Theme 3-6-Application of the agricultural non-point source pollution model (AGNPS) to model runoff water quality when data is scarce

Abstract

A catchment water quality management model which could be applied without parameter optimisation to ungauged catchments would be of great benefit to catchment managers to optimise surface runoff quality. The AGricultural Non-Point Source Pollution (AGNPS) model is a catchment scale water quality management model with measurable model parameters. As the model had a sound physical structure it was decided to check the applicability of the model to ungauged situations.

The paper explains the process in the estimation of the model parameters in ungauged situations and demonstrates the model's applicability by applying the model to a water supply catchment in Australia. The study revealed that the uncalibrated AGNPS model with estimated parameters can be used for catchment management provided some key parameters are estimated accurately.