Modeling Dynamics of Nonconservative Pollutants in Streams with Pools and Riffles

The complex nature of low flow transport and tranformation of nonconservative pollutants in natural streams with pools and riffles has been investigated using a numerical solution of a proposed mathematical model that is based on a set of mass balance equations describing hydrodynamic processes (advection, dispersion, and mass exchange mechanicms in streams and in storage zones) and chemical processes (reaction or decay). In this study, a mathematical model (named "Storage-Transformation Model") has been developed to predict adequately the non-Fickian nature of mixing and transformation mechanisms for decaying substances in natural streams under low flow conditions. Comparisons between the concentration-time curves predicted usingthe proposed model and the measured stream data shows that the Storage-Transformation Model yields better agreements in the goneral shape, peak concentration and time to peak than the 1-D dispersion model. The result of this study also demonstrates the differences between transport in pool-and-riffle streams versus transport in more uniform channels. The proposed model shows significant improvement over the conventional 1-D disperision model in predicting natural mixing and stroage processes in streams through pools and riffles.