Publisher's Synopsis
Sponsored by the Watershed Management Technical Committee of the Watershed Council of the Environmental and Water Resources Institute of ASCE
Total Maximum Daily Load Analysis and Modeling: Assessment of the Practice reviews the available tools for estimating the maximum amount of a pollutant that a water body can receive in a day and still meet the applicable water quality standards. Total maximum daily load, or TMDL, is a regulatory term used by the U.S. Clean Water Act. The TMDL is an important means of preventing deterioration of the U.S. water supply and reversing the effects of both point- and nonpoint-source pollution on water quality.
This book addresses a variety of concerns about the selection and use of analysis and modeling tools for TMDL development and implementation. The history of TMDL assessments is recounted, and the selection and use of models to assess TMDLs and develop implementation plans is described. The report lists the source, capability, and applicability of more than 35 models and procedures, which are grouped into four categories: simple models and analytical procedures, watershed models, receiving water models, and integrated modeling systems. Additional chapters present the state of the art on implementation; use of remote sensing and geographic information systems to gather data; protocol for calibration, confirmation (validation), and testing; advances in uncertainty analysis and defining the margin of safety; and a case study.
Environmental engineers, watershed managers, and water quality regulatory officials will use this book to make informed selections of appropriate analysis and modeling tools for TMDL development or implementation studies.
