Due to environmental concerns, most of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) have been eliminated or reduced in production and use; however, due to their great persistency, POPs are expected still to be found in the environment long after their use has ceased. Although, in recent years, POPs have rarely been detected in river water in the United Kingdom (UK), their concentrations in fish (biota) and sediment are expected to be notable due to their lipophilicity and bioaccumulation; however, there is a lack of information and data to understand the current contamination of POPs in catchments and evaluate their potential risk to the environment and ecosystem. This thesis describes the application of mathematical modelling approaches to (i) predict the current distribution and concentration of POPs in catchments, (ii) evaluate the influence of climate change and extreme weather conditions on the fate of POPs, and (iii) provide guidelines to inform decision-making on managing the potential risks of POPs in river basins. The modelling studies have mainly focused on polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). The River Thames catchment was chosen as the study area. The Fugacity level III model was initially used to describe the general distribution of PCBs between different compartments; it was predicted that the greatest mass of PCBs remain in the soil, but the fish and sediments represent compartments with the highest PCB concentrations. The contamination of PCBs in Thames fish was estimated to exceed the unrestricted consumption thresholds of 5.9 μg/kg for ∑PCBs set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); no current EU Environmental Quality Standards (EQS) are available for PCBs in fish. It was indicated that the PCBs in fish could be linked to PCB contamination in sediment, which was predicted to be about three times higher than the fish concentrations, but insufficient observed data of PCBs in Thames fish and sediment are available to validate the results. In order to address this limitation in observed data, fish and sediment sampling and chemical analysis were carried out for the presence of POPs. In addition to PCBs, the measured results for hexachlorobenzene (HCB) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in Thames fish and sediment were assessed. Although the observed fish- and sediment concentrations of the chemicals appear quite variable, when normalised to organic carbon the levels in sediment, they were comparable to the fish lipid normalised concentrations. Using the temperature and rainfall data forecasts in the UK Climate Projections 2009 (UKCP09), climate change scenarios were established and assessed in the fugacity modelling. The modelling results suggested a modest influence of climate change on PCB fate over the next 80 years. The most significant result was a tendency, in the Thames catchment, for climate change to enhance the evaporation of PCBs from soil to air. While the fugacity model successfully simulated the distribution and fate of PCBs, we used greatly simplified representations of climate, hydrology and biogeochemical processes of the catchment: to have a deeper understanding, a newly developed dynamic hydrobiogeochemical transport model - the Integrated Catchment Contaminants model (INCAContaminants) was applied. Using additional information about weather, river flows and water chemistry, the INCA-Contaminants model provided new insights into the behaviour of contaminants in the catchment; this led to a better representation of PCB contamination in sediment. In addition, INCA demonstrated the important impact of short-term weather variation on PCB movement through the environment. It was shown that PCBs contamination in Thames sediment was greatly disturbed by the severe flooding that occurred in early 2014. This thesis presents the application of the INCA model to assess - in addition to POPs - the behaviour of metaldehyde in the River Thames catchment. Metaldehyde is a type of pesticide used mainly to kill snails and slugs. Its application in agricultural areas within the catchment area has in recent years caused severe problems with drinking water supply. The INCA model has proved to be an effective tool for simulating the transport of metaldehyde in the catchment, predicting observed metaldehyde concentrations at multiple locations in the River Thames; this is the first time that a dynamic modelling approach has been used to predict the behaviour of metaldehyde in river basins. Modelling results showed that high concentrations of metaldehyde in the river system are a direct consequence of excessive application rates. In this thesis, a simple decision-support tool was derived from modelling results, based on variable application rates and application areas. This decision-support tool is now being used by Thames Water to help control peak concentrations of metaldehyde at key water supply locations.

Magister Commercii - MCom / The main purpose of this study was to assess the negative external impact of water pollution upon water resources and the users thereof within urban areas. / South Africa

A construção civil ocupa uma posição muito importante no contexto da degradação ambiental, a qual o Planeta vem assistindo nas últimas décadas, sendo responsável por uma parcela significativa do consumo total de recursos naturais. Além disso, considerando uma análise do ciclo de vida de edifícios, a fase de uso dos mesmos tem tomado crescente importância no impacto total gerado pela edificação. Alterações no ciclo hidrológico e poluição dos meios hídricos são exemplos de importantes impactos gerados pelo uso de edificações. Em meio urbano são co-responsáveis também pelas cheias e inundações, que com freqüência geram importantes perdas humanas e materiais. Soluções técnicas alternativas têm sido desenvolvidas e apresentadas pelo mundo. Porém mostram-se pouco adaptáveis às condições nacionais, entre outros, por causa do aspecto econômico, muito importante em países subdesenvolvidos como o Brasil. Neste sentido, a pesquisa objetiva uma caracterização dos benefícios diretos e indiretos decorrentes da implantação de sistemas de captação e aproveitamento de água da chuva, para utilização não potável, em meio urbano, principalmente sob o aspecto econômico. Para tanto, revisa alguns aspectos relativos à contextualização e à viabilidade técnica destes sistemas, apresentando desde o tema da água no planeta até suas interações mais objetivas, no meio urbano. Um estudo experimental, sobre a edificação denominada Protótipo Alvorada, é desenvolvido em paralelo, a fim de ilustrar e balizar os estudos das variáveis dimensionais do sistema, dos números de chuva, neste caso para Porto Alegre/RS, e também o levantamento dos principais tipos e componentes de sistemas existentes. Os resultados para os benefícios diretos, sobre o aspecto econômico, demonstram em geral que o custo de implantação do sistema é o maior entrave à sua aplicação. Este fato deve-se, em grande parte à disponibilidade do recurso em Porto Alegre, entregue dentro das residências por um baixo custo. O estudo em torno dos benefícios indiretos revelou o potencial do sistema como auxiliar na drenagem urbana. Dependendo ainda de estudos mais aprofundados, o sistema conta com a possibilidade receber subsídio público para sua implantação, gerando economia para o mesmo e maximizando também o benefício direto. / During the past few decades the building industry was becoming increasingly responsible for a large portion of environmental degradation. In addition, considering the life cycle analysis of buildings, the building utilization phase is gaining importance in building environmental impact. Alterations in the water cycle, often resulting in human and economic loses because of urban flooding, is an example where the building utilization phase plays a significant role in environmental degradation. One answer to these problems is alternative technical solutions that are being developed and presented to environmental forums throughout the world; however, most of the alternative solutions are not economically feasible for sub-developed countries like Brazil. The objective of this research is to characterize the direct and indirect benefits provided by residential urban rainwater catchment systems and the implementation for non-potable use in the urban environment for economic gain. Towards this goal, the dissertation reviews some contexts and technical viability concerns about urban water interactions and drainage systems. A study, developed simultaneously with the research, was conducted on the building Protótipo Alvorada to gain an understanding of the variables of system dimensions, rain water distribution and volume. The study also explores existing systems, principal types of systems and components of existing systems. The results of this study have shown that, from an economic standpoint, the cost of system implementation is generally the main barrior to implemention of rainwater catchment systems. One reason that rainwater catchment systems are not economically feasible choice for the city of Porto Alegre is in large part due to the availability of potable water in the city. Water distribution to residences within the city is very inexpensive and widely available. The study about the indirect benefits of rainwater catchment systems has shown the potential of systems to help alleviate urban drainage problems. Despite the necessity for further studies, the feasibility of system implementation here in Porto Alegre/RS counts on the possibility of initial public funding in order to maximize the direct benefits of catchment systems. Installation of rainwater catchment systems would ultimately save money for the municipal government of Porto Alegre.

This master thesis deals with the influence of temporal distribution of precipitation on hydrological characteristics of the rainfall-runoff process. The practical part of the thesis was carried out on the drainage basin Volšovka. In the theoretical part, the origin, division, and temporal distribution of rainfall is described, as well as surface runoff and some chosen hydrological characteristics of flow-off. Moreover the work deals with hydrological simulation, there is also described in further detail the rainfall-runoff model HEC-HMS, which is furthermore used in the practical part of this thesis. In the practical part, the characteristics of the area of interest is introduced. Next is described the preparation of the rainfall data with the use of DES_RAIN programme, also creation of the digital model of the terrain in the ArcGIS programme and the preparation of hydrological model in HEC-HMS model. In the conclusion of the thesis, the flow capacities of the closure profile of Volšovka were simulated, as well as other particular closure profiles of the catchment area. There were 16 simulations carried out, which were evaluated on the basis of the peak flow capacities and the time of culmination.

Na maior parte dos ecossistemas aquáticos a respiração excede a produção primária bruta autóctone, acarretando uma produção líquida de ecossistema negativa. Estudos recentes atribuem essa condição a processos de degradação de matéria orgânica alóctone, portanto o ciclo do carbono em corpos de água interiores deve estar pareado com o aporte de carbono orgânico originado na bacia hidrográfica. Este trabalho contribui para a melhor compreensão dos processos atuantes no ciclo de carbono em bacias hidrográficas, por meio de monitoramento de dados de campo, desenvolvimento e aplicação de modelagem matemática e simulação numérica. O estudo foi realizado utilizando dados de monitoramento na bacia hidrográfica do Rio Ijuí localizada no planalto meridional gaúcho. A exportação fluvial de carbono orgânico e inorgânico foi estimada a partir de dados de vazão e concentração. Um modelo baseado em processos para simulação da dinâmica de carbono, MGB-IPH-C, foi desenvolvido e acoplado ao modelo hidrológico MGB-IPH. O modelo hidrológico foi ajustado em diversos pontos de controle na bacia hidrográfica do Ijuí obtendo-se bons resultados, principalmente para as bacias de maior porte (>1000 km2). O modelo de carbono foi avaliado qualitativamente considerando a representação de processos conceituais e, quantitativamente, pela comparação das concentrações e fluxos simulados em relação aos obtidos pelos dados do monitoramento. Não foi possível identificar associações diretas entre as concentrações de carbono inorgânico ou orgânico e vazão, com base nos dados medidos em campo. As cargas médias de carbono nas bacias estudadas apresentaram valores abaixo da média global, na ordem de 25-40 kg.ha-1.ano-1 e 8-10 kg.ha-1.ano-1, para as frações inorgânica e orgânica, respectivamente. O MGB-IPH-C representou processos conceituais esperados, em especial, a acumulação no solo e o efeito da lavagem das águas sobre a concentração dos rios. Foi possível obter bons ajustes em escala anual para as cargas e concentrações médias de carbono na bacia de estudo. A simulação da dinâmica de carbono em ecossistemas aquáticos em pareamento com a bacia hidrográfica utilizando modelos conceituais determinísticos contribui para o entendimento dos processos operantes nesses sistemas e deve ser complementada por meio de análise de dados de monitoramento, em freqüência adequada à escala, com métodos empíricos. / In most aquatic ecosystems respiration exceeds autochtonous gross primary production leading to a negative net ecosystem production. Recent studies attributes this condition to allochtonous organic matter degradation processes, so the inland water carbon cycle should be linked to the input of organic carbon from the catchment. This work contributes to a better comprehension of processes operating in the carbon cycle in river basins, throughout development and application of mathematical modeling and numerical simulation. The study was conducted using data of the Ijuí river watershed, located in the Planalto Meridional Gaúcho. Fluvial exports of organic and inorganic carbon were estimated from data measured in field. A process-based model for carbon dynamics simulation, MGB-IPH-C, was developed and coupled to the hydrological model MGB-IPH. The hydrological model was calibrated to various control points in the Ijui river basin with good results, especially in larger subwatersheds (>1000 km2). The carbon model was evaluated considering the representation of carbon dynamics conceptual processes and by comparison of observed carbon concentrations and export rates obtained by simulation and monitoring data. The estimates of annual export of carbon in the study area were below the global average, in magnitude of 25-40 kg/ha.yr and 8-10 kg/ha.yr for inorganic and organic carbon, respectively. The proposed carbon model, MGB-IPH-C, was able to simulate expected conceptual processes, in particular, the build-up on soil and the effect of wash-off on carbon concentration in river reaches. It was possible to obtain good fits for annual average carbon fluvial export rates and concentrations. The simulation of carbon dynamics in inland waters coupled with the watershed using conceptual deterministic models contributes to the understanding of processes operating on these systems and may be complemented throughout analysis of field data, at frequency appropriated to the scale, with empirical methods.

In recent years, the increasing awareness of scarcity of water resources, indications of likely climate variability, and the increasing pressure to use available fresh water resources more efficiently have together reinforced the need to look at infrastructure solutions with due regard to environmental considerations and social impacts, present and future. There is a vital need to apply an integrated approach to catchment management to implement sustainable solutions to resolve issues such as water supply and sewerage, drainage and river flooding. Many potentials solutions are available to control water demand and manage flood problems. Greywater recycling and rainwater harvesting are novel technologies. However, their catchment scale impacts on hydraulic and hydrological flows are poorly understood. The research aim is to identify the hydrologic and hydraulic impacts of scaling up such technologies at catchment scale. For this particular study, a computer simulation model will be used to evaluate how increasing urbanisation, climate change and the implementation of greywater recycling and rainwater harvesting may alter the water balance within a representative catchment. To achieve these aims data from the Carrickmines catchment in Ireland have been collected; a simulation model has been adapted to carry out the study, the model has been calibrated and validated, results have been analysed, and finally, a sensitivity analysis has been carried out. The results show that rainwater harvesting systems are comparatively more effective than greywater recycling techniques in reducing flood frequency and intensity. Under five year return period rainfall events, the implementation of rainwater harvesting at any scale and number of units is a useful technique to control river flow and floods. However, the study also shows that under extreme conditions the efficiency of rainwater harvesting systems decreases. The study concludes that implementing the two technologies within a single catchment is not a solution to several forms of hydrological problem. The study shows that implementing rainwater harvesting or re-use technologies are a very useful way to protect local freshwater reserves and therefore conserve our environment.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / The intense use of the soil and natural resources emphasizes the importance of researching fields related to sediment transport and sediment deposition in catchments. Consequently sediment yield is object of concern in situations regarding the land se and water resources management. The main objective of this research was to evaluate the sediment yield at Sao Martinho da Serra experimental catchment (region named Lajeado Grande). Such evaluation was accomplished by monitoring the water resources in the specific region. The field methodology included liquid discharges measurements, rainfall data collection, suspended sediment and bed material sampling, included tests to determine suspended sediment concentration and particle size distribution for the suspended and bed material. Sediment and flow rating curves were produced to the specific catchment. The largest possible number of rainfall events was monitored during the research period (23/12/2005 a 15/06/2007). The water level and the discharge measurements were carried out upstream and downstream to the studying area. Rainfall data were obtained from the rain gauge installed next to the area. Six methods were applied to calculate the sediment yield during rainfall events. Such methods were chosen according the measured data availabilty. The best adjust between sediment yield measured and calculated values was obtained with the application of MUSLE, which was applied by sub-catchments and relates the sediment yield to the observed effective rainfall (Hef). / O intenso uso do solo e recursos naturais em geral, tem mostrado a importância de estudos e pesquisas nas áreas referentes ao transporte e deposição de sedimentos nas bacias hidrográficas, conseqüentemente a produção de sedimentos é objeto de preocupação em todas as situações referentes à gestão do uso do solo e da água. O principal objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a produção de sedimentos na Bacia experimental de São Martinho da Serra (região chamada arroio Lajeado Grande) através do monitoramento dos recursos hídricos no Município de São Martinho da Serra. A metodologia utilizada foi medida de descarga líquida no campo, coleta de amostras de sedimentos em suspensão e do material de fundo, coleta e análise de dados de precipitação, análises de laboratório para determinação da concentração de sedimento em suspensão e, para determinação da distribuição granulométrica do material em suspensão e do material de fundo. Para tanto, foram determinadas as curvas chave de vazão e de sedimentos nas sessões em estudo. Foi medido o maior numero de eventos possíveis no período estudado (23/12/2005 a 15/06/2007). Com a coleta de dados nos equipamentos instalados à montante e jusante do local de estudo e com ajuda de um pluviômetro instalado próximo ao local foi possível tirar dados de cota, vazão e precipitação. Seis métodos de cálculo foram aplicados para determinar a produção de sedimento em eventos chuvosos. Tais métodos foram escolhidos devido a disponibilidade de dados observados e calculados. O método que forneceu melhor ajuste dos resultados calculados aos dados medidos de produção de sedimento, foi a MUSLE, aplicada por sub-bacias, utilizando a altura e a duração da chuva efetiva observada (Hef).

It is in human nature to adapt the environment for his needs and wishes. Politics, technology and society as a whole went trough dramatic changes in Czech Republic in last 50 years. These changes approved naturally on land utilization too. This research is focused on the evalution of land use changes in last 50 years in the catchment of Jenínský stream. The research is based on photogrammetric scans from years 1952, 1974 and 2005. Polygon maps of land use in GIS were elaborated from these scans. Outputs of these maps were subsequently analysed and mutually compared.

The theme of my graduation theses is a solution of the soil protection from erosion on the model catchment of the Zvíkovský stream. The aim of this work is canvass of the catchment Zvíkovský stream in the view of the pedology, hydrogeology, climatology and calculate the soil loss from the areas in consequence of the water erosion. I used the equation losses of the soils from the area according Wischmeier and Smith and the assesment of the transporting the sediment runoff according Williams and Berndt which was calculated with the help of the programme ERCN {--} the enumerations required for the suggestion of the precautions from erosion. The map basis of this work is the basic map of the Czech republic 1: 10 000 and the water utilization map of the Czech republic 1:50 000.

The aim of this thesis is to create various thematic layers for the Zdíkovský stream catchment. The first step was to collect maps and compare them with the actual state, followed by the digitizing of these documents and the creation of thematic layers. Map outputs were created from the individual layers and their combinations and were analyzed. The result is a set of GIS layers for the catchment. ArcGIS Desktop 9.1 program developed by ESRI was used in this work. Elaborated set of layers will be further used for research and educational purposes by the Department of Land Adjustment.