The spatiotemporal variations characteristic and pollution evaluation of water quality in Qujiang River, China

Abstract

In order to study the spatiotemporal variations characteristic of water quality and potential pollution sources of Qujiang River, the water quality data of twelve water quality parameters at three monitoring sections (Tuanbaoling, Baita, and Sailong) from 2015 to 2019 were analyzed by using comprehensive pollution index (CPI) and multivariate statistical techniques (MST). The water quality parameters of Qujiang River basically meet the class 3 value of environmental quality standards for surface water (GB3838-2002, China). CPI varies from 0.62 to 1.06 and the water quality is characterized by slight pollution at the three monitoring sections. Cluster analysis (CA) results show that the months can be divided into three groups on the basis of similarities of the water quality characteristics: Group 1 (dry season), which includes January-April and November–December; Group 2 (flood season), that is, July; Group 3 (flat season), which consists of May–June and August–October. Principal component analysis (PCA) results identify four principal components (PCs) for the dry season and flood season, and five PCs for the flat season, thus explaining 58.23%, 82.94%, and 73.23% of the total variance, respectively. The results of the independent sample t-test show significant differences among the pH, Permanganate index (CODMn), Ammonia nitrogen (NH3–N), Total nitrogen (TN), Fecal coliform (F.coli), and (Flow) Q in the three monitoring sections. Moreover, the pollution is more serious in Baita than Tuanbaoling and Sailong Section and the main problem in the Qujiang River is the high water organic and nitrogen nutrient pollutant content. Hence, monitoring and protection need to be strengthened in the Baita section of Qujiang River.