Vattenkvalitet och risker vid ändrat intag för vattenförsörjning i Västerås

Sammanfattning: Water is the most essential resource for life. In cases where drinking water is processed from surface water it is important to ensure the raw water is of good quality, and is suitable for processing through the water treatment plant. The drinking water for Västerås is sourced from Västeråsfjärden, in the western side of Lake Mälaren. The city itself is home to marinas, ports, a wastewater treatment plant, the Svartån outlet, sewage pumping stations and stormwater outlets. Because of the negative effects these activities have on surface water quality, Mälarenergi AB is interested in relocating the raw water intake point to Granfjärden, 10 km east of Västeråsfjärden. At Granfjärden the intake point would be less exposed to the activities in Västerås, and could be placed at a greater depth, resulting in better water quality. In this Master’s thesis the water quality and the pollution risks at Västeråsfjärden and Granfjärden sites are compared. Existing water quality data were compared, and pollution risks were investigated in two ways. Firstly potential risks in the catchment area were identified through compiling previously reported information and map analysis. Secondly, possible accident scenarios from shipping were identified. Following this, SMHI simulated the accident scenarios and their estimated effects on the two sites were then assessed.   This research shows that the water quality difference between sites is small but key differences exist in the levels of organic matter, color, transparency and temperature, making the Granfjärden location preferable. Potential problems associated with the low oxygen levels found during the end of summer at Granfjärden may be addressed by temporarily raising the intake point. It should be noted however that this temporary solution may increase the exposure to pollution. In conclusion, accident scenario simulations showed the potential concentration of pollutants at both sites is low, with effluents diluted at least 1000 times. Prevailing southwesterly and westerly winds occuring at both intake points generate a clockwise circulation in Västeråsfjärden.  This causes all effluents from urban activities to reach that intake point, which is the most notable risk associated with this site.  In contrast, the two largest risks for the Granfjärden site are shipping effluents and the microbiological load from individual sewage treatment systems and animal waste.