Abstract

This study aimed to assess the relationship between the landscape patterns and non-point source (NPS) pollution distribution in Qixia County, China. The sub-basin classification was conducted based on a digital elevation model and Landsat8 satellite images. Water samples were collected from each sub-basin, andtheir water quality during the wet and dry seasons was estimated. The correlation between the landscape indices and water pollution indicators was determined by Pearson analysis. The location-weighted landscape contrast index (LWLCI) was calculated based on the “source-sink” theory. Qixia was further divided into five sections based on the LWLCI score to illustrate the potential risk of NPS pollution. The results showed that the water quality in Qixia County was generally good. Cultivated land, orchards, construction areas, and unused land were positively correlated with the water pollution index and weredesignated as the “source” landscape categories, while forests, grasslands, and water bodies, which were negatively correlated with water pollution, were the “sink” landscapes; the LWCI was high in 36.94% of the study area. In these areas, measures such as increasing vegetation buffer zones are necessary to decrease the sediment and nutrient loads carried by precipitation.

Highlights

  • IntroductionWater pollution can be categorized as point and non-point source pollution [1]

  • With the rapid economic development and high population growth in recent years, non-point source (NPS) pollution has become the main cause of water pollution [4], which mostly carries large amounts of N and P (NPS-N and NPS-P, respectively)

  • This study aimed to identify the key areas for the prevention and control of NPS pollution in the study area based on the “Source and Sink” theory

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Summary

Introduction

Water pollution can be categorized as point and non-point source pollution [1]. Point source pollution originates from a single source, while non-point source (NPS) pollution is caused by various undefined pollutants, such as soil sediments, livestock fecal sewage, and solid waste [2]. With the rapid economic development and high population growth in recent years, NPS pollution has become the main cause of water pollution [4], which mostly carries large amounts of N and P (NPS-N and NPS-P, respectively). The increase in NPS water pollution has caused serious hydrological and environmental problems worldwide and become a major challenge in environmental protection [5,6]. Accurate monitoring of the changing patterns of NPS pollution is essential for combating, controlling, and reducing water pollution

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