Multivariate analysis of surface water quality in the Three Gorges area of China and implications for water management

• Published in: Journal of environmental sciences (China) Vol. 23; no. 9; pp. 1460 - 1471
• Main Authors: Zhao, Jian, Fu, Guo, Lei, Kim, Li, Yanwu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01.09.2011; Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China
• Subjects: ammonium nitrogen; chemical industry; China; Cluster Analysis; data collection; dissolved oxygen; Factor analysis; Freshwater; Heavy metals; monitoring; Multivariate Analysis; multivariate statistical techniques; Nutrients; organic matter; petroleum; pollutants; Pollution abatement; pollution control; potassium permanganate; Rivers - chemistry; seasonal variations; spatial variations; Statistics, Nonparametric; surface water; temporal variation; the Three Gorges; Time Factors; Waste water; wastewater; wastewater treatment; Water; water management; Water pollution; Water Quality; 三峡库区; 中国; 地表; 多因素分析; 水环境质量; 水资源管理; 重金属含量; 非参数检验; China; China, People's Rep., Sichuan Prov., Changjiang R., Three Gorges Dam; China, People's Rep; spatial variations; multivariate statistical techniques; water quality; seasonal variations; the Three Gorges
• ISSN: 1001-0742; 1878-7320
• DOI: 10.1016/s1001-0742(10)60599-2

Multivariate statistical techniques,cluster analysis,non-parametric tests,and factor analysis were applied to analyze a water quality dataset including 13 parameters at 37 sites of the Three Gorges area,China,from 2003–2008 to investigate spatio-temporal variations and identify potential pollution sources.Using cluster analysis,the twelve months of the year were classified into three periods of lowflow （LF）,normal-flow （NF）,and high-flow （HF）;and the 37 monitoring sites were divided into low pollution （LP）,moderate pollution （MP）,and high pollution （HP）.Dissolved oxygen （DO）,potassium permanganate index （COD Mn ）,and ammonia-nitrogen （NH 4 ＋-N） were identified as significant variables affecting temporal and spatial variations by non-parametric tests.Factor analysis identified that the major pollutants in the HP region were organic matters and nutrients during NF,heavy metals during LF,and petroleum during HF.In the MP region,the identified pollutants primarily included organic matter and heavy metals year-around,while in the LP region,organic pollution was significant during both NF and HF,and nutrient and heavy metal levels were high during both LF and HF.The main sources of pollution came from domestic wastewater and agricultural activities and runoff;however,they contributed differently to each region in regards to pollution levels.For the HP region,inputs from wastewater treatment plants were significant;but for MP and LP regions,water pollution was more likely from the combined effects of agriculture,domestic wastewater,and chemical industry.These results provide fundamental information for developing better water pollution control strategies for the Three Gorges area.