Calibration of QUAL2K water quality model in Pattipul stream (Saran) with Site-specific Parameters

Abstract

The study was aimed to sequential calibration for any water quality model using reach-specific estimates of model parameters, which would aid in the prediction of sophisticated river or stream water quality characteristics and accounts for the heterogeneity of stream reaches as diverse estimates. The QUAL2K water quality model with computing MATLAB software provides sequential estimation of reach-wise parameters using a grid-based weighted mean optimization. The Sheetalpur (Saran) segment of the Pattipul stream is selected as river stretch in this study and observations of DO and BOD are used to calibrate and validate QUAL2K model, where desired performance measures are obtained during the calibration and the validation period. This technique proves superior to the existing methods and also captures the system behavior as systematic and efficient approach. This study is expected to help decision-makers in formulating better reach-wise management decisions and treatment policies by providing a simpler and efficient tool to simulate water quality parameters.