Simulating coliform transport and decay from 3D hydrodynamics model and in situ observation in Nice area

TL;DR

This study develops a 3D hydrodynamic model coupled with water quality parameters to simulate and forecast coliform transport and decay in Nice's coastal waters, aiding pollution management during extreme events.

Contribution

It introduces a coupled 3D hydrodynamic and water quality model validated with field data for predicting bacterial pollution in coastal areas.

Findings

Model accurately simulates coliform transport and decay.

Field measurements validate the model's predictions.

Uncertainty in bacterial analysis remains a challenge.

Abstract

In coastal area, raw wastewater can be directly discharged in the sea during extreme rain events or failure of the sewage network. The highly urbanized and touristic area of Nice is directly exposed to this risk. In order to protect the bathing population and to apply the European regulation (DCE, 2000), Nice municipality has decided to work on a forecasting tool of transport and fate of fecal bacterial indicators such as Escherichia Coli. This paper deals with the first step of this approach which consists in developing a three-dimensional hydrodynamic simulation coupled with water quality parameters. The model used is based on Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes's equations for the calculation of the velocities and water depth (TELEMAC3D), and wave energy balance equation to account for the wave induced current (TOMAWAC). Two field measurements were conducted on a real wastewater pollution coming from a sewage pipe located at-38m depth. The first campaign has validated the vertical diffusion of the effluent through the water column by the means of variable depth samples and has stressed the hourly variability of sewage bacterial quality. Due to the lack of data regarding this last point, the model could not be fully validated. The second campaign has been designed to overcome this issue and to gather all the data needed to proceed to the validation of our hydro-ecological simulation. The comparison of the field measurements and the simulations has successfully demonstrated the accuracy of the model. But the uncertainty associated with the laboratory analysis (MPN) are high, making the calibration and validation processes a complex task. Nevertheless, further research needs to be done regarding the variability of microbial quality in order to develop an operational tool allowing the forecast of bacterial pollution. The next step of this study will be to establish the hourly variation of microbial quality in the wastewater during dry and raining periods.