Characterization of Water Pollution Load in an Artificial Lake Irregularly Receiving River Water

Abstract

The first objective of this study was to investigate water pollution status of Meejae Reservoir, Kunsan, irregularly receiving river water for agricultural and recreational purposes. The second objective of the study was to compare nutrient pollution loads of three nutrient sources: sediment leaching, non-point sources and the receiving water. Water analysis results showed that eutrophication was a concern especially in summer and the calculated TSI (secchi depth), TSI (chlorophyll-a), and TSI (TP) were 53.6, 57.7 and 56.7, respectively. Although there was no significant difference in seasonal mean values of sediment T-N, sediment T-P and sediment organic content, mean differences were found for sampling points. However, T-N and T-P sediment release flux showed seasonal mean differences, while showing no mean difference for sampling points. Water T-N data proportionally correlated with sediment T-N and sediment organic content data, while no statistical correlation was found for water T-P data. Comparison of nutrient loads calculated from three sources showed that the highest T-N load was occurred from the receiving (pumped) water while T-P loads of the receiving water and sediment release flux were similar. The first solution would be considered for the receiving water to improve the water quality of Meejae Reservoir. Reduction of nutrient flux from the sediment would be then tried as the second alternative solution.