Advances in landscape runoff water quality modelling: A review

Abstract

As the recognition of the concept ‘Sustainable Development’ is increasing throughout the world, understanding the adverse impact of water quality parameters is highly important for the protection and improvement of aquatic environments from the impact of pollution. Therefore, the measurement of water quality parameters is required to protect and improve aquatic environments from the impact of pollution. The estimation of water quality parameters from direct field measurement is costly, time-consuming and sometimes impossible. Therefore, mathematical approaches of water quality models have become prevalent in recent years for the purpose of watershed management strategies. However, water quality model parameters vary not only spatially (i.e. catchment to catchment), but also temporally (i.e. differ among different rainfall events). Because depending upon the catchment characteristics such as soil permeability and initial pollutant loads, the impact of the actual land-use and management changes. There exists a wide range of water quality models to be used in managing water quantity and quality with respect to a variety of environmental impacts. This chapter presents a rigorous literature review regarding available catchment water quality modelling techniques developed in recent years. The goal is to identify the most effective water quality modelling technique which will help in the analysis, improvement and update of best management practices (BMPs). The selected modelling technique will help watershed management authorities to enable them implement economically viable and effective management and mitigation strategies to protect aquatic environments from the impact of pollution.