Traceability of gushing water in the MiddleRoute of the South-to-North Water Diversion (Beijing section) through the river area

Abstract

To trace the origin of the gushing water in the riverine area of the Beijing section of The Middle Route of South-to-North Water Diversion Project, a dataset was established comprising water chemistry, three-dimensional fluorescence spectra, and stable isotopes for different water bodies. Results indicated significant differences in Electrical Conductivity (EC), Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), and Ca2+ concentration among the gushing water, river water, and the water from the Middle Route of South-to-North Water Diversion Project (MRSD). Analysis using parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC) and fluorescence index revealed that dissolved organic matter (DOM) in the MRSD mainly originated from endogenous sources, while the river water and gushing water showed influences from both endogenous and exogenous sources. Nitrate sources varied among the water bodies, with distinct contributions from domestic sewage and fertilizer sources. The evaporation lines of river water and gushing water exhibited similar intercepts and slopes, but their intercepts and slopes are much smaller than those of the MRSD, suggesting stronger kinetic evaporative fractionation. In conclusion, the gushing water in the riverine area of the MRSD was determined to originate from the river, providing a fast and efficient method for gushing water source identification.