There are complex relationships among water quality, ecological integration and sustainability of surface water resource. Several factors are interacting in these three things, making them complex for understanding and managing, while the integration of these three is very important for sustainable development, environmental sustainability and public health. To increase the understanding of this complex relationship, appropriate tool is needed. Modeling is considered as an appropriate tool to simplify the understanding of this concept. The objective of this study is developing an integrated conceptual model for pollution prevention, ecological integration and sustainability of Awetu River basin. To develop this model, a preliminary study was conducted in the study area, which includes water quality status, its ecological condition, settlement in the river area, identifying pollution sources, and an on-going project in the river basin. Based on this information, and general environmental scientific knowledge, a conceptual model was developed. This conceptual modeling was passed through the four broad steps; each step involved several key activities that support developing an integrated model. Three correlated sub-models were developed first; finally, one integrated conceptual model was developed. Developing and application of an integrated model for Awetu river basin is very important to improve the current situation of the river. Achieving this needs an integrated work of all stakeholders and concerned bodies. Stakeholders recommended applying this model, whereas researchers recommended evaluation and modifying the model more. The model is also applicable for most rivers and surface water, particularly for waters with similar situations.
Published in | American Journal of Water Science and Engineering (Volume 10, Issue 4) |
DOI | 10.11648/j.ajwse.20241004.14 |
Page(s) | 118-126 |
Creative Commons |
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited. |
Copyright |
Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group |
Conceptual Model, Integrated Model, Pollution Prevention, Ecological Integrity, Sustainability
[1] | Tong XX, Hu B. Analysis and Prevention of Urban River Pollution Analysis and Prevention of Urban River Pollution. 2020. |
[2] | Petersen CR, van Deventer H, Smith-Adao LB, Nel JL. Incorporating free-flowing rivers into global biodiversity targets: Prioritization and targeted interventions to maintain ecological integrity. Aquat Conserv Mar Freshw Ecosyst. 2023; 33(1): 115–28. |
[3] | Paudel S, Koprowski JL, Thakuri U, Karki A. In-stream habitat availability for river dolphins in response to flow: Use of ecological integrity to manage river flows. PLoS One [Internet]. 2021; 16(July): 1–18. Available from: |
[4] | Harvey J, Gomez-Velez J, Schmadel N, Scott D, Boyer E, Alexander R, et al. How Hydrologic Connectivity Regulates Water Quality in River Corridors. J Am Water Resour Assoc. 2019; 55(2): 369–81. |
[5] | Chen SS, Aaron I, Cheng K, Qiushi Y, Qun S. Assessment of urban river water pollution with urbanization in East Africa. Environ Sci Pollut Res [Internet]. 2022; 40812–25. Available from: |
[6] | Model S. Efficiency of Water Pollution Control Based on a Three-Stage. 2022. |
[7] | Ejigu MT. Overview of water quality modeling. Cogent Eng [Internet]. 2021; 8(1). Available from: |
[8] | Astatkie H, Ambelu A, Mengistie E. Heliyon Sources and level of heavy metal contamination in the water of Awetu watershed streams, southwestern Ethiopia. HLY [Internet]. 2021; 7(3): e06385. Available from: |
[9] | Weldezgina D, Muleta D. Bacteriological Contaminants of Some Fresh Vegetables Irrigated with Awetu River in Jimma Town, Southwestern Ethiopia. 2016; 2016. |
[10] | N. Jorgenson, J. C. Stephens, and B. White, “Environmental education in transition: A critical review of recent research on climate change and energy education,” J. Environ. Educ., vol. 50, no. 3, pp. 160–171, 2019, |
[11] | Ayalew DW, Asefa T, Moges MA, Leyew SM. Evaluating the potential impact of climate change on the hydrology of Ribb catchment, Lake Tana Basin, Ethiopia. J Water Clim Chang. 2022; 13(1): 190–205. |
[12] | Nyam YS. Developing a Conceptual Model for Sustainable water Resource Management and Agricultural Development : the Case of the Breede River Catchment Area, South Africa. Environ Manage [Internet]. 2021; 632–47. Available from: |
[13] | B. K. Bala et al., System Dynamics, Springer Texts in Business and Economics, |
[14] | Hao Y, Meng X, Yu X, Lei M, Li W, Yang W, et al. Quantification of primary and secondary sources to PM2.5 using an improved source regional apportionment method in an industrial city, China. Sci Total Environ [Internet]. 2020; 706(xxxx): 135715. Available from: |
[15] | Navabian M, Vazifehdost M, Varaki ME. Estimation of pollution load to Anzali Wetland using remote sensing technique. Casp J Environ Sci. 2020; 18(3): 251–64. |
[16] | Farghaly M. Developing Low-Cost In-Situ W ater Pollution Sensors. 2024; 67(1): 1–15. |
[17] | Ningrum VP. Environmental Law Enforcement In Law Number 32 of 2009 Concerning Environmental Protection and Management. 2023; 1(08): 351–6. |
[18] | Zhang W, Li G. Environmental decentralization, environmental protection investment, and green technology innovation. 2022; 12740–55. |
[19] | Bakalár, T.; Pavolová, H.; Tokarˇcík, A. Analysis and Model of River Basin Sustainable Managemen by SWOT and AHP Methods. Water 2021, 13, 2427. |
[20] | Pîrvu R, Barbu CM. journal of Environmental Management. 2024; VII(4). |
[21] | Rooney N. Assessing the causal relationships of ecological integrity : a re-evaluation of Karr ’ s iconic Index of Biotic Integrity. 2018. Ecosphere 9(3): e02168. |
[22] | Humphries P, Keckeis H, Finlayson B. The river wave concept: Integrating river ecosystem models. Bioscience. 2014; 64(10): 870–82. |
[23] | Torgersen CE, Le Pichon C, Fullerton AH, Dugdale SJ, Duda JJ, Giovannini F, et al. Riverscape approaches in practice: perspectives and applications. Biol Rev. 2022; 97(2): 481–504. |
[24] | Dunham JB, Angermeier PL, Crausbay SD, Cravens AE, Gosnell H, McEvoy J, et al. Rivers are social–ecological systems: Time to integrate human dimensions into riverscape ecology and management. Wiley Interdiscip Rev Water. 2018; 5(4): 1–10. |
[25] | Lin Q, Song Y, Zhang Y, Hao JL, Wu Z. Strategies for Restoring and Managing Ecological Corridors of Freshwater Ecosystem. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022; 19(23): 1–19. |
[26] | Wymore AS, Ward AS, Wohl E, Harvey JW. Viewing river corridors through the lens of critical zone science. 2015; |
[27] | Karr JR, Larson ER, Chu EW. Ecological integrity is both real and valuable. 2022; (May 2021): 1–10. |
[28] | Wu H, Darton RC, Borthwick AGL. Defining and measuring river basin sustainability : a case study of the Yellow River (2016). |
[29] | Kondolf GM. Setting goals in river restoration: When and where can the river “heal itself”? Geophys Monogr Ser. 2011; 194: 29–43. |
APA Style
Gobana, M. K., Haddis, A., Dadi, D. (2024). An Integrated Model for Pollution Prevention, Ecological Integration and Sustainability of Surface Water: Case of Awetu River, Jimma City, South-Western Ethiopia. American Journal of Water Science and Engineering, 10(4), 118-126. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajwse.20241004.14
ACS Style
Gobana, M. K.; Haddis, A.; Dadi, D. An Integrated Model for Pollution Prevention, Ecological Integration and Sustainability of Surface Water: Case of Awetu River, Jimma City, South-Western Ethiopia. Am. J. Water Sci. Eng. 2024, 10(4), 118-126. doi: 10.11648/j.ajwse.20241004.14
AMA Style
Gobana MK, Haddis A, Dadi D. An Integrated Model for Pollution Prevention, Ecological Integration and Sustainability of Surface Water: Case of Awetu River, Jimma City, South-Western Ethiopia. Am J Water Sci Eng. 2024;10(4):118-126. doi: 10.11648/j.ajwse.20241004.14
@article{10.11648/j.ajwse.20241004.14, author = {Mohammedsalih Kadir Gobana and Alemayehu Haddis and Dessalegn Dadi}, title = {An Integrated Model for Pollution Prevention, Ecological Integration and Sustainability of Surface Water: Case of Awetu River, Jimma City, South-Western Ethiopia }, journal = {American Journal of Water Science and Engineering}, volume = {10}, number = {4}, pages = {118-126}, doi = {10.11648/j.ajwse.20241004.14}, url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajwse.20241004.14}, eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajwse.20241004.14}, abstract = {There are complex relationships among water quality, ecological integration and sustainability of surface water resource. Several factors are interacting in these three things, making them complex for understanding and managing, while the integration of these three is very important for sustainable development, environmental sustainability and public health. To increase the understanding of this complex relationship, appropriate tool is needed. Modeling is considered as an appropriate tool to simplify the understanding of this concept. The objective of this study is developing an integrated conceptual model for pollution prevention, ecological integration and sustainability of Awetu River basin. To develop this model, a preliminary study was conducted in the study area, which includes water quality status, its ecological condition, settlement in the river area, identifying pollution sources, and an on-going project in the river basin. Based on this information, and general environmental scientific knowledge, a conceptual model was developed. This conceptual modeling was passed through the four broad steps; each step involved several key activities that support developing an integrated model. Three correlated sub-models were developed first; finally, one integrated conceptual model was developed. Developing and application of an integrated model for Awetu river basin is very important to improve the current situation of the river. Achieving this needs an integrated work of all stakeholders and concerned bodies. Stakeholders recommended applying this model, whereas researchers recommended evaluation and modifying the model more. The model is also applicable for most rivers and surface water, particularly for waters with similar situations. }, year = {2024} }
TY - JOUR T1 - An Integrated Model for Pollution Prevention, Ecological Integration and Sustainability of Surface Water: Case of Awetu River, Jimma City, South-Western Ethiopia AU - Mohammedsalih Kadir Gobana AU - Alemayehu Haddis AU - Dessalegn Dadi Y1 - 2024/11/26 PY - 2024 N1 - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajwse.20241004.14 DO - 10.11648/j.ajwse.20241004.14 T2 - American Journal of Water Science and Engineering JF - American Journal of Water Science and Engineering JO - American Journal of Water Science and Engineering SP - 118 EP - 126 PB - Science Publishing Group SN - 2575-1875 UR - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajwse.20241004.14 AB - There are complex relationships among water quality, ecological integration and sustainability of surface water resource. Several factors are interacting in these three things, making them complex for understanding and managing, while the integration of these three is very important for sustainable development, environmental sustainability and public health. To increase the understanding of this complex relationship, appropriate tool is needed. Modeling is considered as an appropriate tool to simplify the understanding of this concept. The objective of this study is developing an integrated conceptual model for pollution prevention, ecological integration and sustainability of Awetu River basin. To develop this model, a preliminary study was conducted in the study area, which includes water quality status, its ecological condition, settlement in the river area, identifying pollution sources, and an on-going project in the river basin. Based on this information, and general environmental scientific knowledge, a conceptual model was developed. This conceptual modeling was passed through the four broad steps; each step involved several key activities that support developing an integrated model. Three correlated sub-models were developed first; finally, one integrated conceptual model was developed. Developing and application of an integrated model for Awetu river basin is very important to improve the current situation of the river. Achieving this needs an integrated work of all stakeholders and concerned bodies. Stakeholders recommended applying this model, whereas researchers recommended evaluation and modifying the model more. The model is also applicable for most rivers and surface water, particularly for waters with similar situations. VL - 10 IS - 4 ER -