Comparison of the Fertility of Stream Waters Depending on the Drainage Systems in the Lake Shihwa Watershed, Korea

The fertility of stream water in major streams of the Lake Shihwa Watershed was compared using water analyses and algal growth potential test (AGPT) in typical drought seasons from December 2001 to April 2002, The water quality varied considerably depending on streams. These streams were very rich in inorganic nutrients that the nutrient levels and characteristics of each stream could be easily determined. Through AGPT, 63.6% of growth was observed in the average values of each stream, with non-growth accounting for 36.4%. AGPT results showed that 40.9% of the 22 stations were in hypertrophic condition and 54.5% in eutrophic condition. AGPT values were significantly correlated with TIN, $NH_4$, and SRP (p <0.001); compared to other nutrients, however, they were more related to SRP and $NH_4$. Moreover, the values increased with high concentration of N and P and low N/P ratios. Nonetheless, the values were more dependent on P concentration than N concentration. This suggests that the effect of P on the water quality of lake situated in downstream may serve as a potential indicator of phytoplankton development. Depending on the drainage pattern of streams, the wastewaters of wastewater treatment plant (WwTP) and untreated wastewater (UTW) were found to have 53.4% and 46.6%, respevtively, of TIN, 51.9% and 48.1% of $NH_4$, 62.9% and 37.1% of $NO_3$, 62.6% and 37.4% of SRP, and 44.1% and 55.9% of SRSi. The AGPT value was 51.1% in WwTP wastewater and 48.9% in UTW wastewater, the concentration of WwTP wastewater was slightly higher. For untreated wastewaters flowing into the constructed wetland and into the lake, TIN accounts for 43.0% and 57.0%, respectively, of nitrogen components, $NH_4$ 44.4% and 55.6%, $NO_3$ 39.6% and 60.4%, SRP 53.5% and 46.5%, and SRSi 52.3% and 47.7%, respectively. The AGPT value was 58.0% in the constructed wetland and 42.0% in Lake Shihwa; the concentration in streams flowing into the wetland was slightly higher. Therefore, Persistent and large development of phytoplankton in Lake Shihwa cannot be prevented unless a measure tophytoplankton control is implemented. This is because the concentration of nutrients in specific streams flowing into the lake is very high, even though the inflow of water is low.

시화호 유역에서 배수시스템별 하천수의 비옥도 비교