Continuous Modeling of Wet Weather Strategies Annual Water Quality Results Support a Municipality's Decision-Making Process

An extensive water quality modeling effort for the City of Columbus Long Term Control Plan (LTCP) was performed in order to evaluate future scenarios to abate combined sewer overflows. This modeling effort was supported by a massive data collection program and employed three different models to analyze the receiving streams. Once the models were selected and calibrated, continuous annual simulations were run to evaluate and compare the alternatives for final selection by the City. The models projected future bacteria concentrations in the receiving streams and also predicted the dissolved oxygen levels in the stream. The modeling tools supported the City's selection of a LTCP alternative by providing projections of environmental benefits.