Temporal and Spatial Characteristics of River Water Quality and Its Influence Factors in the TAIHU Basin Plains, Lower Yangtze River, China

Abstract

Water quality pollution has been a serious problem in the Taihu Basin plains, which is a highly urbanized area in China. This study aims to detect the interannual and seasonal changes and spatial patterns of water quality in this region. Based on cluster analysis, Moran’s I, and standard deviational ellipses, the site clusters, spatial heterogeneity of water quality characteristics and identified polluted regions were clarified. Results showed that (1) water quality improved since 2002, and nutrient concentrations were lower in summer and autumn than in winter and spring. (2) The monitoring sites were divided into six clusters according to the water quality during the period from 2010 to 2014. Water quality worsened from Cluster 1 to Cluster 4. Cluster 1 sites were mostly distributed beside the Yangtze River and Taihu Lake. Cluster 4 sites were mainly located along the southeast border near Shanghai, while the remaining sites were separately distributed in the main cities. (3) A polluted region of both total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) was present in the southeastern part of the study area near the border from 2010 to 2014. In addition, polluted regions were most likely to form near the junctions of main cities. (4) Anthropogenic factors had greater impacts on water quality than natural factors. More attention should be given to water quality protection around impervious surface areas due to the greatest considerable effect.