• Journal of The Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers
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• v.63 no.2
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• pp.51-60
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• 2021

Effective nonpoint source (NPS) pollution management requires frequent water quality monitoring, which is, however, often costly to be implemented in practice. Statistical techniques and machine learning methods allow us to identify and focus on fundamental environmental variables that have close relationships with NPS pollutants of interest. This study developed surrogate models to predict the concentrations of suspended sediment (SS) and total phosphorus (T-P) from turbidity and runoff discharge rates using multiple linear regression (MLR) and random forest (RF) methods. The RF models provided acceptable performance in predicting SS and T-P, especially when runoff discharge rates were high. The RF models outperformed the MLR models in all the cases. Such finding highlights the potential of RF techniques and models as a tool to identify fundamental environmental variables that are measured in relatively inexpensive ways or freely available but still able to provide information required to quantify the concentrations of NP S pollutants. The analysis of relative importance rates showed that the temporal variations of SS and T-P concentrations could be more effectively explained by that of turbidity than runoff discharge rate. This study demonstrated that the advanced statistical techniques such as machine learning could help to improve the efficiency of NPS pollutants monitoring.

• Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
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• v.53 no.5
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• pp.369-381
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• 2020

In this paper, observed water quality, algal blooms and flow rates in the Yeongsan River and its boundaries including 8 tributaries and 2 wastewater treatment plants for two years of 2018-2019 were analyzed. It seems effects of non-point source load inputs from basin areas to the river may be significant though the field data availability was limited. The EFDC model was calibrated against data collected from 6 water level monitoring stations and 6 water quality monitoring stations, respectively, in the study area. Water quality improvement scenarios were developed assuming 50% and 75% reductions of major pollution sources including treatment plants and tributaries. The developed scenarios were applied to the EFDC model to estimate effects on algal bloom occurrences in the Seungchon weir and Juksan weir. Improvement of the effluent of Gwangju 1 WWTP by 75% did not show any effect on algal blooms for two weir locations. The major tributary affecting algal blooms in the Seungchon weir was the Hwangryong River. The Jisuk stream was found as the most important tributary for the Juksan weir followed by the effect of the Hwangryong River. Though it seems other scattered small nonpoint source load input to the Yeongsan river also seem to be important, it was not possible to reflect their effects appropriately due to field data availability.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.37 no.8
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• pp.480-491
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• 2015

In this study, methods using LDC (Load Duration Curve) and watershed model were suggested to develope management targets and evaluate target achievement for non-point source pollution management considering watershed and runoff characteristics and possibility for achievement of target. These methods were applied for Saemangeum watershed which was designated as nonpoint source pollution management area recently. Flow duration interval of 5 to 40% was selected as flow range for management considering runoff characteristics and TP was selected as indicator for management. Management targets were developed based on scenarios for non-point source pollutant reduction of management priority areas using LDC method and HSPF model which was calibrated using 4 years data (2009~2012). In the scenario of LID, road sweeping and 50% reduction in CSOs and untreated sewage at Jeonju A20 and 30% reduction in fertilizer and 50% in livestock NPS at Mankyung C03, Dongjin A14 and KobuA14, management targets for Mangyung bridge, Dongjin bridge, Jeonju stream and Gunpo bridge were developed as TP 0.38, 0.18, 0.64 and 0.16 mg/L respectively. When TP loads at the target stations were assumed to have been reduced by a certain percentage (10%), management targets for those target stations were developed as TP 0.35, 0.17, 0.60 and 0.15 mg/L respectively. The result of this study is expected to be used as reference material for management master plan, implementation plan and implementation assessment for non-point source management area.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.193-202
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• 2015

In this study, a long term monitering of nonpoint source pollution runoff is conducted at the area of transportation related and EMCs(Event Mean Concentrations) in terms of water quality items, such as BOD, $COD_{Mn}$, SS, T-N and T-P are determined for each not only runoff event and but also observation site. On the other hands, SWMM(Storm Water Management Model) model is constructed using the data collected in the transportation areas selected. Model calibration and verification of SWMM is carried out based on the data collected. And simulated EMCs was compared with observed EMCs by monitoring and prior studies. SWMM applicability estimation was Using the compared result. The results of simulation showed that BOD 5.787 ~ 14.475 mg/L, $COD_{Mn}$ 12.946 ~ 59.611 mg/L, SS 13.742 ~ 46.208 mg/L, T-N 2.037 ~ 5.213 mg/L, T-P 0.117 ~ 0.415 mg/L. And a differential between simulated EMCs and observed EMCs is too low so comparing result show high fit(BOD 4.27 %, $COD_{Mn}$ 4.87%, SS 2.31%, T-N 5.78%, T-P 14.45%). A results of compared with the prior studies, BOD and T-P are included range of prior studies, $COD_{Mn}$ and SS are lower than range of prior studies, T-N is higher than range of prior studies. Differential between simulated EMCs and prior studies EMCs was showing for survey seasonal and changing land-use, so from now on, EMCs of using the internal representatives value will be calculated by more monitoring toward various precipitation events.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.153-160
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• 1993

The problem of supply and transport of sediment from a mountainous catchment is very important in explaining dynamic geomorphology and the hydrological cycle. The discharge of suspended sediment is determined by a morphological system. Human interference to environment Is also an important, not negligible factor in sediment production. Moreover, growing concern in recent years for the problems of nonpoint pollution and for the transport of contaminants through terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems has highlighted the role of sediment-associated transport in fluvial systems. This study was conducted in forested and quarried catchments in order to clarify the different discharge process and the mechanism of suspended sediment dynamics for each catchment. As a forested catchment, the Yamaguchi River catchment which drains a $3.12km^2$ area was chosen. On the other hand, the Futagami River basin which is formed by three subbasins (1.07, 1.59 and $1.78km^2$), as a quarried catchment was selected. These catchments are situated to the north and east of Mt. Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan. The discharge pattern of suspended sediment from the Futagami River basin is more unstable and irregular than that from forested catchment, the Yamaguchi River catchment. Under the similar rainstorm conditions, suspended sediment concentration from quarried catchment during a rainstorm event increases from 43 to 27,340 mg/l. However, in the case of the forested catchment it changes only from nearly zero to 274 mg/l. Generally, the supply source of suspended sediment is classified into two areas, the in-channel and non-channel source areas. As a result of field measurements, in the case of the forested catchment the in-channel (channel bed, channel bank and channel margin) is the main source area of suspended sediment. On the other hand, remarkable sediment source area on the Quarried catchment is the non-channel that is unvegetated ground.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.291-296
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• 2008

Pollutant unit load developed by Ministry of Environment (MOE) in 1995 has been a tool commonly used for water quality management and environmental policy decision. In spite of the convenience of the method in application, the shortcoming of the method has been criticized especially for nonpoint source pollution from paddy field. In this paper the estimation procedures of pollutant unit load from paddy field in the major river basins (Han, Nakdong, Geum, and Youngsan river) were investigated, and some suggestions of improvement measures of the unit-load estimation were made. The investigation showed that the distributions of rainfall, run-off, and run-off ratio, which are the most important factors affecting discharge amount of pollutants, were not similar among river basins. Such differences seemed to result in a greater unit loads estimation at Han river and at Nakdong river watersheds compared to the others. Therefore, it is not likely to be rationale to compare unit load among the watersheds without consideration of such differences. We conclude that estimation of unit-load through an intensive monitoring of pollutant discharge is crucial for better estimation of unit-load. When such an intensive monitoring is not easy due to labor and expense restriction, we suggest that unit-load should be estimated based on the storm-events which is a representative rainfall-runoff event of the area.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.31-39
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• 2012

The objective of this study is to provide pollutant loads delivery ratio for flow duration in Oenam-cheon watershed, which is upstream watershed of Juam Lake. To calculate the delivery ratio by flow duration, rating curves and discharge-loads curves using measured data were established, then Flow Duration Curve(FDC) and pollutant loads delivery ratio curves were constructed. The results show that the delivery ratios for $BOD_5$ for abundant flow($Q_{95}$), ordinary flow($Q_{185}$), low flow($Q_{275}$), and drought flow($Q_{355}$) were 23.9, 12.7, 7.1, and 2.9%, respectively. The delivery ratios of same flow regime for T-N were 58.4, 31.2, 17.2 and 7.1%, respectively. While, the delivery ratios T-P were 17.3, 7.5, 3.4, and 1.1% respectively. In general, delivery ratio of high flow condition showed higher value due to the influence of nonpoint source pollution. Based on the study results, generalized equations were developed for delivery ratio and discharge per unit area, which could be used for ungaged watershed with similar pollution sources.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.292-300
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• 2016

Diverse and comprehensive countermeasures were established to prevent water pollution in coastal areas such as constructed wetlands(CW).This study was conducted to assess the water quality improvement through CW constructed along the shoreline of Hwaseong coastal reservoir. The CW is located in Hwaseong-si, Gyeonggi-do and consisted of a forebay and a wetland. The CW was monitored twice during rainy days and 10 times during dry days. The monitoring results indicated that in and out flowrates were highly correlated with COD and TN loads. COD, TN and TP concentrations in the forebay was lower during dry days than rainy days. However, concentration and mass removal efficiencies of COD, TN and TP were greater during rainy days. In addition, the volume flowing into the CW was less compared to the outflow during rainy days indicating that the CW efficiently reduced the runoff volume. The overall pollutant removal efficiency of the CW were at least 50% for TSS, 20 to 35% for TP, and 26 to 94% for TN. The data gathered may be used to improve the pollutant removal efficiency of the system in the future.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Geographic Information Studies
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.125-135
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• 2005

Generation and transport of nonpoint source pollution, especially sediment-associated pollutants, are profoundly influenced by hydrologic features of runoff. In order to identify pollutant export rates, hence, clear knowledge of rainfall-runoff relationship is a pre-requisition. In this study, performance of AnnAGNPS model was assessed based on the ability of the model to predict rainfall-runoff relationship. Three catchments, each under different nearly single land use, were simulated. From the results, it was found that the model was likely to produce better predictions for larger catchments than smaller catchments. Because of using the daily time scale, the model could not account for short durations less than 24 hours, especially high intensity events with multiple peak flow that significantly contribute to the generation and transport of pollutants. Since CN information for regional areas has not been built up, a careful selection of CN is needed to achieve accurate prediction of runoff volume. Storm distribution also found to be considered as an important calibration parameter for the hydrologic simulation.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.491-499
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• 2000

Effluent concentration estimation equations for treatment wetland were reviewed with 3 -year experimental data. Four equations from USEPA, WPCF, Kadlec and Knight, and this study were applied to the over 100 data points of 1996 to 1999 study at the pilot plant in Konkuk University. The system was a subsurface flow type and consisted of 60cm depth of sand and reeds, and it worked continuously including winter with domestic sewage from school building. Generally, all the equations demonstrated reasonable agreement with experimental data and they could be used for design process if selected carefully. Among them, the equation from this study showed the best fit for the data. The reason might be not only the equation was derived from the experimental data, but also it included plant coverage parameter in the equation while others did not Plant coverage was proved to be an important parameter in the prediction of the treatment wetland system, and its inclusion in the estimation equation could improve the accuracy. Although existing equations could be used in the wetland design, pilot plant experiment for the anticipated condition and subsequent equation development can provide more reliable equation. It takes time to obtain meaningful data from wetland system. Therefore, timely onset of well organized study is recommended before large scale application of treatment wetland system to either point or nonpoint source pollution abatement.