Evaluation of the Influence of Inland Pollution Sources on Shellfish Growing Areas after Rainfall Events in Geoje Bay, Korea

摘要

The influences of inland pollution sources because of rainfall events on the bacteriological water quality in Geoje Bay, a major shellfish production area in Korea, were investigated. The sanitary status of sea water and shellfish after rainfall events was also evaluated. The flow rates of 13 streams around Geoje Bay showed 6 to 7-fold increases after 15 to 21 mm of rainfall. Peak pollution was observed in the Naegan Stream, the Gandeok Stream and the Seojeong Stream. The calculated impact area of inland pollution sources was 3.1 km~2 immediately after 15 mm of rainfall and expanded to 3.5 knf after 24 hours. These calculations of impacted area matched results from fecal coliform analyses with sea water. The distance between the major pollution source in the bay (the Gandeok Stream) and the station with the worst bacteriological water quality immediately after 15 mm of rainfall, which was below the Korean standard, was 0.8 km in a straight line; this distance increased to 2.0 km after a period of 24 hours. The area impacted by inland pollution souiees after a 15 mm rainfall event was wider than after a 21 mm rainfall. Although the flow rate from inland pollution sources was higher, the concentration of fecal coliform in the discharged water was lower after higher rainfall events. These observations corresponded with the results of fecal coliform analyses with sea water samples. According to the evaluation of the influences of inland pollution sources and fecal coliform analyses on sea water and shellfish samples in Geoje Bay, pollutants from inland sources did not reach the boundary line of the shellfish growing area after rainfall events of 15 or 22 mm. The bacteriological water quality of the shellfish growing area in Geoje Bay met the Koreanstandard and US NSSP requirements for approved shellfish growing areas.