Rubbish, Stink, and Death: The Historical Evolution,
Present State, and Future Direction of Water-Quality
Management and Modeling |
Steven C. Chapra† |
Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155, USA |
Corresponding Author:
Steven C. Chapra ,Tel: +1-617-627- 3654, Fax: +1-617-627-3994, Email: steven.chapra@tufts.edu |
Received: August 10, 2011; Accepted: August 28, 2011. |
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ABSTRACT |
This study traces the origin, evolution, and current state-of-the-art of engineering-oriented water-quality management and modeling.
Three attributes of polluted water underlie human concerns for water quality: rubbish (aesthetic impairment), stink (ecosystem
impairment), and death (public health impairment). The historical roots of both modern environmental engineering and water-quality
modeling are traced to the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries when European and American engineers worked to control
and manage urban wastewater. The subsequent evolution of water-quality modeling can be divided into four stages related to dissolved
oxygen (1925–1960), computerization (1960–1970), eutrophication (1970–1977) and toxic substances (1977–1990). Current efforts to
integrate these stages into unified holistic frameworks are described. The role of water-quality management and modeling for developing
economies is outlined. |
Keywords:
Environmental engineering | Water-quality management | Water-quality modeling |
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