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Model Report

RIVERSPILL
Last Revision Date: 11/17/2009 View as PDF
General Information Back to Top
Model Abbreviated Name:

 RIVERSPILL
Model Extended Name:

 RIVERSPILL
Model Overview/Abstract:
RiverSpill has been incorporated into ICWater; though still available as a download.
http://eh2o.saic.com/SectionProjects/Transport/Surface/RiverSpill/RiverSpill.aspxexit EPA

RiverSpill is a GIS-based system to track and model the flow and concentrations of contaminants in the water supply of our Nation.

Keywords: Stream flow, transport, contaminant, decay, time of travel (TOT), calculations, tracking, water treatment, real time, concentration, half-life, chemical, biological, water treatment
Model Technical Contact Information:
Robert Janke
Water Infrastructure Protection Division
U.S. EPA/NHSRC Mail Stop NG-16/NB21F
26 West Martin Luther King Dr.
Cincinnati, Ohio 45268
Office Phone: 513-569-7160
Janke.Robert@epamail.epa.gov
Model Homepage: http://eh2o.saic.com/SectionProjects/Transport/Surface/RiverSpill/RiverSpill.aspx Exiting the EPA Site
Substantive Changes from Prior Version:
  • ICWater incorporates the RiverSpill model
  • Addition of National Hydrography Dataset (NHD) stream reach data
  • Compatible with ARCGIS 9.x
Plans for further model development:
  • Addition of surface runoff calculations
  • Accept output from atmospheric dispersion models

User Information Back to Top
Technical Requirements
Computer Hardware
Windows XP
Compatible Operating Systems
Windows 95, 98, NT, 2000, XP Operating Systems
Other Software Required to Run the Model
ESRI's ArcView 3.2 (or higher) installed.
ESRI's "Network Analyst" extension.
Download Information
This model can be downloaded at http://eh2o.saic.com/SectionProjects/Transport/Surface/RiverSpill/RiverSpill.aspx exit EPA
Using the Model
Basic Model Inputs
  • Spill location
  • Type of release: instantaneous or continuous
  • Mass input or concentration
  • Chemical, biological or radiological agent
  • Stream Flow provided through USGS Real-Time gages
Basic Model Outputs
  • Downstream trace
  • Upstream Trace
  • Breakthrough curve
  • Reports – intakes downstream; dischargers or hazmat sites upstream
User Support
User's Guide Available?
The User's Guide is accessible through the RiverSpill help menu. It is also on-line.exit EPA
Other User Documents
Samuels, W.B., Amstutz, D.E., Bahadur, R., and Pickus, J., 2006. RiverSpill: A National Application for Drinking Water Protection, Journal of Hydraulic Engineering, Vol. 132, No. 4, pp. 393-403
User Qualifications
No GIS training required; Basic hydrology background helpful but not necessary

Model Science Back to Top
Problem Identification
The RiverSpill model incorporated into the Incident Command Tool for Protecting Drinking Water (ICWater) gives Incident Commanders the critical information they need to make informed decisions regarding the consequences of threats to public water supply intakes.
  • Tracks the chemical or biological constituent under real time flow conditions to a water intake.
  • Determines the concentration and decay rate of a contaminant as it is dispersed within the water source
  • Tracks the constituent to a water filtration plant
  • Identifies the population served by the water treatment plant
Summary of Model Structure and Methods
RiverSpill calculates the time of travel (TOT) based on real time stream flow measurements, decay, and dispersion of a constituent introduced into suface water.
The RiverSpill model, incorporated into ICWater, is an ArcGIS extension designed for emergency response teams to respond to chemical, biological and radiological materials within river systems. The tool is also capable of supporting law enforcement agencies in order to determine potential sources of incidents based upon detection.
Model Evaluation
Samuels, W.B., Amstutz, D.E., Bahadur, R., and Pickus, J., 2006. RiverSpill: A National Application for Drinking Water Protection, Journal of Hydraulic Engineering, Vol. 132, No. 4, pp. 393-403

Samuels, W.B., Bahadur, R., Monteith, M., Amstutz, D. Pickus, J, Parker, K. and Ryan, D. 2006, NHD, RiverSpill and the Development of the Incident Command Tool for Drinking Water Protection (ICWater), Water Resources Impact, Vol. 8, No. 2, pp. 15-18.

Bahadur, R., Samuels, W.B. and Monteith, M. 2005. NHD-Based RiverSpill, Proceedings ESRI International User Conference, July 25-29, 2005, San Diego, CA.
Key Limitations to Model Scope
The following general assumptions are applicable in the analytical techniques used in the travel time algorithm:
  • Flow is steady in each Reach nevertheless flow may vary between two reaches.
  • Flow is one dimensional. Velocity components in directions other than the direction of flow are not accounted for by the model.

The water quality portion is based on several assumptions in addition to those listed previously. The most important of these assumptions are:

  • Contaminants instantaneously mix in the water column
  • Point source release for contaminants
  • First order decay rate for contaminants
  • Interactions with the bottom sediments do not occur
  • Contaminants reach their solubility limits quickly
  • Wind and shoreline effects are not considered
  • Navigation locks or dams are not included

Instantaneous and complete mixing of the pollutant in the water column is the most important assumption in the water quality model. Any deviation from these equations requires detailed analysis of physical and chemical processes. The water quality algorithms work best with compounds that dissolve fully into the water column. Compounds that do not dissolve and/or have specific gravities greater or less than 1.0 will be poorly modeled because the advection and the fate processes occurring will be different from those of a dissolved substance.
Case Studies
http://www.potomacriver.org/water_quality/safewater/PRBDWSPP_2006_4-2.pdfexit EPA

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