Title
Novel boom/skirt systems for improvement of water quality in estuarial impoundments subject to saline influx
Publication Date
2001
Keywords
barrage, dissolved oxygen, impoundments, recreation, releases, sediment, stratification, upstream, water quality
Journal or Book Title
Water Science and Technology
Abstract
The recent popularity of esturial barrage construction in the UK has been driven largely by commercial and amenity interests arising from the need to rehabilitate tracts of derelict urban land. Formation of a permanent water body to replace the tidal regime hides unsightly mud banks and facilities ready access for water based recreation. Unfortunately, in most cases, and presumably arising from upstream extreme flood risk assessment, the barrier is designed to overtop under the highest (spring) tidal peaks so allowing a substantial influx of heavier saltwater into the impoundment on a regular basis. This might well substantially exceed influx via any navigational lock operations. The problem created by the salt wafer is that its greater density causes stratification in the impounded water body. In times of low freshwater flow little mixing takes place and the normal action of the wind, in circulating and aerating the water body, will only extend within the lighter and often thin surface freshwater layer. The consequence is that little reoxygenation of the lower layers takes place leading to depressed dissolved oxygen levels and possible anoxia. Sluice provision in the barrage may be ineffective in expelling the saline layers, so this water remains near stagnant and deteriorates in quality due to sediment oxygen demands until a major fluvial flood, or new saline influx, is able to effectively mix the waters. Conventional continuous surface releases through fish pass and/or by crest overspill ensure the preferential release of the freshwater rather than the problematic saltwater. Retrofitting of novel low cost floating boom/skirt baffle system is proposed here for alleviation of the problem. http://www.iwaponline.com/wst/04305/wst043050357.htm
Pages
357-363
Volume
43
Issue
5