Water Quality Models
Freely available water quality (WQ) models
distributed by the U.S. EPA and Corps of Engineers
QUAL2K (Q2K)
QUAL2K is a Microsoft Windows based application for river and stream water quality modeling. QUAL2K is an updated version of QUAL2E (see below) with improvements in model segmentation, forms of carbonaceous BOD evaluated, particulate organic matter simulation, anoxia and denitrification modeling, sediment-water dissolved oxygen and nutrient fluxes, explicit simulation of attached bottom algae, light extinction calculation, enhanced pH simulation, and pathogen removal functions. The manual for QUAL2K is also available from the LEA website at QUAL2K: A Modeling Framework for Simulating River and Stream Water Quality (Version 2.11) [December 2008].
QUAL2E
This model is the DOS-based precuror to QUAL2K and is also known as the steady state Enhanced Stream Water Quality Model. It is employed for conventional pollutant simulation in branching streams and well mixed lakes. The model can be used to study impacts of waste loads on in-stream water quality and identify magnitude and quality characteristics of non-point waste loads. QUAL2E can simulate temperature, biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), dissolved oxygen (DO), nutrients, eutrophication, bacteria and other variables.
WASP7
The Water Quality Analysis Simulation Program version 7 (WASP7) released in 2010 is capable of dynamically modeling contaminant fate and transport in surface waters. Based on the compartment modeling approach, it can be applied in one, two or three dimensions. WASP simulation includes temperature, BOD, DO, nutrients, eutrophication, bacteria and other variables. EPA's WASP7 Introduction is available from the LEA website as are the User’s Interface Guide, external nonpoint sources file discussion and release notes. Other important model theory documentation are: Temperature and Fecal Coliform; Stream Transport; Simple Toxicants; Multi-algal; and pH. The manual for WASP6 is also still useful. The companion hydrodynamic model to the WASP model is EPA's DYNHYD.
CE-QUAL-RIV1
This US Army Corps of Engineers model is a one-dimensional hydrodynamic and water quality model that simulates longitudinal variations in streams and rivers. It has a hydrodynamic code that predicts water transport results that are then used in the water quality model. This model predicts variations in temperature, BOD, DO, nutrients, algae, bacteria and other variables.
CE-QUAL-W2
This model is a US Army Corps of Engineers water quality and hydrodynamic model. It is a dynamic two-dimensional model capable of simulating varying longitudinal and depth conditions for reservoirs, rivers and tributaries, lakes and estuaries. This model predicts variations in temperature, BOD, DO, nutrients, algae, bacteria and other variables.
See also Public Domain Mixing Zone Models.
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