Small hydropower impacts on water quality: A comparative analysis of different assessment methods
This study aims to evaluate the spatial and temporal variations of physico-chemical parameters at selected small run-of-river hydropower plants along a 126 km section of the Bóbr River in southwestern Poland. The main contribution of this study lies in comparing different water quality classificatio...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Water Resources and Industry |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S221237172500006X |
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| author | Paweł Tomczyk Michał Tymcio Alban Kuriqi José Maria Santos Mirosław Wiatkowski |
| author_facet | Paweł Tomczyk Michał Tymcio Alban Kuriqi José Maria Santos Mirosław Wiatkowski |
| author_sort | Paweł Tomczyk |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study aims to evaluate the spatial and temporal variations of physico-chemical parameters at selected small run-of-river hydropower plants along a 126 km section of the Bóbr River in southwestern Poland. The main contribution of this study lies in comparing different water quality classification methods from different regions worldwide. Our results show that the spatio-temporal changes in physico-chemical parameters in the studied section of the Bóbr River are, to a larger extent, due to anthropogenic pressures (i.e., urbanization and agriculture) unrelated to the operation of hydropower plants. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) confirmed the statistical significance (p < 0.05) of the results for 8 (i.e., EC, temperature, pH, DO, NO2-N, TDS, NH4-N, and COD) out of 16 physicochemical parameters. Hierarchical cluster analysis also showed a greater influence of factors other than hydropower plants on water quality. The average compliance with the standards based on the selected water quality classifications was 76.9%. The Polish classification proved to be the most appropriate classification for assessing the status of physico-chemical elements of the Bóbr River. The findings from this study can be used for various applications, e.g., formulating strategies for sustainable water management in hydropower plant catchment areas, planning new hydropower plants, and developing operating regulations for existing plants. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-dab979b6b8db4ace91fd742ecce952d8 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2212-3717 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Water Resources and Industry |
| spelling | doaj-art-dab979b6b8db4ace91fd742ecce952d82025-08-20T02:02:24ZengElsevierWater Resources and Industry2212-37172025-06-013310028210.1016/j.wri.2025.100282Small hydropower impacts on water quality: A comparative analysis of different assessment methodsPaweł Tomczyk0Michał Tymcio1Alban Kuriqi2José Maria Santos3Mirosław Wiatkowski4Institute of Environmental Engineering, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Poland; Corresponding author.Institute of Environmental Engineering, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, PolandCERIS, Instituto Superior Técnico, University of Lisbon, Portugal; Civil Engineering Department, University for Business and Technology (UBT), Pristina, KosovoForest Research Centre, Associate Laboratory TERRA, School of Agriculture, University of Lisbon, PortugalInstitute of Environmental Engineering, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, PolandThis study aims to evaluate the spatial and temporal variations of physico-chemical parameters at selected small run-of-river hydropower plants along a 126 km section of the Bóbr River in southwestern Poland. The main contribution of this study lies in comparing different water quality classification methods from different regions worldwide. Our results show that the spatio-temporal changes in physico-chemical parameters in the studied section of the Bóbr River are, to a larger extent, due to anthropogenic pressures (i.e., urbanization and agriculture) unrelated to the operation of hydropower plants. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) confirmed the statistical significance (p < 0.05) of the results for 8 (i.e., EC, temperature, pH, DO, NO2-N, TDS, NH4-N, and COD) out of 16 physicochemical parameters. Hierarchical cluster analysis also showed a greater influence of factors other than hydropower plants on water quality. The average compliance with the standards based on the selected water quality classifications was 76.9%. The Polish classification proved to be the most appropriate classification for assessing the status of physico-chemical elements of the Bóbr River. The findings from this study can be used for various applications, e.g., formulating strategies for sustainable water management in hydropower plant catchment areas, planning new hydropower plants, and developing operating regulations for existing plants.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S221237172500006XClimate change adaptationRenewable energySmall hydropowerSustainable hydropowerWater policy |
| spellingShingle | Paweł Tomczyk Michał Tymcio Alban Kuriqi José Maria Santos Mirosław Wiatkowski Small hydropower impacts on water quality: A comparative analysis of different assessment methods Water Resources and Industry Climate change adaptation Renewable energy Small hydropower Sustainable hydropower Water policy |
| title | Small hydropower impacts on water quality: A comparative analysis of different assessment methods |
| title_full | Small hydropower impacts on water quality: A comparative analysis of different assessment methods |
| title_fullStr | Small hydropower impacts on water quality: A comparative analysis of different assessment methods |
| title_full_unstemmed | Small hydropower impacts on water quality: A comparative analysis of different assessment methods |
| title_short | Small hydropower impacts on water quality: A comparative analysis of different assessment methods |
| title_sort | small hydropower impacts on water quality a comparative analysis of different assessment methods |
| topic | Climate change adaptation Renewable energy Small hydropower Sustainable hydropower Water policy |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S221237172500006X |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT pawełtomczyk smallhydropowerimpactsonwaterqualityacomparativeanalysisofdifferentassessmentmethods AT michałtymcio smallhydropowerimpactsonwaterqualityacomparativeanalysisofdifferentassessmentmethods AT albankuriqi smallhydropowerimpactsonwaterqualityacomparativeanalysisofdifferentassessmentmethods AT josemariasantos smallhydropowerimpactsonwaterqualityacomparativeanalysisofdifferentassessmentmethods AT mirosławwiatkowski smallhydropowerimpactsonwaterqualityacomparativeanalysisofdifferentassessmentmethods |