Basin-Scale Pollution Loads Analyzed Based on Coupled Empirical Models and Numerical Models

Man Zhang, Xiaolong Chen, Shuihua Yang, Zhen Song, Yonggui Wang and Qing Yu
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Man Zhang: School of Resource and Environmental Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430079, China
Xiaolong Chen: Beijing Tsinghua Holdings Human Settlements Environment Institute, Beijing 100083, China
Shuihua Yang: Yanshan Experimental High School, Yanshan 663100, China
Zhen Song: Key Laboratory of Regional Ecology and Environmental Change, School of Geography and Information Engineering, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China
Yonggui Wang: Key Laboratory of Regional Ecology and Environmental Change, School of Geography and Information Engineering, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China
Qing Yu: Key Laboratory of Regional Ecology and Environmental Change, School of Geography and Information Engineering, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 23, 1-19

Abstract: Pollutant source apportionment is of great significance for water environmental protection. However, it is still challenging to accurately quantify pollutant loads at basin-scale. Refined analytical methods combined the pollution discharge coefficient method (PDCM), field observation, and numerical model (Soil & Water Assessment Tool, SWAT) to make quantitative source appointment in the Tuojiang River, a key tributary of the upper Yangtze River. The chemical oxygen demand (COD), total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), and ammonia nitrogen (N-NH4 + ) were analyzed. Results showed that the urban sewage treatment plant point source has the largest contribution to COD, TN, and N-NH4 + , while TP is mostly from the agricultural sources throughout the year. The total inflowing loads of pollution sources are significantly affected by rainfall. The overall pollution characteristics showed that pollutant loads present in different seasons are as follows: wet season > normal season > dry season. The month with the highest levels of pollutants is July in the wet season. Among the nine cities, the city that contributes the most COD, TN and N-NH4 + , is Neijiang, accounting for about 25%, and the city that contributes the most TP is Deyang, accounting for 23%. Among the sub-basins, the Fuxi River subbasin and Qiuxihe River subbasin contribute the most pollutant loads. The technical framework adopted in this paper can be used to accurately identify the types, administrative regions and sub-basins of the main pollution sources in the watershed, which is conducive to management and governance of the environment.

Keywords: basin-scale pollution loads; source apportionment; pollution source analysis framework; coupled models; SWAT model; Tuojiang River basin (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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