Water Types (water + type)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Copper toxicity in relation to surface water-dissolved organic matter: Biological effects to Daphnia magna

ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY & CHEMISTRY, Issue 12 2004
Kees J.M. Kramer
Abstract Water quality standards for copper are usually stated in total element concentrations. It is known, however, that a major part of the copper can be bound in complexes that are biologically not available. Natural organic matter, such as humic and fulvic acids, are strong complexing agents that may affect the bioavailable copper (Cu2+) concentration. The aim of this study was to quantify the relation between the concentration of dissolved natural organic matter and free Cu2+ in surface waters, and the biological effect, as measured in a standardized ecotoxicological test (48 h-median effective concentration [EC50] Daphnia magna, mobility). Six typical Dutch surface waters and an artificial water, ranging from 0.1 to 22 mg/L dissolved organic carbon (DOC), were collected and analyzed quarterly. Chemical speciation modeling was used as supporting evidence to assess bioavailability. The results show clear evidence of a linear relation between the concentration of dissolved organic carbon (in milligrams DOC/L) and the ecotoxicological effect (as effect concentration, EC50, expressed as micrograms Cu/L): 48-h EC50 (Daphnia, mobility) = 17.2 × DOC + 30.2 (r2 = 0.80, n = 22). Except for a brook with atypical water quality characteristics, no differences were observed among water type or season. When ultraviolet (UV)-absorption (380 nm) was used to characterize the dissolved organic carbon, a linear correlation was found as well. The importance of the free copper concentration was demonstrated by speciation calculations: In humic-rich waters the free Cu2+ concentration was estimated at ,10,11 M, whereas in medium to low dissolved organic carbon waters the [Cu2+] was ,10,10 M. Speciation calculations performed for copper concentrations at the effective concentration level (where the biological effect is considered the same) resulted in very similar free copper concentrations (,10,8 M Cu) in these surface waters with different characteristics. These observations consistently show that the presence of organic matter decreases the bioavailability, uptake, and ecotoxicity of copper in the aquatic environment. It demonstrates that the DOC content must be included in site-specific environmental risk assessment for trace metals (at least for copper). It is the quantification of the effects described that allows policy makers to review the criteria for copper in surface waters. [source]


Ground Water Quality Assessment Using Multi-Rectangular Diagrams

GROUND WATER, Issue 6 2003
Niaz Ahmad
A new graphical technique is proposed here for classifying chemical analyses of ground water. In this technique, a diagram is constructed using rectangular coordinates. The new diagram, called a multi-rectangular diagram (MRD), uses adjacent multi-rectangles in which each rectangle represents a specific ground water type. This new diagram has the capability to accommodate a large number of data sets. MRDs have been used to classify chemical analyses of ground water in the Chaj Doab area of Pakistan to illustrate this new approach. Using this graphical method, the differentiated ground water types are calcium bicarbonate, magnesium bicarbonate, sodium bicarbonate, and sodium sulfate. Sodium bicarbonate emerges as the most abundant ground water type. MRDs also offer a visual display of the Chebotarev sequence of ground water quality evolution. [source]


INFILTRATION OF WASTEWATER AND SIMULATED RAINWATER AS AFFECTED BY POLYACRYLAMIDE,

JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN WATER RESOURCES ASSOCIATION, Issue 4 2002
Duane T. Gardiner
ABSTRACT: Irrigation reduces infiltration rates for subsequent irrigations or rains, thus decreasing the efficiency of water use and impacting watersheds in agricultural areas. Reduced infiltration causes greater runoff with its accompanying erosion, pollution, and sedimentation. Small rates of polyacrylamide (PAM) improve infiltration and reduce erosion on irrigated fields. The effects of PAM on infiltration of rainwater, the longevity of the effects of various rates of PAM, and the effects of repeated or intermittent PAM applications are not understood. This study measured the effects of four PAM application rates (0, 10, 25, and 40 ppm) on the subsequent infiltration of wastewater or simulated rainwater for seven weeks following the initial treatments. Also, effects of repeated and intermittent PAM applications on infiltration were determined. Hydraulic conductivity was determined for each soil column using the falling head method. Two soil types from the coastal plain of south Texas were tested , a soil high in clay (Victoria) and a sandy loam (Willacy). Effects of PAM rates were significant, but effects of water type were not (P > 0.05). Benefits from single PAM applications disappeared within two weeks. Water enriched with PAM is so viscous and infiltrates so slowly that applying PAM in every irrigation event may not be feasible. However, repeating PAM applications every two weeks maintained high infiltration rates on the alternate weeks. This intermittent application of PAM may be a practical approach for improving infiltration rates on irrigated lands. [source]


Ground Water Quality Assessment Using Multi-Rectangular Diagrams

GROUND WATER, Issue 6 2003
Niaz Ahmad
A new graphical technique is proposed here for classifying chemical analyses of ground water. In this technique, a diagram is constructed using rectangular coordinates. The new diagram, called a multi-rectangular diagram (MRD), uses adjacent multi-rectangles in which each rectangle represents a specific ground water type. This new diagram has the capability to accommodate a large number of data sets. MRDs have been used to classify chemical analyses of ground water in the Chaj Doab area of Pakistan to illustrate this new approach. Using this graphical method, the differentiated ground water types are calcium bicarbonate, magnesium bicarbonate, sodium bicarbonate, and sodium sulfate. Sodium bicarbonate emerges as the most abundant ground water type. MRDs also offer a visual display of the Chebotarev sequence of ground water quality evolution. [source]


Assessment of norovirus contamination in environmental samples from Florianópolis City, Southern Brazil

JOURNAL OF APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 1 2010
M. Victoria
Abstract Aims:, To assess norovirus (NoV) contamination in aquatic ecosystems in the city of Florianópolis, in Southern Brazil, to provide epidemiological data that can support actions for environmental contamination control. Methods and Results:, An adsorption,elution method, followed by ultrafiltration, was performed to concentrate the viruses. NoV were detected using semi-nested PCR and quantified by real-time PCR. From June 2007 to May 2008, NoV were detected in 23% (22/94) of the samples analysed, including seawater, drinking water, superficial water (creek and brackish lagoon) and treated sewage. The mean viral loads for genogroups (G)I and GII in treated sewage samples were 297 and 440 genomic copies (gc) l,1, respectively, whereas creek water samples contained 2603 and 1361 gc l,1, respectively. Six samples were sequenced: two samples were GII.4, two were GII.2 and two were GI.3. Conclusions:, NoV were detected in all water types analysed, demonstrating the widespread contamination of this geographical area with several cocirculating strains belonging to GI and GII. Significance and Impact of the Study:, This study demonstrates the environmental spread of NoV in environmental waters and highlights the potential hazard for human health following the consumption of or contact with these waters, which could result in waterborne or foodborne acute gastroenteritis. [source]


Water temperature sampling by foraging Brünnich's Guillemots with bird-borne data loggers

JOURNAL OF AVIAN BIOLOGY, Issue 2 2001
Yutaka Watanuki (correspondence)
We describe the features of waters where seabirds were feeding by sampling vertical water temperature profiles with data loggers mounted on five Brünnich's Guillemots in Svalbard, Norway. The guillemots foraged in a cold water (,0.5,0.5°C SST (sea surface temperature)) by making 1.8 dive bouts in short trips (32,257 min duration) as well as in moderate (0.5,2.0°C SST) and warm waters (2.5,4.0°C SST) by making 6.0 dive bouts during long trips (411,688 min duration). Judging from outbound flying time (15.7,24.4 min), time between dive bouts (23.9,43.3 min) and water types, the birds probably fed in fjord or coastal waters during short trips and in both coastal and offshore waters during long trips. Water temperature and diving behaviour can be simultaneously recorded by small data loggers, which therefore will provide useful information on marine features and foraging activity of top predators. [source]


Development and Evaluation of an Ozonated Water System for Antimicrobial Treatment of Durum Wheat

JOURNAL OF FOOD SCIENCE, Issue 7 2009
B. Dhillon
ABSTRACT:, Ozonated water is reported to be effective in reducing the microbial load in foods such as fruits, vegetables, and grains. Ozonated water may be an effective alternative to chlorinated water in treating durum wheat before milling. Therefore, durum wheat was washed with ozonated water and analyzed for yeast and mold count (YMC) and aerobic plate count (APC). A system for producing and monitoring ozonated water was developed. The effect of water quality (tap, distilled, and ultra-pure), temperature (7, 15, and 25 °C), and pH (2, 4, and 6.5) was evaluated on the following: steady-state dissolved ozone concentration, ozone decay constant, half-life, mass transfer coefficient, equilibrium ozone concentration, and solubility ratio. The study of these parameters was important to attain a stable, high dissolved ozone concentration at the outset of washing and to have information for system improvement and scale-up. A 1% acetic acid solution (pH 2) at 15 °C resulted in high dissolved ozone concentration (21.8 mg/L) and long half-life (9.2 min). Subsequently, wheat was washed with 5 wash water types: distilled water, ozonated water (16.5 mg/L), chlorinated water (700 mg/L), acetic acid solution (1%), and acetic acid + ozonated water (1%, 20.5 mg/L). The treated samples were analyzed for YMC and APC. The acetic acid + ozonated water treatment was the most effective, with a reduction of 4.1 and 3.2 log10 colony forming units/g in YMC and APC, respectively. Though ozonated water was not very effective alone, it was useful in combination with acetic acid. [source]


Nature of water molecules in hydrogels based on a liquid crystalline cellulose derivative

POLYMERS FOR ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES, Issue 11-12 2003
P. Wojciechowski
Abstract The status and nature of water molecules in hydrogels with a liquid crystalline organization of the polymer network based on a biopolymer were investigated. Liquid crystalline (LC) hydrogels were obtained in situ by the photopolymerization of acrylic acid into the lyotropic liquid crystalline phase of (2-hydroxypropyl)cellulose in a solvent mixture of water and acrylic acid. The photopolymerization of acrylic acid in the lyotropic liquid crystalline phase at room temperature gives a hydrogel in which liquid crystalline order and water are retained. The liquid crystalline hydrogel contains water, which originates from the composition of the lyotropic liquid crystalline phase, and may also contain water after immersion in liquid water. The water molecule characteristics were examined by means of differential scanning calorimetry, dielectric relaxation spectroscopy, and differential scanning calorimetry coupled with thermo-optical measurements. The swelling data were obtained by using a weighing method. The investigations reveal the different nature of the two above-mentioned water types. For the water from the composition of the lyotropic liquid crystalline phase, the phase transitions,typical for the bulk water,were not observed, in contract to the water after swelling of the liquid crystalline hydrogel in the liquid water. The results of the measurements suggest that water, which comes from the composition of the lyotropic liquid crystalline phase, forms,together with a polymer network,a microstructure, stabilized by this water. The water, after swelling of the LC hydrogel in the liquid water, is separated in the pores of the hydrogel and exhibits the phase transitions of the bulk water. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]