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Application of SWAT Hydrological Model to Upper Bernam River Basin (UBRB), Malaysia
-- Sai Hin Lai and Fitri Arniza
This paper describes the use of remote sensing, Geographic Information System (GIS), and a distributed
hydrologic and water quality model Soil and Water Assessment Tool
(SWAT) for assessing the rainfall-runoff and
sedimentation load in multiple watersheds. In this study, necessary data sets representing land uses, hydrology, weather,
soils, elevation, and surface characteristics were integrated in a GIS in tabular, vector and grid formats. The land
use maps that were derived from Lands at-5 TM imagery using a combination of different classification
strategies, gave an average accuracy of 95%. Results from the data analysis have shown that the model is able to predict
the stream flow and sedimentation load satisfactorily, even after seven years of calibration. Based on the
hydrological simulation results obtained, the SWAT
model appeared to satisfactorily represent the hydrologic response of
a river basin, and it can be used for long-term river basin management.
© 2011 IUP. All Rights Reserved.
The Mineral Effects of Sedimentary Layers
on Groundwater in Choba, Rivers State, Nigeria
-- C N Nwankwo and M U Igboekwe
The paper attempts to determine the quality of groundwater in Choba, Rivers State, Nigeria. Four
functional boreholes were sampled from the study area which is highly populated with students, and was analyzed using
the standard laboratory techniques. Choba water was found to be tasteless and odorless. The color indices
ranged from 3.8 to 5.3 mg/L, while the average turbidity (NTU) was 2.3. The results showed that the ground water in
the area was acidic with a pH range of 4.32 to 4.43, which falls below the World Health Organization
(WHO) standard for drinking water, and hence, there is a need to treat the entire borehole water in the area to make it
more potable. Water treatment will also help to reduce the concentration level of the constituent elements in water.
The waters have low to moderate conductivities (11.82 to 61.20 mg/L), and have
Cl_ as the dominant anion, with a mean value of 2.5 mg/L. The
Cl_ value shows the absence of salt water intrusion into the area. Also, the
highest recorded value of 50 mg/L for hardness is indicative of soft groundwater.
© 2011 IUP. All Rights Reserved.
Effects of Ultrasonic Irradiation on Concentration
of Chemical Oxygen Demand in Landfill Leachate
-- Chua Sze Ye, Puziah Abdul Latif, Shaharin
Ibrahim and Nurliza Rosli
Landfilling for the disposal of municipal solid wastes continues to be widely accepted and used due to its
economic advantages, but it could be a potential source of surface and ground water contamination. Therefore, the study
was conducted to investigate the efficiency of ultrasonic irradiation for reducing the Chemical Oxygen
Demand (COD) from one of the landfill sites in Malaysia. Several operating conditions, such as power density (24 to
188 W/L), pH (2 to 11), dilution factor (1:9, 1:1 and 9:1) and addition of different amount of Ferrous sulfate
(FeSO4) (1.0 to 5.0 mmol/L) were tested concerning their effect on COD reduction. Results indicated that the
best irradiation conditions were enhanced at increased power density of 188 W/L, pH 7.4, initial concentration
and without addition of catalysts with a percentage reduction of 95.55%. This suggested that the removal of COD
in landfill leachate was mainly contributed by higher concentration of hydroxyl radical which leads to
higher reduction of organic matters.
© 2011 IUP. All Rights Reserved.
Evaluation of the Environmental Noise Level of
Sangamner City, and the Study of Sound Absorption Coefficient
of Wood of Select Trees to Control Noise Level
-- Madhav V Jadhav
The objective of this research is to study the environmental noise pollution of the city of Sangamner,
Ahmadnagar District, Maharashtra (MS), India, and the measurement of absorption coefficient of wood of some selected
tree species which are useful to minimize the noise pollution by plantation alongside the roads, as well as to
produce a greenbelt around factories, government offices, schools and colleges. The noise level measurements were
made at an interval of five minutes in dB at each place and source of the noise pollutant. The measured values
were compared with the permissible values of noise level recommended by the Central Pollution Control
Board (CPCB). The entire Sangamner city is noise polluted. The wood of plant species selected for the study of
sound absorption coefficient were Gulmohar (Delonix
regia), Saag (Tectona grandis Linn), Silver Oak
(Grevillea robusta), Bakain (Melia
azadirerch), Kadamba (Anthoephallus
cadamba), Peepal (Ficus religiosa), Mango
(Mangifera indica), Udumbara (Ficus glomerata) and Devdaru (Cedrus
deodara). It was found that there is no considerable change
in sound absorption coefficient with change in frequency of the sound. The sound absorption coefficient of
Udumbara (Ficus glomerata) wood is greater. Its average value is 0.0235 to 0.0335. The teak wood has low sound
absorption coefficient. Thus the spongy wood tree is most useful to reduce noise pollution.
© 2011 IUP. All Rights Reserved.
Suitability Evaluation of Groundwater for Drinking Purpose: A
Case Study of Barnala, Punjab, India
-- Venu and Madhuri S Rishi
Suitability of water is one whose characteristics make it acceptable to the needs of particular purpose. Water is
the most important constituent of our body. Thus, its quality should be good and perfect because it directly affects
our health. The chemical composition of groundwater is a measure of its suitability as a source of water for
human and animal consumption. The rate of depletion of groundwater levels and deterioration of groundwater quality
is of great concern. Due to growing populations and increasing pollution of surface water bodies we are
depending more and more on finite groundwater reserves. Although addressing water shortages in the short-term,
groundwater exploitation brings with its own host of problems. Due to excessive pumping and weak recharge of the
groundwater, depletion of water tables is taking place in the state of Punjab. In the present study Barnala block of
Sangrur district is selected for the research work. `Green Revolution' boosted the agriculture production due to
introduction of high yielding crops and large scale mining of groundwater. Injudicious irrigation, excessive pumping,
poor recharge and excessive use of fertilizers have led to a situation of shrinking groundwater resource and
salinization at an alarming rate. Barnala block falls in the over exploited (dark) category. Random sampling was done in
the study area for the analysis. The result of the chemical analysis reveals that the groundwater of the study area is
of brackish water type and values of major ions, in comparison with the
permissible limits for drinking water (as by BIS) are not suitable for drinking purposes either due to salinity or fluoride. Various water quality problems like
high sodicity and high salinity were also revealed. The concentration of Fluoride varies from 0.65-3.1
mg/L, which could be dangerous from health point of view. The situation needs a constant vigil in monitoring of groundwater
quality in this area to avoid serious degradation.
© 2011 IUP. All Rights Reserved.
Biochemical Changes of Some Important Organic, Mineral
and Inorganic Compounds in the Leaves
of Mango (Mangifera indica) Due to the Infestation
of Oligonychus mangiferus (Rahman and Sapra)
-- Sanjib Ghoshal, Snehasis Barman and Manjubikash Saha
The paper shows that a significant depletion of important organic, mineral and inorganic compounds
occurred due the infestation of Oligonychus
mangiferus in the leaves of Mango. Among the organic compounds,
chlorophyll, total protein, phenol and total carbohydrate were selected for the study. Among minerals, Magnesium (Mg),
Zinc (Zn), Copper (Cu) and Iron (Fe) were selected and among the inorganic materials, nitrate and nitrite were
selected for the study. It was found that amount of chlorophyll, total protein, total carbohydrate, Mg, Zn, Cu, Fe,
nitrate and nitrite were reduced by 15.36%, 19.08%, 17.54%, 11.93%, 23.15%, 32.32%, 16.20%, 20.19% and
23.23% respectively. It was also found that the amount of phenol increased by 21.21% due to mite feeding.
© 2011 IUP. All Rights Reserved.
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