Pollutant Loads

External URL: https://edx.hydrolearn.org/courses/course-v1:MarquetteUniversity+CEEN6340+2020/about

In this module, you will use stream flow and water quality data from USGS gauges to compute pollutant loads and develop load duration curves.

Pollutant Loads MarquetteUniversity Enroll Now Problem Statement Water bodies across the world are subject to inputs of non-point source and point source pollution. In the United States, many of our water bodies – streams, rivers, lakes – are listed as impaired for pollutants through the U.S. EPA Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) regulatory program. To develop solutions to these impairments, water resources engineers must answer important questions: how much pollution is in our water body and where is it coming from? We can answer these questions by analyzing water quality data to determine pollutant loadings into our water bodies. A pollutant load is defined as the mass of a pollutant that is discharged into a water body over a period of time (e.g. kilograms per second). Pollutant loading estimation is helpful for identifying the relative magnitude of contributions from different sources in the watershed, evaluating the timing of pollutant source loading, and targeting future management efforts. In this module, students will use real flow and water quality data from USGS stream gauges to compute pollutant loads using both numeric integration and load duration curve methods. Students will also interpret their findings to determine where pollutant loadings may be coming from within the watershed. Module Overview In this module, you will use stream flow and water quality data from USGS gauges to compute pollutant loads and develop load duration curves. Topics Covered Streamflow, pollutant loads, numeric integration, load duration curves Prerequisites To complete this course, students should be enrolled in a water resources or hydrology course, or have basic knowlege of rainfall-runoff processes. Learning Objectives At the end of this module, you should be able to describe pollutant sources and their transport through streams and rivers, implement steps to compute pollutant loads using numeric integration, and develop and interpret load duration curves. This will be accomplished through activities within each section. Results from each activity will be recorded in specified results templates. The results templates for each activity can be found at the beginning of each activity. The results templates are organized such that results from one activity can easily be used in successive activities. Course Authors Walter McDonald Assistant Professor, Marquette University walter.mcdonald@marquette.edu Target Audience Junior/Senior Water Resources Courses Tools Needed Computer with access to the internet and Microsoft Excel. Course Sharing and Adaptation This course is available for export by clicking the "Export Link" at the top right of this page. If you are an Instructor seeking the answer keys, please contact the course creators using your official University email account. Expected Effort The module developer estimates that this module will take between 4 to 6 hours to complete.