American Journal of Water Resources

This study presents a case study for estimating the 100-year peak flow for Middle Creek Watershed in Northern California. The watershed contains several stream flow gages; however, the precipitation data is only available as daily data, which was not usable form for this study. Thus considering that the watershed to be ungagged. In order to overcome this shortcoming in the hydrologic analysis, other approaches were considered. Therefore, the precipitation point frequency estimates were obtained from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Atlas 14. The Hydrologic Engineering Center’s Hydrologic Modeling System (HMS) was used to create the hydrologic model to estimate the peak flows at key points in the watershed. The purpose of using the HMS model was to predict eh rainfall-runoff analysis for this watershed, which only has steam gage data. Other parameters needed for the HMS model were obtained from various sources as suggested in the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Central Valley Hydrology Study (CVHS): Technical procedures document. The 100-year flows from the HMS model results were then calibrated/validated by comparing to the 100-year flow frequency curves computed using the Hydrologic Engineering Center’s Flood Frequency Analysis (FFA) program, FEMA USACE, and USGS Regression methods. Sensitivity analysis of several of the model parameters was analyzed to determine the results confidence level. The HMS modeled results were in good agreement with the results obtained from the Flood Frequency method and the USGS regression studies. The procedure described herein for developing and validating hydrologic models for ungagged watersheds can be used for other similar ungagged watersheds.

American Journal of Water Resources. 2014, 2(4), 99-105. DOI: 10.12691/ajwr-2-4-3
Pub. Date: September 15, 2014

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Quality Assessment of Groundwater with Special Emphasis on Irrigation and Domestic Suitability in Suri I & II Blocks, Birbhum District, West Bengal, India

by S. K. Nag and Shreya Das

Original Research

The hydrochemical study of groundwater samples was carried out from the Suri I and II blocks of Birbhum district, West Bengal (latitudes 23.76° N – 23.99°N and longitudes 87.42°E - 87.64°E) with an objective of understanding the suitability of local groundwater quality for irrigation and domestic purposes. For this study groundwater samples were collected from 26 (twenty six) locations during the post monsoon and pre monsoon sessions spanning over 2012 and 2013. Groundwater samples were analyzed for their physical and chemical properties using standard laboratory methods. From the analyzed data, some parameters like SAR, SSP, RSC, MAR, PI and KR have been calculated for each water sample to identify the irrigational suitability. Accordingly, the groundwater has been found to be well to moderately suitable for irrigation. In the post monsoon session exceptionally high RSC values for around 80% samples indicate an alkaline hazard to the soil. The ion balance histogram for post monsoon indicates undesirable ion balance values according to fresh water standards whereas in pre monsoon, the samples show good ion balance in water. The Piper’s trilinear diagram used to determine water type suitable for consumption indicates groundwater in the study is of bicarbonate type (fresh type) in both and pre monsoon with exception of a couple of sulfate type samples during pre monsoon. Water Quality Index results depict 90% of water samples are suitable for drinking during post monsoon whereas in pre monsoon that tally comes down 60% rendering 40% samples unsuitable for drinking. Gibb’s diagrams prepared for the post monsoon and pre monsoon sessions indicate that the overall hydrogeochemistry of the study area is dominated by rock – water interaction processes.

American Journal of Water Resources. 2014, 2(4), 81-98. DOI: 10.12691/ajwr-2-4-2
Pub. Date: September 03, 2014

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Assessment of Water Quality of Gurara Water Transfer from Gurara Dam to Lower Usuma Dam for Abuja Water Supply, FCT, Nigeria

by Okunlola I. A., Amadi A. N., Idris-Nda A., Agbasi K. and Kolawole L. L.

Original Research

Water transfer from area of excess to area of scarcity is now becoming accepted option especially for regional water supply. The Gurara water transfer provides for the transfer of raw water from Gurara dam in Kaduna state to Lower Usuma dam in Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja through a 75Km conduit pipeline to augment water supply to FCT as a result of rapid population growth. The purpose of the research is to provide baseline condition in term of quality of raw water at Gurara dam before the transfer and after mixing at Lower Usuma dam. Water Quality Index (WQI) was used to assess the quality of the waters for overall, drinking, aquatic, recreation, irrigation and livestock uses. Twenty (20) water samples from both dams were collected and some at predetermined depths and subjected to physicochemical analysis using APHA standard methods of analysis for both wet and dry seasons. The overall WQI was poor. The WQI was poor for drinking and aquatic, but fair for recreation and livestock, and good for irrigation. These were due to high concentration of COD, BOD, total hardness, turbidity, Ca²⁺, K⁺, Mg²⁺, Cd⁺, Pb⁺ and Fe²⁺. The results of the analysis when compared with the Nigerian Standard for Drinking Water Quality (NIS 544:2007) and World Health Organization (WHO) permissible limits showed that the Gurara dam and Lower Usuma dam were polluted and that the water was not safe for drinking. Variations in the constituents’ concentration in terms of water depths and seasons were observed. Regular monitoring of the water quality should be carried out as the watershed is presently rural but faces potential urbanization in the coming decades.

American Journal of Water Resources. 2014, 2(4), 74-80. DOI: 10.12691/ajwr-2-4-1
Pub. Date: August 14, 2014

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