TITLE:
Practical Application of the Results for Optically Measured Total Suspended Solids Concentrations in the Drava River
AUTHORS:
Bojana Dolinar
KEYWORDS:
Suspended Solids, TSS Concentrations, Optical Sensors, Particle Size Distribution, Microorganisms
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Water Resource and Protection,
Vol.6 No.7,
May
23,
2014
ABSTRACT: The investigations described in this paper were performed in order to
determine whether the concentrations of total suspended solids (TSS) in the
Drava River, Slovenia, measured indirectly with optical sensors can be used to
determine the amount and particle size of the suspended solids that can settle
in stagnant water. The possibility of continuous monitoring of the TSS
concentrations would allow a more reliable estimate of the amount of sediment
in the accumulation lake of the planned, pumped-storage, hydroelectric power plant
into which the water from the Drava River will be pumped. Therefore, during a
period of one year, 90 water samples were taken directly at the optical
sensors. The amount of sediments and their mineral and chemical compositions
were investigated, and particle size analyses were made in 15 samples.
Microbiological parameters, which included a determination of the amount of
phytoplankton, zooplankton, bacteria, fungi and organic debris, were
investigated in all the water samples, and the temperature and pH of the water
were measured at the time when the samples were collected. The comparison of
the parameters examined with the TSS concentrations showed that these
concentrations can serve as a very good estimate of the amount of particles
settled in the standing water, as well as of their size. These correlations are
clearly expressed in the cases where the amounts of phytoplankton and organic
debris in the water are low.