Ambient Water Quality Research Articles

Linking catchment structural units (CSUs) with water quality: Implications for ambient monitoring network design and data interpretation

Climate induced changes in runoff regimes and ongoing anthropogenic modification of land use and land cover (LULC) are shifting ambient water quality signals worldwide. Modulation of these signals by the physical catchment structure over different scales adds complexity to interpreting and analyzing measured data. Further bias may be introduced where monitoring networks are not representative of the structure of catchments in a given region. Here, we present a new environmental regionalization method to assess the representativeness of water quality monitoring (WQM) networks and to identify key structural drivers linked to water quality signals. Unique numerical codes were generated at the pixel level to provide wall-to-wall coverage of key Catchment Structural Units (CSUs) based on LULC, surficial geology, wetlands and slope. CSU codes were generated for all tributary (AT) catchments >20 km2 in Southern Alberta (n = 289), Canada, to determine the representativeness of an existing WQM network (54 tributary catchments) and to assess the explanatory power of CSUs with respect to water quality signals. Cluster analysis (CA) and multi-dimensional scaling (MDS) on the percent area of CSUs in the AT catchments identified six primary structural clusters in Southern Alberta. A clear gradient in catchment structure was evident progressing downstream from the Rocky Mountain headwaters through the foothills and prairie/plains region. Montane and grassland regions were found to be potentially under-represented by the current WQM program whereas catchments dominated by agriculture were likely over-represented. The disproportionate impact of specific CSU combinations on water quality was illustrated where the CA and MDS analyses indicated that even small percentages of urban areas and badland type topography results in elevated concentrations of total recoverable metals, nutrients and major ions. The application of the CSU approach in Southern Alberta demonstrates its value as an alternative method to assess and/or redesign existing WQM networks and to link water quality data to the structural composition of catchments. The general availability of the required data to generate CSUs provides universal potential for the approach to help assess other WQM programs and to contextualize data records. Applying the CSU approach when developing new ambient WQM networks can also help reduce the potential of over-monitoring similarly structured catchments as well as ensuring that all structural classes are represented by the data being generated.

Water quality inequality: a non-targeted hotspot analysis for ambient water quality injustices

ABSTRACT Water is an essential human resource tied to many social and environmental needs and values. Although water has been a focal point of many environmental justice studies, ambient water quality (i.e. water quality before the tap) has been overlooked. This oversight has resulted in only a partial understanding of how water quality may correlate with communities facing environmental justice issues. We analyzed data from the US Environmental Protection Agency STORET database and the 2010 US Census to identify poor ambient water quality within non-white and low-income communities across the Southeastern USA using hotspot analysis, Ordinary Least Squares, and Geographically Weighted Regressions. Our analyses indicate that non-white and low-income communities are significantly impacted by copper, lead, and mercury contamination. Race correlates more strongly with poor ambient water quality than community income levels. Results suggest our approach and analyses are effective for identifying potential environmental justice issues across large spatial scales from a top-down rather than bottom-up approach.

Effects of dietary protein on water quality, growth performance, RNA/DNA ratio and haemato-immunological indices of soft-shelled turtle (Pelodiscus sinensis)

In aquatic animals, dietary protein plays a crucial role in their growth and immunity. A feeding trial was conducted on soft-shelled turtles (Pelodiscus sinensis) to assess the effects of various levels of protein on the specific growth rate (SGR), ambient water quality (total ammonia nitrogen (TAN), total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP)), hematological parameters (respiratory burst (RB), red blood cell count (RBC), albumin content (Alb), hemoglobin level (Hb) and osmolality), plasma immunoglobulin M (IgM) levels and lysozyme activity. Soft-shelled turtles weighing about 4.02 g were fed fish meal-based diets with 14.38%, 20.41%, 26.19%, 32.23%, 37.63% and 45.23% protein for 8 weeks. SGR, RBC, Hb, Alb, RB, IgM and lysozyme activity were enhanced as the dietary protein was increased from 14.38% to 26.19%, then reached a plateau. For identical feeding times, TAN and TN were increased with elevating dietary protein levels. While, no statistically significant differences were observed among the 26.19%, 32.23% and 37.63% groups. When the turtles were cultivated for 56 days and fed with 45.23% protein, the TP in the culturing water was higher than that in the other groups. An increase in dietary protein level up to 26.19% increased the RNA/DNA ratio, which subsequently plateaued at a steady level. The levels of dietary protein had no impact on osmolality or alkaline phosphatase (AKP) activity. On the basis of broken-line analyses derived from SGR, the optimum dietary protein level for soft-shelled turtles was found to be 27.11% protein.

Using a Probabilistic Model and Local Parameters to Improve the Reliability of Ambient Water Quality Criteria for the Protection of Human Health: A Case Study of Organophosphate Esters in China

Water quality criteria for the protection of human health (HHWQC) are crucial for the management of aquatic environmental quality. However, previous studies derived HHWQC using only deterministic approaches, which may under/overprotect target populations. This paper improved the methodology for criteria development and applied it to organophosphate esters (OPEs). Missing model parameters, including the trophic level-specific fish consumption rate (FIn) and lipid fraction (fl(TL,n)), were derived according to China’s conditions. The trophic level-specific national bioaccumulation factors (BAFs) for OPEs (5.05–14,281 L/kg) were calculated based on field-measured BAFs in surface freshwater across China and were dominated by the hydrophobicity of compounds. Then, the probabilistic approach was introduced to HHWQC derivation (0.1120–400.5 μg/L), and the results were compared with those derived by the deterministic method (0.1024–664.5 μg/L), which demonstrated that the probabilistic approach derived HHWQC more accurately. The contributions of organism ingestion to the HHWQC for OPEs were steady (<10%) with log Kow<3.5, increased linearly (10–90%) within a log Kow of 3.5–5.5, and then leveled off. Regarding the effects of carcinogenic OPEs, approximately 10% of the studied freshwater in China displays significant risks to human health. This study is significant for the scientific development of HHWQC worldwide and the management of pollutants in water.

Use of power analysis to determine the number of samples needed to assess water quality in lakes and flowing waters.

The Clean Water Act requires states to develop methods for assessing water quality. Assessment methods serve as decision-making procedures for including waterbodies on the Section 303(d) List of Impaired Waters. We used 17 years of ambient water quality data to explore statistical analyses for assessment methods that represent New York's waterbodies. Power analyses were performed to determine how many samples are needed to evaluate exceedances of water quality criteria using one-sample t-tests in lakes and flowing waters. Results suggest six samples for lakes and eight samples for flowing waters are needed to obtain at least 80% power, which is fewer samples than most other types of statistical assessment methodologies. This smaller number was possible because the power analysis was applied to the actual variability found in monitoring data to calculate the effect size as opposed to more conservative statistical estimates based on random data. Water quality criteria can have different analysis requirements such as single samples or means above the threshold, so we compared how many impairments would occur in the dataset if the six or eight samples were assessed as two single exceedances or a mean above the water quality criteria. Because the power analysis gives no indication of the time frame of when samples should be collected, the intra- and interannual variability of the data was assessed to determine whether sampling over a growing season in one year or sampling over multiple years is more representative of the water quality status. Results demonstrated that data collected over the growing season captured more variability in water quality data than data collected over multiple years in both waterbody types. With the prevalence of regulatory agencies having large, historical datasets rising, it would be possible for other agencies to apply these types of analyses to their assessment methodologies. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2022;18:1621-1628. © 2021 SETAC.

Evaluation of silver nanoparticle acute and chronic effects on freshwater amphipod (Hyalella azteca).

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are known to cause ecotoxic effects, but there are no existing derived ambient water quality criteria (AWQC) for these nanomaterials to protect freshwater aquatic life due to insufficient toxicological data. We exposed Hyalella azteca to silver nitrate, citrate-coated AgNPs (citrate-AgNPs), and polyvinylpyrrolidone-coated AgNPs (PVP-AgNPs) in a 10-day and 28-day water-only static renewal system with clean sand as a substrate for the amphipods and compared their point estimates with the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) AWQC for silver. We observed that all treatments decreased the survival, growth, and biomass of H. azteca, and the order of toxicity was AgNO3 > citrate-AgNPs > PVP-AgNPs. The LC50s of AgNO3, citrate-AgNPs, and PVP-AgNPs were 3.0, 9.6, and 296.0µg total Ag L-1, respectively, for the acute exposure and 2.4, 3.2, and 61.4µg total Ag L-1, respectively, for the chronic exposure. Acute and chronic EC20s of citrate-AgNPs ranged from 0.5 to 3.5µg total Ag L-1 while that of PVP-AgNPs ranged from 31.2 to 175µg total Ag L-1 for growth and biomass. Both Ag+ released from AgNPs and the nanoparticles contributed to the observed toxicity. The dissolution and toxicity of AgNPs were influenced by surface coating agents, particle size, and surface charge. Most point estimates for AgNPs were above AWQC for silver (4.1µg L-1) and the lowest concentration (0.12µg/L) at which Ag is expected to cause chronic adverse effects to freshwater aquatic life. Our study demonstrates that the current AWQC for silver, in general, is protective of freshwater aquatic life against AgNPs tested in the present study.

Deriving convincing human health ambient water quality criteria for benzo[a]pyrene and providing basis for the water quality management: The impacts of national bioaccumulation factors and probabilistic modeling

Science-based water quality criteria are the cornerstone of water quality standards. This paper improved the methodology for the derivation of human health water quality criteria (HHWQC) and applied it for benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) to provide a scientific basis for the management of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in surface waters. First, the national bioaccumulation factors (BAFs) for BaP were derived using field-measured BAFs and field-measured biota-sediment accumulation factors (BSAFs) across China, respectively, which results were comparable and demonstrated the reliability of the obtained national BAFs for BaP. The HHWQC for BaP derived using the probabilistic approach were 3.98–4.70 ng/L and were comparable with those derived by the deterministic approach, suggesting the accuracy of derived HHWQC for BaP. Through the probabilistic approach, the probability distributions of lifetime incremental cancer risk from BaP in water were provided and the consumption rates of aquatic products at trophic level 2 and 3 were identified as factors influencing risks of BaP significantly. The derived HHWQC for BaP in China are approximately 33–36 times higher than those in the United States because of the high national BAFs and cancer slope factor of BaP used for the United States. In addition, the recommended HHWQC for BaP conform to the situation in China and are approximately 1.5 times higher than the standard value of BaP in the current National Surface Water Quality Standard (GB 3838-2002) in China (2.80 ng/L), which will play an important role in the amendment of National Surface Water Quality Standard in the future. Approximately 36% of the studied surface freshwater in China contains BaP with levels exceeding the recommended HHWQC, suggesting the pollution of BaP in surface freshwater is severe and needs to be given more attention. This study is significant for the scientific development of HHWQC worldwide and the management of pollutants in water.

Development of an Irrigation Water Quality Database to Identify Water Resources and Assess Microbiological Risks During the Production of Fresh Fruits and Vegetables

An Irrigation Water Quality Database was developed to help assess the microbiological quality of irrigation water used in fruit and vegetable production in 15 counties in New York (NY) State. Water samples from Tennessee (TN) were also included in the database. Four water quality parameters, quantified generic Escherichia coli, specific conductance, pH, and turbidity, were tested. Ground, reservoir, and running water were sampled over 2 years (2009 and 2010), covering three seasons each year (spring, summer, and fall). TN data are for all three seasons in 2010 only. Overall in NY (254 total samples), ground water had a geometric mean of 1 most probable number (MPN)/100 ml, reservoir water had a geometric mean of 8 MPN/100 ml, and running water had a geometric mean of 52 MPN/100 ml. Overall in TN (63 total samples), ground water had a geometric mean of 1 colony forming unit (CFU)/100 ml, reservoir water had a geometric mean of 5 CFU/100 ml, and running water had a geometric mean of 38 CFU/100 ml. These values are all below the 126 MPN/100 ml United States Environmental Protection Agency's Ambient Water Quality Standards (AWQS) standard for fresh water. The presence of E. coli had very weak but sometimes statistically signficiant correlatation with water specific conductance, pH, and turbidity, depending on the water source but the r-squared effect was not strong enough to make the other measurements a substitute for testing specifically for E. coli in water.

Incorporating Water Quality Analysis into Navigation Assessments as Demonstrated in the Mississippi River Basin

Abstract A description of historical and ambient water quality conditions is often required as part of navigational studies. This paper describes a series of tools developed by the USGS that can ai...

Characterizing ambient nutrient concentrations and potential warning levels for surface water in natural forested wetlands in the Piedmont and Coastal Plain of North Carolina, USA

Nearly thirty years ago the U.S. EPA directed states to begin developing water quality standards specific to wetlands; however, progress has been limited. This study presents an overview of ambient wetland water quality and the first step towards the development of numeric nutrient standards for forested wetlands in North Carolina. Water quality samples were collected in 16 natural wetlands across the state for three years. The sites span a range of anthropogenic disturbance. The data was combined with historical data collected at these and other sites from 2005 to 2013. Concentration levels in wetlands without significant anthropogenic disturbance are likely higher than streams for TN, TP, similar for NH4+, and likely lower than streams for NO3–-N. A method developed by the U.S. EPA to establish reference levels was modified to define draft nutrient warning levels that may indicate anthropogenic impacts. These warning levels were calculated as 0.06 mg/L, 0.14 mg/L, 0.34 mg/L and 2.8 mg/L for NO3–-N, NH4+-N, TP and TN, respectively. NO3–-N and NH4+-N concentrations were the best indicators of disturbance. Overall, despite the limitations imposed by the sampling frequency and inherent variability in wetland ecosystems, this research methodology presents a reasonable first attempt at defining nutrient warning levels for undisturbed natural forested wetlands in N.C., and may serve as a starting point in developing numeric nutrient criteria for wetlands.

Ecological and health risk assessments and water quality criteria of heavy metals in the Haihe River

Heavy metal pollution is an issue of wide concern owing to the toxic and bioaccumulative properties of many heavy metals and their tendencies to persist in the environment. The Haihe River is an important river in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei region, and heavy metal pollution of the basin has attracted considerable attention. This study determined the concentrations of 14 heavy metals (As, Ba, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sb, Se, Sn, and Zn) in water, sediments, and fish samples from the Haihe River basin. The results showed that the concentrations ranged from 0.08 μg L−1 to 60.49 μg L−1 in water, 0.11 mg kg−1 to 229.20 mg kg−1 in sediments, and 0.01 mg kg−1 to 11.72 mg kg−1 in fish. We derived the ambient water quality criteria (AWQC) value of each heavy metal with respect to human health, and then performed a comprehensive risk assessment according to the native parameters. The human health AWQC values for the assessed 14 heavy metals ranged from 0.16 μg L−1 to 726.53 μg L−1. The health risks posed by As, Cr, Hg, and Sb and the ecological risks associated with Ni, Cu, Cr, Zn, Cd, Co, Hg, and Sn were found to be issues of concern. The results of a sensitivity analysis revealed that the highest contributing parameter was i) the concentration in water (Cw) for Cd, Co, Mn, Sb, and Sn; ii) the intake rate of water (IRw) for As, Ba, Cr, Hg, Ni, Pb, and Se; and iii) the concentration in fish (Cf) for Cu and Zn. The results of this research could contribute to the information required for water quality assessments and the development of water quality standards.

Health risk assessment and development of human health ambient water quality criteria for PBDEs in China

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are not only a class of highly efficient brominated flame retardants (BFRs) but also a class of typical persistent organic pollutants (POPs) that are persistent and widely distributed in various environmental media. This study examined the concentrations of PBDEs in five environmental media (water, soil, air, dust, and food) and two human body media (human milk and blood) in China from 2010 to 2020. In addition, this study conducted multi-pathway exposure health risk assessments of populations of different ages in urban, rural, key regions, and industrial factories using the Monte-Carlo simulation. Finally, the human health ambient water quality criteria (AWQC) of eight PBDEs were derived using Chinese exposure parameters and bioaccumulation factors (BAFs). The results showed that the eastern and southeastern coastal regions of China were heavily polluted by PBDEs, and the variation trends of the ΣPBDEs concentrations in the different exposure media were not consistent. PBDEs did not pose a risk to urban and rural residents in ordinary regions, but the hazard indexes (HIs) for residents in key regions and occupational workers exceeded the safety threshold. Dust exposure was the primary exposure pathway for urban and rural residents in ordinary regions, but for residents in key regions and occupational workers, dietary exposure was the primary exposure pathway. BDE-209 was found to be the most serious individual PBDE congener in China. The following human health AWQC values of the PBDEs were derived: drinking water exposure: 0.233–65.2 μg·L−1; and drinking water and aquatic products exposure: 8.51 × 10−4–1.10 μg·L−1.

Stream Salamanders are Relatively Tolerant of Salty Streams.

The application of road salt as a deicing agent is common, but investigations of potential negative effects of salt runoff on stream salamanders have been limited. Additionally, modern stormwater management practices should influence the delivery of salt ions to streams. We used data loggers in streams draining watersheds with and without stormwater management ponds and acute 96-h LC50 tests to investigate exposure of, and road salt toxicity among, two widespread salamanders in the Eastern USA, northern dusky salamanders (Desmognathus fuscus) and northern two-lined salamanders (Eurycea bislineata). In streams below stormwater ponds, base levels of conductivity were elevated throughout the year and elevated Cl- levels led to more frequent acute and chronic exceedances of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ambient water quality criteria for Cl- when compared to streams draining watersheds with no stormwater management ponds. However, five of the six streams studied had exceedance frequencies suggesting Cl- associated with road salt application represented a persistent threat to aquatic life. Larval stream salamanders were relatively tolerant of salt, not exhibiting any lethal effects over a 96-h period until chloride levels exceeded 5000mg/L for both species, and concentrations in streams rarely exceeded these levels and only for very short periods of time. Our results suggest road salts are not having acute lethal effects on salamanders in the streams we studied, but exceedance of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ambient water quality standards for Cl- suggest the potential for sublethal and indirect effects of Cl- on salamander populations that require further study.

Human health ambient water quality criteria for 13 heavy metals and health risk assessment in Taihu Lake

Human health ambient water quality criteria for 13 heavy metals and health risk assessment in Taihu Lake

Acute and Chronic Toxicity Testing of Drinking Water Treatment Residuals in Freshwater Systems.

The beneficial use of drinking water treatment residuals (DWTRs) faces barriers due primarily to uncertainties and concerns about their potential environmental impacts. We used total and water leachable toxic metal concentrations and 2 benthic organism-based bioassays to identify suitable DWTR substrates for introduction to freshwater systems. Using total metal contents and the consensus probable effect concentration concept, 3 DWTRs were selected and used in elutriate and toxicity studies. The concentrations of water leachable Ag, As, Cd, Cu, Cr, Ni, Pb, and Zn were below the US Environmental Protection Agency's ambient water quality criteria. Using the long-term 65-d life cycle Chironomus tentans test and 4 different endpoints (survival, adult emergence, egg case production, and number of eggs produced per female), no statistical differences were found between the DWTR treatments and the controls. Similarly, results obtained using the 10-d Hyalella azteca test showed no toxicity. However, although both survival and growth were recorded in all bioassays, the results of the 10-d C. tentans and the 28-d H. azteca tests were ambiguous. For C. tentans, 2 of the 3 DWTRs resulted in significantly lower survival rates compared to the controls. For H. azteca, no significant growth differences were observed between controls and DWTR treatments, but 2 of the 3 DWTRs resulted in significantly lower survival rates than the controls. Overall, these results suggest that certain DWTR substrates could be suitable for introduction to aquatic systems. Environ Toxicol Chem 2021;40:2005-2014. © 2021 SETAC.

Dynamic changes in microbial community structure in farming pond water and their effect on the intestinal microbial community profile in juvenile common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.)

Water quality parameter dynamics, gut, sediment and water bacteria communities were studied to understand the environmental influence on the gut microbial community of a new strain of Huanghe common carp. A total of 3,384,078 raw tags and 5105 OTUs were obtained for the gut, water and sediment bacteria. The water quality had a stronger influence on the water bacteria community than gut and sediment bacteria communities. The ambient water quality parameters also significantly influenced the water and sediment bacteria communities. Comparing the gut, sediment, and water microbial communities, a relationship was found among them. However, gut bacteria were more closely related to sediment bacterial communities than to water bacteria communities. The results showed that the top three bacterial taxa were identical in gut and sediment samples in the early days of rearing. Interestingly, bacterial communities in the carp gut, water, and sediment had different adaptabilities to variations in environmental factors.

An Assessment of Ambient Water Quality and Challenges with Access to Water and Sanitation Services for Individuals Experiencing Homelessness in Riverine Encampments.

Individuals experiencing unsheltered homelessness face significant barriers to accessing water, sanitation, and hygiene services, but the risks associated with this lack of access and barriers to service provision have been largely understudied. We analyzed water samples upstream and downstream of three homeless encampments in the San Diego River watershed and interviewed service providers from public and nonprofit sectors to assess local perceptions about challenges and potential solutions for water and sanitation service provision in this context. Water upstream from encampments contained detectable levels of caffeine and sucralose. Escherichia coli concentrations downstream of the encampments were significantly greater than concentrations upstream, but there was no significant change in the concentrations of other pollutants, including caffeine and sucralose. The HF183 marker of Bacteroides was only detected in one sample upstream of an encampment and was not detected downstream. Overall, there was insufficient evidence to suggest that the encampments studied here were responsible for contributing pollution to the river. Nevertheless, the presence of caffeine, sucralose, and HF183 indicated that there are anthropogenic sources of contamination in the river during dry weather and potential risks associated with the use of this water by encampment residents. Interviews with service providers revealed perceptions that the provision of water and sanitation services for this population would be prohibitively expensive. Interviewees also reported perceptions that most riverbank residents avoided contact with service providers, which may present challenges for the provision of water and sanitation service unless trust is first built between service providers and residents of riverine encampments.

Assessment of achieving sustainable development of clean water and sanitation (SDG6) goals for the Srepok river basin

This paper presents the results of the assessment of achieving sustainable development of clean water and sanitation (SDG6) goals for the Srepok river basin by the research team at the Water Resources Institute (WRI). The assessment results of some key indicators including “Proportion of the population using safely managed drinking water services 6.1.1”, “Proportion of the population using safe managed sanitation services 6.2.1a”, “Proportion of bodies of water with good ambient water quality 6.3.2”, and “Proportion of transboundary basin area with an operational arrangement for water cooperation 6.5.2” are achieved at rather high levels (83-100%) compared with the target set by the United Nations for those in 2030. Moreover, the “Current progress of implementing integrated water resources management” (6.5.1) in Vietnam in general and the Srepok river basin in particular, is still slow, according to results obtained from using the questionnaire survey developed by UNEP, as 55% (high average level). In addition, the “Increasing level of water stress (indicator 6.4.2)” globally poses a challenge for each country and river basin in the process of implementing the goal to improve this issue.

Nitrogen leaching and grey water footprint affected by nitrogen fertilization rate in maize production: a case study of Southwest China.

Effective nitrogen (N) management measures are required to control environmental problems caused by N fertilizer use in intensive maize production systems. Soil N losses associated with high precipitation and over-fertilization in maize production can cause substantial environmental problems, whereas there is a lack of quantitative data and effective study countermeasures. A 2-year field study was conducted in the subtropical maize production system in Southwest China to quantify N leaching under varying N application rates of 0, 90, 180, 270 and 360 kg N ha-1 yr-1 . The results indicated that N leaching accounted for 16-38% of N fertilizer input. For farmer practice treatment (360 kg N ha-1 yr-1 ), N leaching loss was high at 110 kg N ha-1 yr-1 and accounted for 31% of the N applied. As an indicator of the ambient water quality pollution, the grey water footprint across all treatments ranged from 376 to 1092 m3 Mg-1 , with an average of 695 m3 Mg-1 . Reducing N rate to agronomically optimized treatment (180 kg N ha-1 yr-1 ) significantly decreased N leaching by 77%, and maintained high grain yield of 8.1Mg ha-1 . The grey water footprint was reduced by 52-63% with N rates from 270 or 360 kg N ha-1 yr-1 to 180 kg N ha-1 yr-1 . Nitrogen surplus (applied N rate minus N uptake by maize) resulted in higher soil residual nitrate concentration and consequently high N leaching. High precipitation and low soil pH were the main ecological factors leading to high N leaching. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.

How Polluting Industries React to Ambient Water Quality: Seven River Basins in China

Water pollution in China has expanded from regions to river basins. It is of great significance to study the behaviors of regulated subjects from the perspective of river basins for protecting the water environment and improving the effectiveness of environmental regulations. This paper constructed a basin spatial regression design to discuss the governance effect and economic effect of water pollution from industry in relation to the central environmental protection goal of China, as well as the response and strategy of local government. Considering the validity of the data, the annual average chemical oxygen demand (COD) concentration of each monitoring station was adopted as the ambient water quality index, and there was direct evidence that the ambient water quality index influenced water-polluting industries. We found that, if the downstream COD concentration in the last year rose by 1 mg/L, the water-polluting industries reduced their pollution and output value by 1.9% and 0.2%, respectively. After using the upstream COD concentration as the tool variable, the result was still robust. However, the results of local government’s two strategies, which we can call regulatory constraint force and fiscal incentive force, were opposites. Specifically, the governance effect of polluting industries under regulatory constraints was more significant, while fiscal incentives encourage water-polluting industries to create more value. In addition, we estimated the impact of ambient water quality on water-polluting industries in the Yangtze River Basin and the Yellow River Basin, and revealed that the governance effect exceeded the average value of seven river basins. After further distinguishing the relative upstream cities and relative downstream cities, the results show that the response of relative upstream cities to water quality was significantly higher, and the gap between regions expanded further after 2013.