Local calibration of coliforms parameters of water quality problem at Igapó I Lake, Londrina, Paraná, Brazil

This article presents results concerning the local calibration of the transport parameters (longitudinal and transversal diffusions and decay coefficient) for a two-dimensional problem of water quality at Igapó I Lake, located in Londrina, Paraná, Brazil, using fecal coliforms as an indicator of water quality. The simulation of fecal coliforms concentrations all over the water body is conducted by means of a structured discretization of the geometry of Igapó I Lake, together with the finite difference and finite element methods. By using the velocity field, modeled by the Navier–Stokes and Poisson equations, the flow of fecal coliforms is described by means of a transport model, which considers advective and diffusive processes, as well as a process of fecal coliforms decay. In the checkpoint, the longitudinal and transversal diffusion coefficients and the coliforms decay coefficient that best fitted the value of the fecal coliforms concentration were Dx = Dy = 0.001 m2/h and k = 0.5 d−1 = 0.02083 h−1. A qualitative and quantitative analysis of the numerical simulations conducted in function of the diffusion coefficients and of the coliforms decay parameter provided a better understanding of the local water quality at Igapó I Lake.

► Simulation of the water flow at Igapó I Lake, Londrina, Paraná, Brazil. ► Local simulation of the concentration of the fecal coliforms at Igapó I Lake. ► Calibration of the transport parameters for a two-dimensional problem. ► The calibration characterizes molecular diffusion with low rate of coliforms decay. ► Numerical simulations provided a better understanding of the local water quality.