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Water Quality Modeling

Water Quality Modeling Services

  • Coupled Watershed and Reservoir Modeling
  • Reservoir Modeling
  • Stream Modeling
  • Bay/Estuary Modeling
  • TCEQ Discharge Permitting Third Party Modeling

Solutions & Insights

PFASStormwater MSGP
About Water Quality Modeling

Providing effective water quality and regulatory support to water, wastewater, and stormwater utilities, our water quality and permitting team works closely with regulators and keeps abreast of constantly changing water quality and environmental regulations and guidance. We use a wide range of water quality models, from 1-D to 3-D models, to simulate creeks, reservoirs, and estuaries; analyze the relevant physical, biological, and chemical processes; and develop management strategies to address our clients’ permitting and water quality management issues. Our team is frequently praised by environmental quality agencies for our attention to detail, ability to anticipate problems for our clients, and willingness to negotiate on our clients’ behalf regarding difficult permit situations.

COUPLED WATERSHED AND RESERVOIR MODELING +

Coupling of SWAT and CE-QUAL-W2 Models

NTMWD sought to model nutrient loading from the Lavon Lake watershed and its impacts on water quality in Lavon Lake by coupling a SWAT model of the watershed with a CE-QUAL-W2 model of the lake.

RESERVOIR MODELING +

Spill Response Planning and Spill Response App

A client operates an ongoing Watershed Protection Program (WPP) to protect its water supply. Plummer assisted in developing and incorporating a spill response plan into the WPP.

Grapevine Lake Nutrient Modeling

Using the Water Quality Analysis Simulation Program (WASP), Plummer developed and calibrated a water quality model of Grapevine Lake.

Drought Response Feasibility and Engineering Study

The 2014 Austin Water Resource Task Force recommended that the City of Austin evaluate the feasibility of IPR in Lady Bird Lake (LBL) as one of several water supply strategies for consideration in the City’s integrated water resources plan.

Lavon Lake Water Quality Modeling – Total Dissolved Solids

Plummer developed a monthly water balance model of Lavon Lake and the NTMWD water supply system to support evaluation of different water supply and water treatment management options.

Lavon Lake Water Quality Modeling – TPDES Permitting Support

Plummer developed a CE-QUAL-W2 model of Lavon Lake to evaluate impacts on dissolved oxygen, nutrients and chlorophyll-a levels in the lake.

Dissolved Oxygen Model of Lewisville Lake

Using the EPA’s Water Quality Assessment Simulation Program (WASP), Plummer developed an advanced water quality model of Lewisville Lake to support a TPDES permit renewal for the Lakeview Regional Water Reclamation Plant.

STREAM MODELING +

Stream Water Quality Modeling – TPDES Permitting Support

To support permitting of a discharge of treated wastewater effluent from a new wastewater treatment plant, Plummer developed a QUAL-TX model from HEC-RAS cross-sections of the receiving stream.

Trinity River Vision Operations Water Quality Model

To support permitting of a discharge of treated wastewater effluent from a new regional wastewater treatment plant, Plummer assisted the NTMWD in developing a QUAL-TX model and a plan for collecting field measurements of stream geometry and flowrates.

Sister Grove Creek Water Quality Modeling – TPDES Permitting Support

To support permitting of a discharge of treated wastewater effluent from a new regional wastewater treatment plant, Plummer assisted the NTMWD in developing a QUAL-TX model and a plan for collecting field measurements of stream geometry and flowrates.

Waste Load Allocation Model

Plummer updated the TCEQ’s regulatory model for the Upper Trinity River to a newer version and incorporated revised background flows.

Nutrient Study

As regulatory limits on nutrients and algae become an increasing reality in Texas, it is imperative that a reliable and site-specific approach be developed for establishing Texas Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (TPDES) permit effluent quality limits for nutrients.

BAY/ESTUARY MODELING +

Dissolved Oxygen Model of Oso Bay

Plummer developed a dissolved oxygen model that couples the FREHD hydrodynamic code (Hodges, 2012) and EPA WASP 7 to simulate dissolved oxygen in Oso Bay.

TCEQ Discharge Permitting Third Party Modeling +

The Texas Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (TPDES) discharge permitting process often extends project schedules and can become a critical path item. Water quality modeling is often the permit processing step that requires the longest timeframe. By streamlining this step, permit timelines can be significantly improved.

Plummer supports clients by developing and coordinating water quality models that align with Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) expectations, helping expedite agency review and reducing delays. As a TCEQ-approved third party modeler, Plummer can perform the technical modeling work traditionally completed by the agency. This program was created to address TCEQ’s permit application backlog and gives permittees a path forward to reducing the permit processing timeline.

Our team brings decades of direct experience working alongside TCEQ water quality staff and has developed models in every river basin across Texas, including rivers, lakes, bays, and estuaries. This depth of experience allows us to anticipate how modeling results will influence discharge permits, enabling clients to predict permit limits and conditions before submitting applications.

Plummer’s team includes former TCEQ professionals, including a modeler, who used TCEQ's Standard Operating Procedures to update countless water quality models across the State. Combined with our large, multidisciplinary permitting team and deep understanding of regulatory frameworks and water quality standards, we help clients identify the most efficient path to approval. As a result, our clients benefit from fewer review cycles and faster permitting timelines.

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Key ContactS

Key Contact

MEG PIERCE-WALSH, M.S.
MEG PIERCE-WALSH, M.S.
Environmental Services
Practice Leader

Meg manages Plummer’s experienced team of environmental scientists and permitting specialists. With experience as a water resource scientist and project manager, Meg's expertise includes the Clean Water Act, water discharge permitting, and developing strategic permitting solutions for municipal, industrial, and private clients. Her expertise is in developing complex alternative administrative water permitting strategies, planning and implementing watershed-scale baseline studies, managing water permitting and compliance projects, environmental review, and cross-subject matter collaboration. Meg's passion lies at the intersection of facilitating spaces for teams and clients to develop solutions using collaborative multi-layered problem-solving.

Sample Projects

Spill Response Planning and Spill Response App

A client operates an ongoing Watershed Protection Program (WPP) to protect its water supply. Plummer assisted in developing and incorporating a spill response plan into the WPP.

Dissolved Oxygen Model of Oso Bay

Plummer developed a dissolved oxygen model that couples the FREHD hydrodynamic code (Hodges, 2012) and EPA WASP 7 to simulate dissolved oxygen in Oso Bay.

Stream Water Quality Modeling – TPDES Permitting Support

To support permitting of a discharge of treated wastewater effluent from a new wastewater treatment plant, Plummer developed a QUAL-TX model from HEC-RAS cross-sections of the receiving stream.

Trinity River Vision Operations Water Quality Model

To support permitting of a discharge of treated wastewater effluent from a new regional wastewater treatment plant, Plummer assisted the NTMWD in developing a QUAL-TX model and a plan for collecting field measurements of stream geometry and flowrates.

Sister Grove Creek Water Quality Modeling – TPDES Permitting Support

To support permitting of a discharge of treated wastewater effluent from a new regional wastewater treatment plant, Plummer assisted the NTMWD in developing a QUAL-TX model and a plan for collecting field measurements of stream geometry and flowrates.

Waste Load Allocation Model

Plummer updated the TCEQ’s regulatory model for the Upper Trinity River to a newer version and incorporated revised background flows.

Nutrient Study

As regulatory limits on nutrients and algae become an increasing reality in Texas, it is imperative that a reliable and site-specific approach be developed for establishing Texas Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (TPDES) permit effluent quality limits for nutrients.

Grapevine Lake Nutrient Modeling

Using the Water Quality Analysis Simulation Program (WASP), Plummer developed and calibrated a water quality model of Grapevine Lake.

Drought Response Feasibility and Engineering Study

The 2014 Austin Water Resource Task Force recommended that the City of Austin evaluate the feasibility of IPR in Lady Bird Lake (LBL) as one of several water supply strategies for consideration in the City’s integrated water resources plan.

Lavon Lake Water Quality Modeling – Total Dissolved Solids

Plummer developed a monthly water balance model of Lavon Lake and the NTMWD water supply system to support evaluation of different water supply and water treatment management options.

Lavon Lake Water Quality Modeling – TPDES Permitting Support

Plummer developed a CE-QUAL-W2 model of Lavon Lake to evaluate impacts on dissolved oxygen, nutrients and chlorophyll-a levels in the lake.

Dissolved Oxygen Model of Lewisville Lake

Using the EPA’s Water Quality Assessment Simulation Program (WASP), Plummer developed an advanced water quality model of Lewisville Lake to support a TPDES permit renewal for the Lakeview Regional Water Reclamation Plant.

Coupling of SWAT and CE-QUAL-W2 Models

NTMWD sought to model nutrient loading from the Lavon Lake watershed and its impacts on water quality in Lavon Lake by coupling a SWAT model of the watershed with a CE-QUAL-W2 model of the lake.

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