Proceedings of the 19th IAHR-APD Congress 2014, Hanoi, Vietnam

ISBN 978604821338-1

NUMERICAL SIMULATION OF MATERIAL TRANSPORT

IN A TIDAL URBAN RIVER NETWORK

YUSUKENAKATANI(1), SHUZONISHIDA(2), MASAYASU IRIE(3), AZUSA HIRAOKA(4)&DAIKI NEI(5)

(1)Osaka University, Department of Civil Engineering, Osaka, Japan,
e-mailnakatani@civil.eng.osaka-u.ac.jp
(2) Osaka University,Department of Civil Engineering, Osaka, Japan,
e-mail nishida@civil.eng.osaka-u.ac.jp
(2) Osaka University,Department of Civil Engineering, Osaka, Japan,
e-mail irie@civil.eng.osaka-u.ac.jp
(4) Formerly Osaka University,Department of Civil Engineering, Osaka, Japan,
e-mail hiraoka@civil.eng.osaka-u.ac.jp
(5) Osaka University,Department of Civil Engineering, Osaka, Japan,
e-mail nei@civil.eng.osaka-u.ac.jp

ABSTRACT
In this study, field observation was conducted to identify waterquality variation characteristics in a tidal urban river
network in Osaka, Japan,and threedimensional hydrodynamic and water quality simulations were conducted to
understand the variability characteristics of current, salinity, water temperature, water quality, and materials transport in
the estuarine basin.The observation results showed that water quality variations in the estuary were strongly affected by
the seawater intrusion process and the mixingof water masses from various sources.The simulations adeptly reproduced
time variability of tidal elevation and water quality distributions although further improvements are necessaryto
reproduce the vertical mixing process around the salt-water interface in the downstream area.The simulation results
showed that biochemical processes and watersediment interactions exerted during outflow to the coast had a minor
influence on the waterquality variations in this estuary. Tracer experiments indicated thatthe contribution of the Neya
River water, which is highly polluted by human sewage and industrial effluent, to the water quality degradationwas
almost the same around the mouths of the three downstream rivers.

Keywords:Threedimensionalnumerical model;Hydrodynamics; Water quality; Tidal urban river network;Estuary

1. INTRODUCTION al., 2011, etc.). However, it is not easy to apply three

In general, water pollution mechanisms in estuarine
basins are highly complicated because they are affected
not only by physical factors such as tide, wind, fresh water
supply, and saline water intrusion, but also by
biochemical factors such as phytoplankton physiology and
microbial processes. In many urban estuaries, water
pollution phenomena, such as red tide, blue tide, and
oxygen depletion, are serious issue, which often result in
excess inflow of domestic and industrial effluents. To
improve water quality, we need to elucidate pollution
mechanisms and quantitatively evaluate the effects of
remedial measures.
To evaluate the influences of anthropogenic load on river
environments and propose an effective solution for
environmental improvement, understanding the behavior
of the pollutant matter in these waters is essential.
However, because of the complex transport mechanisms
in estuarine basins, predicting material movement is
difficult. Transport mechanisms are affected by tides,
freshwater inflow, and saline water intrusion. Numerical
simulations can be used to analyze flow, density, and
transport fields (Chen et al., 2003; Xu et al., 2008; Zheng et
al., 2014, etc.), and many studies using one or two
dimensional numerical models have conducted to analyze
estuarine river environments (Gourgue et al., 2013; Hu et
dimensional (3D) hydrodynamic modeling to a tidal river
network where many rivers flow in an intricate, netlike
pattern and where density field varies enormously both
spatially and temporally.
In this study, field observation was conducted to clarify
variation characteristics of water quality in an estuary and
obtain data for model validation. In addition, 3D
hydrodynamic and waterquality models were applied to a
tidal urban river networkto evaluate theirability to
reproduce complex flow, density, and water quality fields.
Additional analyses were conducted to clarify water
pollution andtransport mechanisms in the waters.
2. STUDY AREA
In Japan, many estuaries have experienced severe water
quality problemsbecause ofrapid industrializations and
urbanizations in the postwar reconstruction period (1945
1954) and high economic growth period (19541973). In
recent years, water environments have substantially
improved because of the implementation of plans to
reduce total pollution caused by domestic and industrial
effluents. However, pollution phenomena, such as red tide
and hypoxic water mass, are still frequent, especially
around bay heads, river mouths, and harbors.

1
 Yodo River
5 km
20 km Osaka City Neya River
Rivers Basin Basin
Yodo River
Basin

Aji River
Okawa River
Osaka
Bay Yamato River St.4 St.6
Basin
St.A St.5
Neya River
St.1 St.B
St.2
Shirinashi River

Japan Sea St.3

Kizu River

Yamato River
The Pacific Ocean Osaka Bay

Figure 1. Study area. Yellow circles, orange diamond shapes, blue squares, and red triangles indicate the following field survey sites,
model validation sites, treated sewage outlets from treatment plants, and constantwater quality monitoring system sites (under the
management of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism in Japan), respectively. Red solid lines and purple dotted
lines indicate upstream and downstream boundaries, respectively.

The research area for this study is illustrated in Figure 1. 30 6

The research fields are the Osaka City Rivers and the Neya DO
River, which are situated in the downstream area of the 25 5
BOD
BOD (mg/L)

DO (mg/L)
Yodo River, the biggest river in Osaka. In the NeyaRiver 20 4
Basin, there are 30 large and small rivers and a headrace 15 3
channel connecting to the Yodo River. All of thesemeetat
St.5,as illustrated in Figure 1. Near St.5, the Neya River 10 2
meetsthe Okawa River, which derives from the Yodo 5 1
River. Thereafter, the river divides into three rivers (the 0 0
Aji, Shirinashi, and Kizu rivers).Finally,all rivers flow into 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020
a harbor located at the head of Osaka Bay.This is an
alluvial basin containing sediments transported from the Figure 2.Changes of water quality in the Kizu River. The
Yodo and Yamato rivers. Since river slopesare 1/3000 to original data were measured by Osaka Prefecture on an annual
1/12500 in the middle and lower basin and 1/1000 in the basis before 1959 and a monthly basis after 1968. BOD and DO
upper basin, most of the area in the river waters is affected concentrations indicate annual mean and minimum values,
by the sea (Irie et al., 2009). respectively.

The river network has contributed significantly to

improvementsin peoples lives and to industrial
development by serving as a canal network for ships and
by circulating water, heat, and materials in the basin.
However, the riverbank in the lower area has been
surrounded by an upright concrete coast levee. Today,
landuse rates in urban and factory areas are about 75%
and 10%, respectively.In recent years, there has been
growing awareness that the river waterfront area is an
important open space in urban area. In the Osaka City
area, a stream network surrounding anurban area is
denoted as a corridor of water, and urban improvement
through taking place to revive Aqua Metropolis Osaka
and utilize the waterfront area. For example, parks and
promenades along the waterfront have been improved.
Figure 2 shows the changes in water quality in the Kizu
River from 1955 to 2011. Although the improvement
measures has led to gradual resolutionof organic pollution
and oxygen depletion, dissolved oxygen
(DO)environment has not recovered completely yet. One
of the main reasons for water pollution is the inflow of
large amounts of anthropogenic pollutant loadsin the
form of municipal discharge. Today, to improve water
quality in the downstream area, approximately80 cubic
meters per second from the Okawa River, which is
relatively non-polluted,is being transmitted to the
downstream rivers.
Since many landfills have been constructed on the
coastline, the topography around the river mouthsisrather
complex. Flow structure is complicated, and polluted
water tends to remain in the river and harbor waters. As a
result, red tide arises frequently, and hypoxic water
masses occur around the harbor every summer. According
to asurvey conducted by Irie et al. (2009), heavilypolluted
bottom sedimentshave a considerable influence on water
quality by consuming underwater oxygen and eluting
nutrients in the Osaka City Rivers.
The following are some important points for this model
application: many rivers flow in an intricate, netlike

2
pattern; almostthe entire study area is located in an significantly, as in other estuaries.
estuarine basin; large amounts of anthropogenic pollutant
Figure 4 shows the time series of the TN and TP
loadsflow into the upper stream area (i.e., the Neya River
concentrations in the surface and bottom layers at St.A
Basin); relativelynon-polluted river water inflows from the
and St.B. In the bottom layer at St.A, the concentrations of
Okawa River in the middle area; and the topography
both TN and TP indicated higher levels in the ebb tide
around the river mouths is extremely complex.
period, when freshwater constituted the layer, and
decreasing levels in the flood tide period, when sea water
3. FIELD SURVEY
intruded into the bottom layer. On the other hand, in the
3.1 Method surface layer at St.A, major changes in water quality were
observed from 11/4 22:00 to 11/5 5:00, although fresh
To obtain the data used for model validation and to clarify
variationcharacteristics of water quality in the estuarine
river, a field survey was conducted during a continuous
tidal period from November 4 to November5, 2013. Using St. A
a multisensor profiler (AAQ-1183, JFE ADVANTEC),
vertical profiles of salinity, temperature, and
turbiditywere measured, and water samples were
collected approximately every hour and a half at St.Aand
St.B(see Figure 1). The water qualities (NH4N, NO2N,
NO3N, DIN, DON, TDN, PN, TN, PO4P, DOP, TDP,
PP, TP, SiO2Si, DOC, POC, TOC, COD) of the samples
were analyzed using the autoanalyzer AACS V (BLTEC)
and TOC-V (SHIMAZU). In addition, Glass fiber filter
paper with 0.6micrometer trapping efficiency (GS-25, St. B
ADVANTEC) was used for analyses of SS and dissolved
matters.
3.2 Water quality variations
Figure 3 showsthe observed time series of the vertical
profiles of salinity at St.A and St.B. At both St.A and St.B,
fresh water was distributed vertically at the ebb tide
period, whereas a distinct saltwater wedge was observed Figure 3.Time series of the salinity profiles observed at St. A and
from the flood tide to hightide period.The graph of the St. B.
time series atSt.A indicatesthat density fields vary

6.0 150 1.0 150

surface bottom tide level surface bottom tide level
5.0 100 0.8 100
Tide level (cm)

Tide level (cm)

4.0 50 50
T-P (mg/L)
T-N (mg/L)

0.6
3.0 0 0
0.4
2.0 -50 -50

1.0 -100 0.2 -100

0.0 -150 0.0 -150

18:00 21:00 0:00 3:00 6:00 9:00 18:00 21:00 0:00 3:00 6:00 9:00
11/4 11/5 11/4 11/5

a) Observed results at St.A

6.0 150 1.0 150

surface bottom tide level surface bottom tide level
5.0 100 0.8 100
Tide level (cm)

Tide level (cm)

4.0 50 50
T-P (mg/L)
T-N (mg/L)

0.6
3.0 0 0
0.4
2.0 -50 -50

1.0 -100 0.2 -100

0.0 -150 0.0 -150

18:00 21:00 0:00 3:00 6:00 9:00 18:00 21:00 0:00 3:00 6:00 9:00
11/4 11/5 11/4 11/5

b) Observed results at St.B

Figure 4.Time series of observed concentrations of TN and TP in the surface and bottom layers at St.A and St.B, and the tide
elevation at the Osaka Port, as measured by the Japan Meteorological Agency.

3
water occupied the surface layer during this period. This
is probably because the OkawaRiver waterflowed into the
site by around11/5 0:00.TheNeyaRiver water inflowed
thereafter. After around 11/5 5:00, the concentrationsof T
N and TP decreased because of vertical mixing of the
bottom intruded seawater with the surface layer.
These observation results indicate that the water quality
variationsat this estuarine site (St.A)are strongly affected
by the seawater intrusion and the mixing of the water
masses from various sources. The graphs of data from St.B
suggest that the same mechanism applies at St.B.
4. NUMERICAL SIMULATION
4.1 Model overview
Current and density fields were simulated by a quasi-3D
hydrodynamic model, ECOMSED, which was developed
by HydroQual Inc.(2002) and based on the Princeton
Ocean Model. This model is a quasi-3D model with a free
surface and uses a mode splitting technique that solves the
volume transport separately from the vertical velocity
shear. The governing equations are the continuity
equation, conservation of momentum in horizontal and
vertical directions, diffusion equations of salinity and
water temperature, and state equation of density.
Hydrostatic and Boussinesq assumptions are introduced.
The horizontal eddy viscosity and diffusivity coefficients
are parameterized using a Smagorinskyscheme (1963). In
addition, vertical eddy viscosity and diffusivity
coefficients are estimated based on a 21/2 order
turbulence closure scheme developed by Mellor and
Yamada (1982).
Water and benthic qualities were simulated by RCA
(RowColumn AESOP). RCA was also developed by
HydroQual Inc.(2004) and information concerning model
Reaeration Denitrification
Photosynthesis
& Respiration Phytoplanktons
DO
Consumption Uptake
Nutrients
NH4N, [NO2+NO3]N,
PO4P, SiO2Si
ODU
Consumption Release Release
Aerobic Layer NH4N, PO4P, SiO2Si, H2S, CH4
Diffusion & Mixing, Absorption & Desorption
Anaerobic Layer
NH4N, PO4P, SiO2Si, H2S, CH4
Figure 5.Model variables and biochemical processes computed in a water-benthic quality model.
geometry and its advection and dispersion fields was
obtained from ECOMSED. The model structure is shown
in Figure 5. The model is based upon the principle of mass
conservation and describes interactions among model
variables thorough physical and biochemical processes in
terms of O, C, N, P, and Si. The waterquality model has 23
state variables, including three phytoplanktons (winter
diatom, summer diatom, and summer nondiatom),
nutrients (NH4N, [NO2+NO3]N, PO4P, SiO2Si),
particulate and dissolved organic nitrogen, phosphorus,
and carbon, algal exudate dissolved organic carbon,
biogenic silica, dissolved oxygen, and oxygen demand
equivalents (ODU). The organic matter is classified as
either a refractory component or a labile component.
The sediment flux model consists of two layers: a thin and
aerobic upper layer and a permanently anaerobic lower
layer. The model represents the depositional fluxes of
particulate matter from the water column to the benthic
bed, the early diagenesis fluxes of the organic matter in
the bed, and oxygen consumption and nutrient release
fluxes between the bed and overlying water. The organic
matter in sediment is split into three fractions with
different decay rates, known as the G3 model.
4.2 Calculation conditions
The analytical period was from October 14 to November
14, 2009. The model was spun-up for the previous 14 days
with initial conditions of no motion with typical water
temperature and salinity distributions in November. The
model has 136 104 horizontal grids in the curvilinear
orthogonal coordinate system with 50400 meters
resolution and 20 vertical layers in the -coordinate
system (equal partitioning).
The locations of the open boundary are shown in Figure 1.
In the model, barotropic and baroclinic conditions in the
Denitrification
Death &
Grazing
Particulate Organic Matter
LPON, LPOP, LPOC,
RPON, RPOP, RPOC, POSi
Consumption Decomposition
Mineralization Dissolved Organic Matter
LDON, LDOP, LDOC,
RDON, RDOP, RDOC , ExDOC
Settling Settling
Decomposition
PON, POP, POC, POSi
4
 300
St. 1 simulation observation
250

water level (cm)

200
150
100
50
0
15-Oct 20-Oct 25-Oct 30-Oct 4-Nov 9-Nov 14-Nov
300
St. 4
250
water level (cm)

200
150
100
50
0
15-Oct 20-Oct 25-Oct 30-Oct 4-Nov 9-Nov 14-Nov

300
St. 5
250
water level (cm)

200
150
100
50
0
15-Oct 20-Oct 25-Oct 30-Oct 4-Nov 9-Nov 14-Nov

Figure 6.Timeseries of water level at St.1, St.4, and St.5.

open boundary are expressed by levels of tidal elevation

and vertical profiles of salinity and water temperature. St. A
The data monitored at St.1 by the Japan Meteorological
Agency was used for the former. The latter was set
usingthe data measured offshore (see Figure 1) by a
constant water quality monitoring system of the Ministry
of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism in Japan.
The hourly data of water temperature, salinity, turbidity,
DO, light intensity, and chlorophylla were measured
automatically at vertical intervals of 1 meter. Waterquality
data were set based on the data observed by Osaka
Prefecture near the boundaries in October and November
St. B
from 2007 to 2009.

As shown in Figure 1, all the upstream boundaries are

located at freshwater areas that are less affected by tides.
The boundary values of discharge, water temperature, and
water quality were set based on the data observed by
Osaka Prefecture in November 2010, November 2011, and
November 2012. The hourly measured discharge rate of
the Okawa River was set because the flow rate of the
Okawa River was significantly larger than those of the
other rivers. The outflow rate, temperature, and water
quality of the sewer water emitted from the treatment
plants were set based on the measured values from 2010 to
2012. The values of salinity were set as zero.
Hourly data from a Japan Meteorological Agency weather
station within the study area (near St.5)was used to define
the meteorological conditions such as air temperature,
barometric pressure, precipitation, relative humidity,
cloud cover, and solar radiation. However, wind fields
were neglected because of the absence of accurate data
observed above the rivers.
Figure 7.Time series of the salinity profiles simulated at St.A and
St.B.
4.3 Model validation
Comparisons of simulated and observed water levels at
St.1, St.5, and St.6(which are located in the lower, middle,
and upper study areas,respectively) are shown in Figure 6.
There aredifferencesbetween the two lines at St.5 and
St.6during flood events (e.g., October 16 and 26, and
November 4) because rainfall impacts on the discharges
were ignored at the upstream boundary conditions in this
simulation. Except that, the amplitudes and phases of the
simulation results show good agreement with the
observation results.

5
Figure 7 shows calculatedvariations of vertical
distributions of salinityat St.A and St.B. Comparison with
the observation results shown in Figure 3 indicates that
the model reproduces the seawater intrusion process from
the rising tide to the hightide period. However,
simulated saline water in the bottom layer at St.A remains
from the ebb tide to the lowtide period, in contrast to
what was observed. Figure 8 shows simulated vertical
crosssectional distribution of the currents and density
averaged over 15 days at St.1, St.A, and St.4. This figure
shows a model of a typical distribution pattern in
estuaries,which is a pattern of fresh water plume in the
upper layer and saline intrusion in the lower layer. There
was a clear density current near St.A. Although it seemed
that strong vertical mixing occurs at the density interface,
the numerical model did not exactly reproduce the vertical
mixing judging from the comparison of the results
illustrated in Figure 3 and Figure 7. This suggests that
there is a need for further improvements in the method of
evaluating bottom roughness and aneed for a higher-level
turbulent model.Another possible explanation forthe lack
of agreement between the simulated boundary location of
density stratification and the observed result is that the
St.1 St.A St.4
Figure 8.Simulated longitudinal distribution of the mean
currents and densities (sigma T) for 15 days (November 115)
along St.1, St.A, and St.4.
vertical profiles of salinity and water temperature
measured off the coast of the port area were applied for
the models open boundary condition.
Figure 9 illustrates a comparison of the water qualities in
the surface layer of the observation and simulation results.
Note that the simulated values of COD were estimated by
the relationship of TOC and COD obtained by
observations, because the waterquality model includednot
COD but carbon as an item of organic matter. There isa
small difference between the observed and simulated
results of COD at St.1 and TN at St.3 and St.4. However,
with allowance for the low frequency of the observations
times, the model would appear to have an acceptable
reproducibility of the waterquality structures in the study
area.
5. INFLUENCEON WATER QUALITY OF
BIOCHEMICAL PROCESSESDURING
OUTFLOW TO COAST
5.1 Analysis overview
To propose an effective plan for water quality
improvement, elucidatingwater pollution mechanisms in
the water is important. Water quality variation in the
downstream area of an urban tidal river network is mainly
subjected to two processes: physical processes, such as
advection diffusion and mixing of the water masses
obtained from various sources, and biochemical processes
during outflow to the coast, such as phytoplankton
photosynthesis, microbial actions, and watersediment
interactions. It is important to clarify the dominant
impacts on water quality variation in order to correctly
predictthe effectiveness of waterquality improvement
measures. For example, if mixing of the water masses
from various sources has a dominant impact on
waterquality variation in the lower area,the improvement
of the water quality in the upper stream may produce a
significant effect on that in the lower area. However, if the
biochemical processes and sediment influences are more
than negligible, other plans, such as benthic-quality
amelioration and dredging,also may be required.
6
 5.0 Neya River water Oh River water Treated water
100%
4.0
80%

composition ratio
TOC (mg/L)

3.0
60%
2.0
40%
1.0
20%
0.0
1-Nov 3-Nov 5-Nov 7-Nov 9-Nov 11-Nov 13-Nov 15-Nov 0%
Aji River Shirinashi River Kizu River

10.0 Figure 11.Composition ratios of fresh water at the mouths of

the Aji, Shirinashi, and Kizu rivers.
8.0
Figures 10 shows the time series of TOC and DO
DO (mg/L)

6.0 concentrations at St.1 and St.4 obtained by the two

simulation runs. The concentrations at St.4 showedwider
4.0 St.1 (Case 1) St.1 (Case 2) fluctuations thanthose atSt.1,because the NeyaRiver water
St.4 (Case 1) St.4 (Case 2) flowed out at the ebb tide while the OkawaRiver water
2.0 inflowed into St.4. At both St.1 and St.4, the difference of
1-Nov 3-Nov 5-Nov 7-Nov 9-Nov 11-Nov 13-Nov 15-Nov TOC concentration between Case 1 and Case 2 was
minimal. This trend was also shown in the results for TN
Figure 10.Time series of verticallyaveraged concentrations of and TP concentrations. This means that the biochemical
TOC and DO. processes and watersediment interactions during the
outflow to the coast have a minor influence on the
waterquality variations in this estuary.
To clarify the influence of biochemical processes and
watersediment interactions on water quality variation, In contrast, there was a little difference in the results ofDO
simulations for two caseswere conducted using the concentrationprobably because DO consumption caused
numerical models. Case 1 is a reproductive run described by microbial decomposition of suspended and deposited
above, andCase 2 is an experimental runin which the organic matters had a measureable influence in the waters.
processes related to the biochemical actions and benthic Although the analysis was performed during fall, the
influences on water quality(e.g., photosynthesis, death, process might have more influences on DO environments
and consumption by phytoplankton; organic matter in summer, when microorganisms are more active.
decomposition; nutrient release and oxygen consumption Therefore, further study is required.
by sediments) are ignored.
6. TRACER EXPERIMENTS
5.2 Results and discussions
6.1 Experimental overview

12 8.0
Simulation Observation
10
6.0
COD (mg/L)

8
DO (mg/L)

6 4.0

4
2.0
2

0 0.0
St.1 St.2 St.3 St.4 St.5 St.1 St.2 St.3 St.4 St.5

8.0 0.4

6.0 0.3
T-N (mg/L)

T-P (mg/L)

4.0 0.2

2.0 0.1

0.0 0.0
St.1 St.2 St.3 St.4 St.5 St.1 St.2 St.3 St.4 St.5

Figure 9. Comparisons of the water qualities in the surface layer between the simulation and observation results. The simulated values
indicate the 15days average from November 1 to 15. The observed values indicate the average of the observation data obtained in
November 2009, November 2010, and November 2011.

7
As shown in the previous section, the analysis indicated
that the biochemical processes during outflow to the coast
had less influence on the waterquality variation around
the river mouths, with the exception of DO. To estimate
the contributions of the fresh water from the three origins
(the Neya River, the Okawa River, and the treatment
water inflowing directly to the river) to the water quality
variation around the mouths of the three downstream
rivers, tracer experiments were conducted using the
simulation model. The simulations were conducted on the
conditions that each fresh water masswasset as
1milligrams per liter concentration of a tracer matter
throughout the simulation period.Then, concentrations at
the mouths of the Aji, Shirinashi, and Kizuriverswere
examined.
6.2 Results and discussions
The composition ratios of each fresh water masses at the
mouthsof the Aji, Shirinashi, and Kizurivers are shown in
Figure 11. In all rivers, the proportion of Neya River water
was about 15%. This means that the contributions of the
Neya River water to the water quality degradation in each
river was almost the same.
Table 1 shows the observation results of water
qualityaround the mouths of the three downstream rivers.
The table indicates the water in the Shirinashi and
Kizurivers is more polluted than that in the Aji River.
Considering the tracer experiment results, this might
mean that the water quality degradation in the Shirinashi
and Kizurivers is caused by the treatment water inflowing
directly to the river. Further study is required on this
point.
7. CONCLUSIONS
In this study, to clarify the variation characteristics of
water quality in the Osaka City Rivers and the Neya River
in Japan, a field survey and numerical experiments using a
3D numerical model were conducted. The results
obtained in the study were as follows:
(1) The field survey results indicate that the water quality
variations in the estuarine are strongly affected by
physical processes such as seawater intrusion and the
mixing of water masses from various sources, i.e., the
highly polluted NeyaRiver water, the less
pollutedOkawaRiver water, and seawater.
(2) Threedimensionalhydrodynamic and waterquality
models were applied successfully to the urban tidal river
network in Osaka. Variations in water level fluctuations
and waterquality distributions in the rivers were well
reproduced, although the reproducibility of some factors
will require further considerationespecially as related to
the vertical mixing process around the saltwater interface
in the river mouth.The simulation results showed the need
for further improvement in the method of evaluating
bottom roughness and the need for eithera higherlevel
turbulent model or a different turbulent model.
(3) The numerical experiments indicated that the
biochemical processes and watersediment interactions
had less influences on waterquality variations in this
estuarine basin, with the exception of DO.The tracer
experiments showed that the water quality around the
mouths of the Shirinashi and Kizurivers might be strongly
affected by the treatment water inflowing directly to the
river lines.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
We would like to express our sincere appreciation to the
staff of Osaka Prefecture and Osaka City for their help.
This research was supported in part by a grant from the
Obayashi Foundation.
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Shirinashi
Aji River mouth Kizu River mouth
River mouth
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T-N 1.5 2.8 3.4
T-P 0.11 0.18 0.17
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