. Laboratory results for eight of ten species tested showed significant aoreement with the field data. The results of this study have shown that turbidity is the most important factor determining the distribution of juvenile marine fish In estuaries and that the greatest number of species are present in , waters which are not clear. The attraction to and presence in such systems appears to be related to the fact that turbid estuaries 'provide protection from fish and bird predators while also acting to reduce intraspecific predation. Of factors attracting juvenile fish into estuaries, turbidity is probably the single most important acting in this respect. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 1984.

Research in the use of ozone in water treatment conducted by many authors support the idea that the nature and characteristics of natural organic matter (NOM) present in raw water determines the efficiency of ozonation in water purification. An ozone contact chamber was designed and made to allow pre-ozonation of water to take place. The concentration of ozone in the chamber was determined using the Indigo method. For the duration of one year, water samples were collected from four different sampling sites and analyzed to determine their overall ecological status with regard to several variables such as pH, chlorophyll-a, SAC254, turbidity, DOC, algal species composition and sum of NOM. Two dams sites and two riverine sites were chosen, Hartbeespoort Dam (a hyper-eutrophic impoundment), Boskop Dam (a mesotrophic impoundment), Midvaal Water Company at Orkney and Sedibeng Water at Bothaville. The samples were treated in Jar Tests with FeCI3 and the same variables were measured. Preozonation followed by Jar Tests was performed on each sample at twoconcentrations of ozone and the variables were measured to examine the efficiency of ozonation. In general, the ph was high and stayed the same for all the samples and for all the treatments. DOC was variable and showed no relationship to any other variable or to the treatments. Hartbeespoort Dam was found to be a eutrophic impoundment characterized by high algal bloom of the cyanobacteria Microcystis sp., Turbidity, SAC254, and the sum of NOM were lower than for the riverine sites but higher than for Boskop Dam. The NOM constituted more intermediate molecular weight(1MW)and low molecular weight (LMW) fractions than the riverine sites. Ozone was effective in reducing chlorophyll-a, turbidity and SAC254 from Hartbeespoort Dam, but the presence of large numbers of algal cells interferes with its efficiency. Release of cell-bound organics after ozonation can lead to increases instead of decreases in these variables. Jar Test results demonstrate that ozonation improves water quality when compared to conventional treatment although the interference of algal cells can alter results. Boskop Dam is a mesotrophic impoundment characterised by low productivity, low SAC254, tow turbidity and low sum of NOM. However, it has a large portion of the LMW fraction of NOM present. This LMW fraction affects the treatment process as this fraction is not acted upon by ozone. Therefore it was found that ozonation did not improve the quality of the water when compared to conventional treatment. The two riverine sites, Midvaal and Sedibeng were similar to each other. Both sites had high algal productivity with high chlorophyll-a values indicative of algal blooms observed at certain times. These blooms consisted either of members of Bacillariophyceae or Chlorophyceae. High turbidity and SAC254 was observed during the rainy season and was related to the high percentage HMW and IMW fractions of NOM present. There was correlation between the turbidity and SAC254 of these sites leading to the assumption that the turbidity of the river is due to the presence of HMW humic fractions of NOM. Ozonation was effective in improving water quality with respect to turbidity, SAC254 and chlorophyll-a removal, both on its own and after conventional treatment when combined with a coagulant. However, the species of algae present affects ozonation as members of Bacillariophyceae are not affected by the actions of ozone because of the presence of a silica frustule whereas members of Chlorophyceae are easily removed by ozone. In general, ozone acts upon the HMW and LMW fractions of NOM causing them to breakdown into smaller fractions. Ozone has no effect on samples that have a high percentage of the LMW fraction of NOM. This LMW fraction is more readily removed by conventional treatment than by ozonation. The presence of large numbers of algal cells as well as the species of cells can negatively affect the treatment process with regard to ozone. / Thesis (M. Environmental Science (Water Science))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2007.

Environmental factors affect fish distribution and fisher behavior. These factors are seldom included in stock assessment models, resulting in potentially inaccurate fish abundance estimates. This study determined the impact of these factors using the commercial catch rate of sauger (Sander canadensis) and walleye (Sander vitreus) in Lake Winnipeg by: (1) the use of satellite data to monitor turbidity and its impact on catch via simple linear regression and (2) the effect of environment on catch and effort using generalized linear models. No statistically significant relationship was found between catch and turbidity; a result which may be due to small sample sizes, the fish species' examined, and variable turbidity at depth. Decreased effort was correlated with harsh weather and decreased walleye catch. Increased walleye catch was correlated with low temperature and low Red River discharge. Increased sauger catch was correlated with high temperature, high cloud opacity, and average Red River discharge.

Ancient basin-floor strata are exceptionally well exposed in the Neoproterozoic Windermere Supergroup in the southern Canadian Cordillera. Data from the Castle Creek outcrop, where strata of the upper Kaza Group crop out, and the Mt. Quanstrom outcrop, where the middle Kaza is exposed, form the main dataset for this study. The aim of this study is to describe and interpret the strata starting at the bed scale, followed by stratal element scale, lobe scale and ultimately fan scale. Strata of the Kaza Group comprise six sedimentary facies representing deposition from a variety of fluid and cohesive sediment gravity flows. These, in turn, populate seven stratal elements that are defined by their basal contact, cross-sectional geometry and internal facies distribution. The lithological characteristics of stratal elements vary little from proximal to more distal settings, but their relative abundance and stacking pattern do, which, then, forms the basis for modeling the internal architecture of lobes. Lobes typically comprise an assemblage of stratal elements, which then are systematically and predictably arranged in both space (along a single depositional transect) and time (stratigraphically upward). Lobes typically became initiated by channel avulsion. In the proximal part of the system scours up to several meters deep, several tens of meters wide are interpreted to have formed by erosion downflow of the avulsion node. Erosion also charged the flow with fine-grained sediment and on the lateral margins and downflow avulsion splays were deposited. Later flows then exploited the basin-floor topography and on the proximal basin-floor carved a feeder channel, which then fed a downflow depositional lobe. At the mouths of feeder channels flows became dispersed through a network of distributary channels that further downflow shallow and widen until eventually merging laterally in sandstone-rich terminal splays. During the lifespan of a single lobe the feeder channel remains fixed, but the distributary channel network and its associated terminal splays wander, causing them to stack and be intercalated laterally and vertically. Eventually an upstream avulsion terminates local sediment supply, causing a new lobe to be initiated elsewhere on the fan, and the process repeats.

The Fraser delta hosts a population of over 500,000 including the municipalities of Richmond and Delta and the Vancouver International Airport. The main arm of the Fraser River has been fixed in place by construction of a jetty focusing sediment deposition on the Sand Heads area. There is a history of submarine slide events at the delta crest which pose substantial risk to coastal infrastructure near the delta front. A submarine channel, characterized by prominent levee deposits, extends seaward from the Sand Heads area. In this study, sand beds in cores from levee overspill deposits are dated using excess 210Pb activity. They are interpreted as the downstream deposits of channelized turbidity currents generated by liquefied slide material. Sedimentation is characterized by sandy mud, interpreted to be deposited continuously by river plume suspension fall-out, and two distinct kinds of sand beds which represent two genetically different processes. The first type of sand bed (Facies 6) is thick, sharp based and clean, often showing classic Bouma turbidite elements including a massive sand base with laminated sands fining up to a mud top and is interpreted as the deposit from slides involving large volumes of material at the upper reaches of the tributary channels. The second type of sand bed (Facies 5) is characterized by muddy sand, has gradational contacts, and is interpreted as a low density deposit from either river generated turbidity currents or distal turbidites from smaller slide events. Facies 6 sand beds often occur as sets of 2 to 4 beds and individual bed sets have been dated to approximately the same ages of known large-scale slide events. Facies 5 sand beds occur more frequently and generally occur after periods with high flow. Sediment cores show three distinct phases of levee growth within the past 100 years approximately. A basal phase consists of very thick beds of medium sand that are interpreted to represent the early stage of channel-levee evolution when continuous overspill occurs during turbidity current events. The second stage is characterized by thick sets of frequent Facies 6 fine grained sand beds separated by less than one year of mud deposition. These sand beds are interpreted as representing a period of levee growth where channel relief is low and overspill events occur often. The third phase is characterized by thick mud intervals with less frequent fine sand beds. Phase 3 is interpreted to reflect a state when levee growth has increased channel relief to a height greater than that of the typical channelized turbidity current. In the third phase, sediment bypass is common and only larger density flows are capable of spilling onto the levees. Deposits interpreted to represent large slides have a return interval of 10 to 15 years during the past 40 years. Deposits of smaller events occur on average every four to five years. Event ages are compared to large spring floods from the Fraser River and seismic activity to determine any causal relationship. There is some relationship between ages of event beds and river flood years, but the largest sand beds do not correspond to unusually large flood years or seismic activity. It is concluded that there are likely a combination of factors which contribute to slope failure including over steepening and increased pore pressure. / Graduate / 0372 / cooper.stacey@nrcan.gc.ca

Environmental factors affect fish distribution and fisher behavior. These factors are seldom included in stock assessment models, resulting in potentially inaccurate fish abundance estimates. This study determined the impact of these factors using the commercial catch rate of sauger (Sander canadensis) and walleye (Sander vitreus) in Lake Winnipeg by: (1) the use of satellite data to monitor turbidity and its impact on catch via simple linear regression and (2) the effect of environment on catch and effort using generalized linear models. No statistically significant relationship was found between catch and turbidity; a result which may be due to small sample sizes, the fish species' examined, and variable turbidity at depth. Decreased effort was correlated with harsh weather and decreased walleye catch. Increased walleye catch was correlated with low temperature and low Red River discharge. Increased sauger catch was correlated with high temperature, high cloud opacity, and average Red River discharge.

Humans impact rivers in many ways that modify ecological processes yielding ecosystem services. In order to mitigate anthropogenic impacts, scientists are challenged to understand interactions among physicochemical factors affecting large river food webs. An understanding of socioeconomic factors also is critical for ecosystem management. In this dissertation, I explore spatiotemporal patterns in floodplain river food webs and political barriers to management of environmental flows, an important factor influencing river ecology. In Chapter II, I reviewed the scientific literature to test conceptual models of river food webs and predictions of environmental factors that might produce variation in basal production sources supporting consumer biomass. My review indicates that algae are the predominant production source for large rivers worldwide, but consumers assimilate C3 plants in rivers 1) with high sediment loads and low transparency during high flow pulses, 2) with high dissolved organic matter concentrations, and 3) following periods of high discharge or leaf litter fall that increase the amount of terrestrial material in the particulate organic matter pool. In Chapter III, I descrobe field research conducted to examine relationships among hydrology, nutrient concentrations, turbidity, and algal primary production and biomass in the littoral zone of five rivers in Texas, Peru, and Venezuela differing in physicochemical conditions. I used stable isotope signatures to estimate contributions of algal-versus terrestrial-based production sources to consumers during different hydrologic periods. My research indicates that during flow pulses in floodplain rivers, a decrease in algal biomass and productivity, combined with increased inputs of terrestrial organic matter, can result in increased terrestrial support of metazoan consumers in the aquatic food web. In 2007, Texas Senate Bill 3 directed that environmental flow recommendations be developed for river basins. Despite emphasis on use of the "best available science" to develop environmental flow regimes and "stakeholder involvement" to address needs of all water users, for the first two basins to complete the SB3 process, final environmental flow rules did not mimic a natural flow regime. In Chapter IV, I reviewed this process, concluding that incentives for river authorities to increase compromise with diverse stakeholders should result in more sustainable management of freshwater.