Runoff water quality characteristics in a small agriculture watershed

I have observed the water quality in the Ohwada District of Kasumigaura Town near Lake Kasumigaura for a period of over seven years (1993–1999). During this observation period, sampling was performed for 3 years at 4-h intervals using an automatic sampler, and the water quality was subsequently analyzed. As a result of this long-term precision study of water quality fluctuation, important new information was obtained. First, the quantity of nitrogen found to have been removed was great, especially in the paddy fields, and this contributed to water quality purification. Secondly, the paddy fields produced algae and this algae supported denitrification in the paddy fields. However, the paddy fields increased the COD runoff. Thirdly, for determining the average water quality by monitoring, monthly sampling is sufficient, though for understanding the fluctuation pattern of the water quality, weekly sampling is necessary.