Field measurement and modelling of two-dimensional river mixing

Abstract

Wastewater treatment facilities commonly discharge effluent to large receiving streams. An effluent plume may easily extend for many tens of kilometres downstream of a discharge point. A characteristic of the effluent plume is the existence of significant transverse concentration gradients in the river as the discharged effluent slowly mixes with the river water. Within this two-dimensional, transverse mixing zone accurate delineation of the effluent plume is essential for water quality monitoring and for management of the receiving stream. The capability to mathematically model two-dimensional river mixing and to predict effluent plume concentrations is a valuable tool for water quality management. An overview of two-dimensional river mixing theory is presented. Tracer methods for delineating effluent plumes resulting from continuous or transient input to rivers are described, and the results of tracer studies conducted on the Athabasca River in western Canada are presented. A computer modelling procedure for simulating two-dimensional river mixing is described. Application of the model is explained and comparison of model output to measured tracer concentrations is presented.