A WEAP MODEL ANALYSIS OF THE IMPACT OF INDUSTRIAL EFFLUENTS ON THE WATER QUALITY OF KLEIN WINDHOEK RIVER, NAMIBIA.
No Thumbnail Available
Date
2022-10-28
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
In Namibia, there have been problems of water scarcity, water pollution and water shortages. Despite Swakoppoort reservoir being one of the important sources of surface water in central Namibia, water quality in the reservoir has continued to deteriorate due to urban wastewater pollution. In this research, Klein Windhoek River one of the rivers flowing into the reservoir was studied with the aim of evaluating if a water quality change trend forecast can be a useful tool for water quality management. Water samples were collected from Klein Windhoek River with a focus on industries sited along the river including Ujams Wastewater Treatment Plant, a biological nutrient remover which discharges effluent into Klein Windhoek River. Water quality samples were collected downstream and upstream of Ujams WWTP from Klein Windhoek River to analyse the impact of industrial effluents discharged into the river after treatment at Ujams WWTP. The samples were tested for physical and chemical parameters pH, chemical oxygen demand(COD), dissolved oxygen(DO), total dissolved solids(TDS), conductivity, total phosphate(TP) and chromium. Water quality concentrations in tested samples at times exceeding standards stipulated in Act No.11 of 2013 for COD, DO, TDS, TP and electrical conductivity. WEAP21 modelling software was used to analyse the impact of industrial effluents on Klein Windhoek River by modelling a wastewater treatment plant for four parameters (COD, DO, TDS, TP) for years 2015 to 2021. Results showed unsatisfactory Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency results of below 0.7 with a value of 0.62 for COD, 0.62 for TDS and 0.29 for TP. WEAP21 model showed deficiency in forecasting the ephemeral river’s water quality.
Description
Thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree Master of Integrated Water Resources Management at the Namibia University of Science and Technology
Keywords
Water quality,, Water quality sampling,, WEAP21,, Modelling,, Klein Windhoek River