A comparison of the applicability of the theoretical VART, Gaussian, and ADZ models for pollution source identification in the rivers

A series of experimental data and two series of field data which have been extracted by USGS in the MONOCACY River and ANTIETAM creek have been utilized to compare source identification accuracy of the Gaussian, ADZ, and VART models. To achieve the object of the study, the theoretical solution of the VART model for sudden release, and the second-order central moment equation of the Gaussian and ADZ models have been operated For all of the experimental and field data series, firstly, all of the model parameters have been computed and then by operation of the extracted parameters and the mentioned relationships, the accuracy of them have been calculated. The results showed that the accuracy of the VART model for experimental and field data is 25% and 4.8% respectively. Also, the average relative errors of the Gaussian and ADZ models are 1.65% and 14%, respectively, which confirms the desirable accuracy of the Gaussian model. The results of the present study have been revealed that the Gaussian model in both of the model parameter numbers and the calculation accuracy is superior to the others. Also, to assess the goodness of fit between experimental and field data series and the theoretical Breakthrough curves, the average Nash-Sutcliffe parameters have been calculated about 0.97, which exhibits the favorable goodness in the fits.