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Assessing Water Quality of Three Gorges Reservoir, China, Over a Five-Year Period From 2006 to 2011

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  • Pei Zhao
  • Xiangyu Tang
  • Jialiang Tang
  • Chao Wang

Abstract

Understanding temporal variability in water quality in the Three Gorges Reservoir (TGR) is crucial for evaluating environmental effects of damming and protecting China’s largest freshwater resource. This study examined water quality changes in the main channel of the Yangtze River after dam completion as well as its relationship with water level fluctuation (WLF), controlled by annual impoundment operations and conditioned by flooding. Finally, the mass balance budget and integrative water quality indexing (WQI) methods were applied to elucidate the status of overall water quality since dam completion. Results showed that TGR outlet water (Yichang) exhibited higher pH and COD Mn values and lower concentrations of dissolved oxygen (DO) and ammonia nitrogen (NH 3 -N) than inlet water (Zhutuo). Temporal variations in water quality parameters displayed similar trends for the outlet and inlet. Water quality parameters all showed negative correlations to water level, revealing the different effects of damming on water quality. It was estimated that reservoir impoundment led to a DO depletion of 1495.5 (±1482.0) × 10 3 tons/yr and a COD Mn increase of 564.0 (±405.0) × 10 3 tons/yr, likely deriving from various internal pollutant loads from the WLF zone and tributary watersheds. According to WQI, TGR water quality remained at healthy levels. However, WQI linear regression showed that water quality at the outlet significantly decreased over time, indicating that the construction of the Three Gorges Dam generally caused water quality deterioration. Further investigation is required to determine the spatial distribution of point and non-point pollution sources and to identify major factors that influence TGR water quality. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2013

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  • Pei Zhao & Xiangyu Tang & Jialiang Tang & Chao Wang, 2013. "Assessing Water Quality of Three Gorges Reservoir, China, Over a Five-Year Period From 2006 to 2011," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 27(13), pages 4545-4558, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:waterr:v:27:y:2013:i:13:p:4545-4558
    DOI: 10.1007/s11269-013-0425-x
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. GuoLiang Wei & ZhiFeng Yang & BaoShan Cui & Bing Li & He Chen & JunHong Bai & ShiKui Dong, 2009. "Impact of Dam Construction on Water Quality and Water Self-Purification Capacity of the Lancang River, China," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 23(9), pages 1763-1780, July.
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    2. Xizhi Nong & Dongguo Shao & Yi Xiao & Hua Zhong, 2019. "Spatio-Temporal Characterization Analysis and Water Quality Assessment of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project of China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(12), pages 1-23, June.
    3. Xijun Lai & Qiuhua Liang & Jiahu Jiang & Qun Huang, 2014. "Impoundment Effects of the Three-Gorges-Dam on Flow Regimes in Two China’s Largest Freshwater Lakes," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 28(14), pages 5111-5124, November.
    4. Margaret W. Gitau & Jingqiu Chen & Zhao Ma, 2016. "Water Quality Indices as Tools for Decision Making and Management," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 30(8), pages 2591-2610, June.
    5. Jian Sha & Zeli Li & Dennis P. Swaney & Bongghi Hong & Wei Wang & Yuqiu Wang, 2014. "Application of a Bayesian Watershed Model Linking Multivariate Statistical Analysis to Support Watershed-Scale Nitrogen Management in China," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 28(11), pages 3681-3695, September.
    6. Jian Sha & Zeli Li & Dennis Swaney & Bongghi Hong & Wei Wang & Yuqiu Wang, 2014. "Application of a Bayesian Watershed Model Linking Multivariate Statistical Analysis to Support Watershed-Scale Nitrogen Management in China," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 28(11), pages 3681-3695, September.
    7. Shi, Yingyuan & Xu, Gaohong & Wang, Yonggui & Engel, Bernard A. & Peng, Hong & Zhang, Wanshun & Cheng, Meiling & Dai, Minglong, 2017. "Modelling hydrology and water quality processes in the Pengxi River basin of the Three Gorges Reservoir using the soil and water assessment tool," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 182(C), pages 24-38.
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