1996년과 1997년도 2년동안 1월부터 12월까지의 영남지역의 5개소를 선정하여 실험하였다. 본 실험에서 조사한 지역은 낙동강 유로연장 521.1km중 57%에 해당하는 경상북도 유로구간 298.1km로서 상류지역 3개소(안동, 상주, 구미), 중류지역 2개소(왜관, 고령)로 총 5개소에 대해 실시하여 낙동강의 수질오염 특성을 알아보고 낙동강 수질 개선 및 장례에 예상되는 수질악화에 대비한 물 관리의 기초자료로서 활용하고자 본연구를 시도하였으며 그 결과는 아래와 같다. 1. 낙동강의 조사지역 5개소의 pH는 공히 6.5~8.6 정도를 나타내었다. 2. 용존산소량(DO), 화학적 산소요구량(COD), 생물학적 산소요구량(BOD)은 여름철에 낮아지고 겨울철에 높아지는 현상이 관찰되었다. 3. 부유물질(SS)은 여름철에 급격히 높아지는 현상이 관찰되었다. 4. 총인과 총질소는 조류가 번식하여 부영양화를 일으킬 만큼 높은 수준은 관찰되지 않았으나 상당한 수준의 양이 관찰되었다. 5. -N와 -N는 비교적 높은 수준이 관찰되었다.

물금, 양산천, 화명동 그리고 하단에 이르는 낙동강하류역에서 1983년 5~6월에 조석변동에 따른 수질분석과 유출량을 조사하여 오염부하량을 산출하고, 양산천의 본류에 대한 영향을 평가한 결과는 다음과 같다. 1. 양산천의 총부유물질 값은 6.1~21.3mg/l로 다른 측점에서보다 높았다. BOD의 평균치는 물금에서 1.16mg/l, 양산천 1.83mg/l, 화염동 0.79mg/l, 하단에서 3.56mg/l였다. 2. 영양염류의 농도는 하단에서 가장 높았고, 양산천에서의 값 역시 본류 보다 약간 높게 나타났다. 구리와 아연의 농도는 양산천에서 가장 높았다. 3. 각 측점에서의 평균유출량은 물금 97.02m super(3)/sec 양산천 3.7m super(3)/sec, 화명동에서 98.76m super(3)/sec였고 양산천의 본류에 대한 유출량 비는 약 4% 정도였다. 4. TSS, VSS, BOD에 대한 오염부하량들은 상류인 물금에서 하류인 화명동으로 갈수록 감소하였으나 BOD와 영양염류의 부하량은 화명동에서 높게 나타났다. 5. 물금에서의 평균부하량에 대한 양산천의 평균부하량 비는 약 8.3%로 나타났다.

Concern about water quality and pollution was heightened as contaminants flowed into the Namhan River downstream of the Chungju Dam. Thus, this study calculated the Real-Time Water Quality Index (RTWQI) using monthly average water quality monitoring data for major tributaries that require water quality control, which were obtained between 2010 and 2019. To review the applicability of the RTWQI for water quality assessment in the major tributaries of the Namhan River, it was compared with the living environment standard river. The calculated RTWQI result indicated that Bokhacheon, with 59 points, was in the “fair” grade, and this stream was identified as a tributary that preferentially requires water quality improvement as it showed a decreasing (-) tendency of RTWQI. A comparison between RTWQI and the living environment standard of T-P showed that the categories of “completely coincident” and “different by one grade” accounted for 45% of the total, and the water quality of major tributaries was assessed as low. Therefore, the RTWQI, which applies comprehensive water quality parameters and has higher reliability than assessing a single water quality parameter, was determined to be efficient for water quality assessment of the major tributaries of the Namhan River.

In this study, the antibiotic components in the final effluent from the 12 wastewater treatment facilities located in the Nakdong River basin were investigated, and the correlation between organic matters, nutrients and antibiotics was analyzed. In the final effluent of the wastewater treatment facilities, three sulfonamides antibiotics (sulfamethazine, sulfathiazole, sulfachlorpyridazine) and tetracyclines antibiotics (oxytetracycline, doxycycline) were detected. Sulfamethazine were detected at all points and ranged from 10.398 to 278.784 ng/L. Sulfathiazole were detected at 6 points (Andong, Gumi, Hapcheon, Miryang, Uiryeong, Haman), and ranged from 23.773 to 144.468 ng/L. The correlation coefficients between sulfathiazole and TSS, COD, TOC, NH3-N, NO2-N, and T-N components were high in the range of 0.73 to 0.92. The correlation coefficient between sulfamethazine and T-N was 0.48, and the correlation with the rest of the water quality components was low. The correlation coefficient between sulfamethazine and sulfathiazole was 0.78. Through this study, it was confirmed that the concentration of sulfonamides antibiotics was higher than the concentration of tetracyclines antibiotics in the final effluent of 12 wastewater treatment facilities in the Nakdong River basin, and the concentration of sulfathiazole increased with organic matters and nutrients.

In this study, water quality levels were classified and water quality indices were calculated and analysed by using the water quality components of living environmental standards monitored 10 years (2008 ~ 2017) at four stations in the West Nakdong River. As a result of analyzing the monthly variation of the water quality components of the living environmental standards, the water quality in the West Nakdong River was worse downstream than upstream, and pollution at the WNR3 located in the downstream of the Jomangang was the most serious. As a result of classification of water quality levels, BOD and COD levels were the lowest, so water quality pollution in the West Nakdong River was found to be highly influenced by organic matters. The water quality index was the lowest in July and August at four stations, so water quality is showing the worst in summer. As a result of analyzing the correlation between the water quality components and the water quality index, the correlation between the TOC and the water quality index was high in the four stations, and the water quality index in the West Nakdong River was dominated by organic matters and nutrients.

In this study, the water quality components (pH, BOD, COD, TOC, SS, DO, TP) and the water quality, observed for 10 years (2008~2017) in the five tributaries of the Nakdong River with the highest flow rates, were analyzed. Monthly levels of the water quality components were estimated and regression functions were used to quantitatively explain the changes in the BOD and COD components, with respect to the TOC components. The results of analyzing the water quality levels in terms of the living environmental standards show that the lowest water quality was observed midstream (ST-3) and the highest water quality was observed upstream (ST-1 and ST-2). The regression function was estimated to be a linear function in all five tributaries, and the goodness of fit of the function was high upstream (ST-2), midstream (ST-3), and downstream (ST-4). According to the regression analysis using the observation data from 2008~2017, we found that the consumption of dissolved oxygen increased with an increase in organic matter in the major tributaries of the Nakdong River.

Water quality is characterized by various complex factors. Therefore, a systematic understanding of water quality trends is required to carry out a proper evaluation. In this study, we analyzed the spatio-temporal water quality characteristics of the Nakdong River using five-year data from 2012 to 2016. Data was collected on the pH, DO, BOD, COD, SS, TN, TP, TOC, WT, EC, NH3-N, NO3-N, PO4-P, Chl-a, rainfall, and total and fecal coliforms. A total of 38 water quality measurement stations, from Andong1 to Gupo, were considered. Statistical analyses including trend, cluster, and factor analyses were conducted to identify the dominant water quality components affecting the Nakdong River. The Nakdong River was spatially classified into three groups for up-stream (Andong1 to Sangju1), mid/up-stream (Donam to Dalseong), and mid/down-stream (Hwawonnaru to Gupo) data collection, and temporally into two groups for summer/fall (7~10), and the rest of the season (11~6) data. The water quality of the entire Nakdong River showed trends similar to the mid/down-stream section, which indicates the importance of water quality management in this section. Suspended solids, phosphorus, and coliform groups were established as important factors to be considered in the summer/fall season across the river, especially in the mid/down-stream section. Nitrogen and organic matter were identified as important factors to be considered in the rest of the season, especially in the mid/up-stream section. This study could help determine the water quality components that should be intensively monitored in the Nakdong River.

This study aimed to assess the impact of livestock excreta discharged from an Intensive Livestock Farming Area (ILFA) on river water quality during a rainfall event. The Bangcho River, which is one of the 7 tributaries in the Cheongmi River watershed, was the study site. The Cheongmi River watershed is the second largest area for livestock excreta discharge in Korea. Our results clearly showed that, during the rainfall event, the water quality of the Bangcho River was severely deteriorated due to the COD, NH4-N, T-N, PO4-P, T-P, and heavy metals (Cu, Zn, and Mn) in the run-off from nearby farmlands, where the soil comprised composted manure and unmanaged livestock excreta. In addition, stable isotope analysis revealed that most of nitrogen (NH4-N and NO3-N) in the run-off was from the ammonium and nitrate in the livestock excreta. The values of δ15NNH4 and δ15NNO3 for the Bangcho River water sample, which was obtained from the downstream of mixing zone for run-off water, were lower than those for the run-off water. This indicates that there were other nitrogen sources upstream river in the river. It was assumed from δ15NNH4 and δ15NNO3 stable isotope analyses that these other nitrogen sources were naturally occurring soil nitrogen, nitrogen from chemical fertilizers, sewage, and livestock excreta. Therefore, the use of physicochemical characteristics and nitrogen stable isotopes in the water quality impact assessment enabled more effective analysis of nitrogen pollution from an ILFA during rainfall events.

In this study, seasonal Mann - Kendall test method was applied to 12 stations of the water quality measurement network of Nam-River based on data of BOD, COD, TN and TP for 11 years from January 2005 to December 2015 The changes of water quality at each station were examined through linear trends and the tendency of water quality change during the study period was analyzed by applying the locally weighted scatter plot smoother (LOWESS) method. In addition, spatial trends of the whole Nam-River were examined by items. The flow-adjusted seasonal Kendall test was performed to remove the flow at the water quality measurement station. As a result, BOD, COD concentration showed "no trand" and TN and TP concentration showed "down trand" in regional Kendall test throughout the study period. BOD and TP concentration in "no trand", COD, and TN concentration showed an "up trand" tendency in Nam-River dam. LOWESS analysis showed no significant water quality change in most of the analysis items and stations, but water quality fluctuation characteristics were shown at some stations such as NR1 (Kyungho-River 1), NR2 (Kyungho-River 2), NR3 (Nam-River), NR6 (Nam-River 2A). In addition, the flow-adjusted seasonal Kendall results showed that the BOD concentration was "up trand" due to the flow at the NR3 (Nam-River) station. The COD concentration was "up trand" due to the flow at NR1 (Kyungho-River 1) and NR2 (Kyungho-River 2) located upstream of the Nam-River. The effect of influent flow on water quality varies according to each site and analysis item. Therefore, for the effective water quality management in the Nam-River, it is necessary to take measures to improve the water quality at the point where the water quality is continuously "up trand" during the study period.

In this study, water quality data of eight main sites in the Geumho River watershed were collected and analyzed for long-term changes in water quality over the period from 2005 to 2015. The results showed that BOD concentration was gradually improved by the Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL), stages 1 and 2. Recently, a tendency of increasing BOD concentration was observed in the downstream section of the river. The concentration of COD was analyzed to be contaminated throughout the water system regardless of the water quality improvement project, and the TN concentration tended to increase in the midstream of the river from 2013. The TP concentration has clearly decreased from 2012 after the second stage of TMDL. For the statistical analysis of PCA ordination, monthly water qualities (pH, DO, Electrical Conductivity (EC), Water Temperature (WT), BOD, COD, TN, TP, TOC, and SS) and flow rate data for 5 years from 2012 to 2016 were used. Seasonally the Geumho River showed an increase in the TN concentration at point sources during the dry season (December to February). TP showed the effect of non-point sources in the summer, because rainfall has caused a rise in flow rate in the upstream. Besides, the origin of pollution source was changed from non-point sources with BOD, COD, and TOC.

As part of the Four Major Rivers Restoration Project, multifunctional weirs have been constructed in the rivers and operated for river-level management. As the weirs play a role in draining water from tributaries, the aim of this study was to determine the influence of the weirs on the water level of the Nam River, which is one of the Nakdong River’s tributaries. Self-organizing maps (SOMs) and a locally weighted scatterplot smoothing (LOWESS) technique were applied to analyze the patterns and trends of water level and quality of the Nakdong River, considering the operation of the Changnyeong-Haman weir, which is located where the Nam River flows into the Nakdong River. The software program HEC-RAS was used to find the boundary points where the water is well drained. Per the study results at the monitoring points ranging between the junction of the two rivers and 17.5 km upstream toward the Nam River, the multifunctional weir influenced the water level at the Geoyrong and Daesan observation stations on the Nam River and the water quality based on automatic monitoring at the Chilseo station on the Nakdong River was affected strongly by the Nakdong River and partly by the Nam River.

In recent years, the United States has used the Load Duration Curve (LDC) method to identify water pollution problems, considering the size of the pollutant load in the entire stream flow condition to effectively evaluate Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs). A study on the improvement of the target water quality evaluation method was carried out by comparing evaluations of two consecutive years of water quality and LDC data for 41 unit watersheds (14 main streams and 27 tributaries). As a result, the achievement rate of the target water quality evaluation method, according to current regulations, was 68-93%, and that by the LDC method was 82-93%. Evaluating the target water quality using the LDC method results in a reduction in the administrative burden and the total amount of planning as compared to the current method.

Water quality in Nakdong river was analyzed using 699 monitoring data sets including flow rates and water quality concentrations collected at 195 tributary monitoring stations (the priority management areas: 35 stations, the non-priority management areas: 160 stations) in 2015. The highest average concentrations of all data for BOD, COD, T-N, T-P, SS, and TOC were 30 600 times higher than the lowest concentrations while the highest average loading rates were 800,000 2,700,000 times higher than the lowest loading rates. Because of the very large differences in the concentrations and loading rates, the variation of the concentrations and loading rates in a priority management monitoring station for BOD, T-P, and TOC was analyzed using the coefficient of variation, the ratio of the standard deviation value to the mean value. For BOD, T-P, and TOC, the coefficients of variation for concentration were mostly less than 100%, whereas the coefficients of variation for loading rate ranged from 31.1% to 232.2%. The very big difference in the loading rates was due to the large variation in flow rates. As a result of this, the estimation of water quality at each monitoring station using the average values of the concentrations and loading rates might be not rational in terms of their representativeness. In this study, new water quality analysis methods using all collected monitoring data were suggested and applied according to the water quality standard in medium-sized management areas.