Rainfall and Water Quality Characteristics of Saemangeum Area

This study investigated characteristics of rainfall and water quality in Saemangeum area with attention to temporal and spatial distributions. A high variability in rainfall was noted during July and August. The temporal analysis of water quality data indicated that DO and TN as well as BOD, COD and SS were within national standards except for increased concentrations during spring and summer, unlike TP values that indicated poor water quality. Standard deviation showed a high variability in SS among the seasons most especially during summer. The high dispersion indicated variability in the chemical composition of pollutants where the temporal and spatial variations caused by polluting sources and/or seasonal changes were most evident for BOD and COD during winter and spring. The box plots and bar charts showed steadily low concentrations of BOD, COD, TN and TP except within Iksan and notable significant variations in SS concentrations among the monitoring stations. Thus, high pollution levels requiring intervention were identified in Mangyeong river basin with particular concern for areas represented by Iksan station. It was noted that Iksan received a considerable amount of rainfall which meant high runoff which could explain the significant pollution levels revealed in the water quality spatial distribution. Major pollution contributing pollutants within Saemangeum area were identified as SS, BOD, COD and TN. Therefore the present results could be used as a guideline for the temporal and spatial distributions analysis of both rainfall and water quality in Saemangeum watershed.