Changes In Water Quality Research Articles

How to assess water quality change in temperate headwater catchments of western Europe under climate change: examples and perspectives

Climate change effects on water quality are related directly and indirectly to the water cycle and human activities. We present examples of these effects using a retrospective analysis across European catchments according to three objectives: (i) identification of extreme or anomalous values in climatic and chemical variables at multiple time scales, (ii) assessment of variability in seasonal and inter-annual chemical cycles, and (iii) identification of a general water chemistry response to the North Atlantic Oscillation. From these examples, we highlight four challenges for research on the relationships between climate and water quality: (i) developing functional typologies of chemical elements, (ii) performing multi-temporal and multi-spatial analysis by aggregating data into water-cycle periods, (iii) decoupling effects of climate conditions and human activities by testing hypotheses using parsimonious models, and (iv) incorporating water quality and aquatic ecosystem health into integrated models. Water quality integrates current and past (legacy) conditions, flow pathways, and biogeochemical reactivity, which themselves depend on the climate. As our results highlight, water quantity and quality need to be studied together.

Stream Chemistry and Forest Recovery Assessment and Prediction Modeling in Coal-Mine-Affected Watersheds in Kentucky, USA

Kentucky is one of the largest coal-producing states; surface coal mining has led to changes in natural land cover, soil loss, and water quality. This study explored relationships between actively mined and reclaimed areas, vegetation change, and water quality parameters. The study site evaluated 58 watersheds with Landsat-derived variables (reclamation age and percentage of mining, reclaimed forest, and reclaimed woods) as well as topographic variables (such as elevation, slope, drainage density, and infiltration). Water samples were collected in spring (n = 9), summer (n = 14), and fall (n = 58) 2017 to study changes in water quality variables (SO42−, alkalinity, conductivity, Ca2+, Mg2+, Mn2+, Al3+, and Fe2+, Fe3+) in response to changes in land cover. Pearson correlation analyses indicated that conductivity has strong to very strong relationships with water quality variables related to coal mining (except Al3+, Fe2+, Fe3+, Mn2+, elevation, slope, and drainage density) and land cover variables. In addition, separate regression analyses were performed, with conductivity values based on samples collected in the fall. First, conductivity responses to mining percentage, reclamation age and topographic variables were examined (adjusted R2 = 0.818, p < 0.01). Next, vegetation cover change parameters were added to the same model, which yielded slightly improved R2 (adjusted R2 = 0.826, p < 0.01). Finally, reclamation age and mining percentages were used to explain the quantity of reclaimed forested areas as a percentage of watersheds. The model was significant (p < 0.01), with an adjusted R2 value of 0.641. Results suggest that the quantity (area as a percentage) of reclaimed forests may be a predictor of the mining percentage and reclamation age. This study indicated that conductivity is a predictable water quality indicator that is highly associated with Coal-Mine-Related Stream Chemistry in areas where agriculture and urban development are limited. Water quality is not suitable for various purposes due to the presence of contaminants, especially in mined sites. These findings may help the scientific community and key state and federal agencies improve their understanding of water quality attributes in watersheds affected by coal mining, as well as refine land reclamation practices more effectively while such practices are in action.

Understanding the Mechanisms and Implications of the First Flush in Mine Pools: Insights from Field Studies in Europe’s Deepest Metal Mine and Analogue Modelling

The chemical composition of mine water discharged from flooded underground mines typically improves over time. This phenomenon is called first flush and can be described by a characteristic curve. Shortly after the mine water begins to discharge, water constituent concentrations rise and then fall in an almost exponential curve, improving water quality over time. In this study, the change in mine water quality was investigated throughout the mine water body. This mine water body commonly consists of different water bodies with individual densities, resulting in mine water stratification. Anthropogenic disturbance of the mine water body can disrupt this stratification and also the positive effect of the first flush. To better understand and predict the first flush, the first flush was simulated experimentally using an analogue model of a flooded underground mine, the Agricola Model Mine. The results were compared with field studies to help understanding and predicting the change in mine water quality. Overall, the results suggest that the first flush occurs throughout the mine water body, making it similar to a chemical reactor. This better understanding of the process can lead to more effective mine water management and design of mine water treatment facilities.Graphical

Effects of stocking density during simulated transport on physiology and behavior of largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides)

AbstractThe live transport of farmed fish is an important practice in Chinese aquaculture due to consumer preferences in its domestic market. However, live transport can be stressful for fish and may cause many welfare issues. This study aimed to examine the effects of transport density on the welfare of largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides). Adult fish were allocated to four experimental treatments in a two‐factor design (N = 5 groups per treatment). Factor one was stocking density of either 39 (low density) or 78 (high density) g L−1. Factor two was transport, with half of the fish groups exposed to simulated transport stress for 3 h using a motion platform, and the other half kept in static tanks for the same length of time. Baseline behavior and physiology were determined from a subset of fish after acclimation but before selection into groups and application of transport. To determine the effects of transport, stocking density, and their interaction on the experimental groups, physiological sampling and behavioral recording were carried out immediately after simulated transport, and water quality was measured both before and after transport. Changes in water quality were observed between two timepoints, with decreased dissolved oxygen levels and increased water temperature. Total ammonia nitrogen levels significantly increased in all treatments over time, particularly in the high‐density groups. Fish ventilation rates were significantly elevated in the groups kept at a high stocking density regardless of whether they also experienced transport stress. Fish transported at a high stocking density also showed more fear‐related behaviors such as freezing and thigmotaxis than non‐transported groups. Serum cortisol, catalase, and aspartate transaminase levels were significantly higher in the transported treatment groups compared to the baseline fish, but no difference was found for serum glucose, lactate, and glutathione peroxidase. We concluded that 3 h of simulated transport was stressful to largemouth bass kept at 78 g L−1, as evidenced by altered fish physiological and behavioral indicators of stress, as well as deteriorated water quality. Additionally, we identified a positive correlation between serum and skin mucus samples for cortisol, glucose, and lactate in transported fish, providing important information for developing less invasive methods for the welfare assessment of largemouth bass.

Function rather than structure of phytoplankton community reveals changes of water quality in an ecological restored lake.

Although phytoplankton is well known as robust bioindicators to aquatic environments, their indicating functions based on different community parameters remain to be understood. In order to filter effective bioindicators in aquatic ecosystems, four phytoplankton community parameters including species richness (SR), total biomass (SBP), functional groups (FGBP), and size-fractionated chlorophyll-a (SC) were demonstrated in a subtropical artificial lake with ecological restoration in South China. Our results indicated that all the above four parameters exhibited high sensitivity to environmental variations and illustrated distinct aspects of indicating functions to aquatic environments due to their individual biological characteristics. Based on FGBP, both spatial and temporal differences in phytoplankton community could be identified. SR and SBP only classified the spatial and temporal distributions, respectively, while SC could distinguish the sewage outfalls from other sites. In terms of ecological management, two parameters (SR and FGBP) could distinguish the restored waters from untreated environments as non-point source pollution, and another parameter SC could indicate the sewage outfalls as point source pollution. Therefore, the combination of the above two categories of phytoplankton community parameters could make the strongest indicating functions. Our study provided greater insight into indicating functions of phytoplankton community parameters in an ecological restored lake and enabled better managements in such artificial lakes.

Impact of climate change and land cover dynamics on nitrate transport to surface waters.

The study investigated the impact of climate and land cover change on water quality. The novel contribution of the study was to investigate the individual and combined impacts of climate and land cover change on water quality with high spatial and temporal resolution in a basin in Turkey. The global circulation model MPI-ESM-MR was dynamically downscaled to 10-km resolution under the RCP8.5 emission scenario. The Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) was used to model stream flow and nitrate loads. The land cover model outputs that were produced by the Land Change Modeler (LCM) were used for these simulation studies. Results revealed that decreasing precipitation intensity driven by climate change could significantly reduce nitrate transport to surface waters. In the 2075-2100 period, nitrate-nitrogen (NO3-N) loads transported to surface water decreased by more than 75%. Furthermore, the transition predominantly from forestry to pastoral farming systems increased loads by about 6%. The study results indicated that fine-resolution land use and climate data lead to better model performance. Environmental managers can also benefit greatly from the LCM-based forecast of land use changes and the SWAT model's attribution of changes in water quality to land use changes.

Effects of water quality on palladium-induced olfactory toxicity and bioaccumulation in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss).

Through emission processes, palladium (Pd) particulates from industrial sources are introduced into a range of ecosystems including freshwater environments. Despite this, research on Pd-induced bioaccumulation, uptake, and toxicity is limited for freshwater fishes. Unlike other metals, there are currently no regulations or protective guidelines to limit Pd release into aquatic systems, indicating a global absence of measures addressing its environmental impact. To assess the olfactory toxicity potential of Pd, the present study aimed to explore Pd accumulation in olfactory tissues, olfactory disruption, and oxidative stress in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) following waterborne Pd exposure. Olfactory sensitivity, measured by electro-olfactography, demonstrated that Pd inhibits multiple pathways of the olfactory system following 96 h of Pd exposure. In this study, the concentrations of Pd for inhibition of olfactory function by 20% (2.5 μg/L; IC20) and 50% (19 μg/L; IC50) were established. Rainbow trout were then exposed to IC20 and IC50 Pd concentrations in combination with varying exposure conditions, as changes in water quality alter the toxicity of metals. Independent to Pd, increased water hardness resulted in decreased olfactory perception owing to ion competition at the olfactory epithelium. No other environmental parameter in this study significantly influenced Pd-induced olfactory toxicity. Membrane-associated Pd was measured at the olfactory rosette and gill following exposure; however, this accumulation did not translate to oxidative stress as measured by the production of malondialdehyde. Our data suggest that Pd is toxic to rainbow trout via waterborne contamination near field-measured levels. This study further demonstrated Pd bioavailability and uptake at water-adjacent tissues, adding to our collective understanding of the toxicological profile of Pd. Taken together, our results provide novel insights into the olfactory toxicity in fish following Pd exposure. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2024;20:1407-1419. © 2024 The Authors. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC).

Microbial and physicochemical water quality changes within distribution and premise plumbing systems during a chlorine conversion

A strategy for nitrification control within chloraminated drinking water systems (CDWSs) is to temporarily switch from chloramine secondary disinfection to free chlorine, also known as a free chlorine conversion (FCC). However, the long-term and beneficial effects of FCCs are unclear, especially regarding opportunistic pathogen occurrence. In this study, the impacts to microbial and physicochemical parameters were monitored throughout a CDWS implementing a FCC. Water samples were collected weekly for 4–6 weeks before, during, and after a FCC at eight locations: four distribution system and four residential sites. Monochloramine residual (mean±standard deviation) before and after the FCC averaged 1.8±0.9 and 1.6±1.0 parts per million (ppm) for all sites, respectively. Free chlorine levels averaged 2.3±0.9 ppm. There were no significant differences in turbidity and hardness at each location during the three time periods, but some were noted for pH, temperature, and orthophosphate levels across various sites and sampling periods. For all locations, heterotrophic plate count levels were lower during the FCC compared to the periods before and after. All samples from one residence were culture positive for P. aeruginosa which exhibited high levels before the FCC, decreasing levels during, and steadily increasing levels after. Additionally, one week prior to the FCC, sediment samples from two elevated storage tanks, ET-1 and ET-2, were analyzed with ET-1 displaying higher levels of culturable heterotrophic bacteria and molecularly detected total bacteria, Legionella spp., and nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM), as well as presence of culturable P. aeruginosa and total coliforms compared to ET-2. Fourteen P. aeruginosa and total coliform isolates were whole genome sequenced with genetic differences observed depending on the sampling location and timepoint. Collectively, the observed differences in chemical and microbial parameters advocates for a better understanding of the effects associated with implementing FCCs to determine both their effectiveness and potential risks/rewards to water quality.

An environmental flow to an ephemeral creek increases the input of carbon and nutrients to a downstream receiving river

Although intermittent and ephemeral rivers lack surface flow for part of the year, they provide vital refuges for biota in otherwise dry semi-arid and arid landscapes. The hydrology of many such rivers has been altered due to river regulation and climate change. Environmental flows can be delivered to address the negative impacts of regulated flows, however there is limited knowledge of how dry ephemeral ecosystems respond following environmental flows. This study examined changes in water quality of the ephemeral Thule Creek in the southern Murray-Darling Basin, Australia, following delivery of environmental water from an irrigation canal. We also examined how the environmental flow influenced water quality of Wakool River that receives inflows from Thule Creek. Six sites in Thule Creek, three in Wakool River, and one in Yarraman irrigation channel (source water) were monitored for dissolved organic carbon (DOC), nutrients and dissolved oxygen (DO) once per week over 15 weeks from October 2019 to January 2020. The environmental flow resulted in high DOC concentrations (4.4–76 mg/L). Although low DO levels at sites in Thule Creek were recorded on some dates below the threshold for fish stress (< 4 mg/L) there were no fish kills observed during the environmental flow. The carbon-rich and nutrient-rich water (DOC >10 mg/L, total phosphorus up to 94 μg/L, total nitrogen up to 1,125 μg/L) was detected in the Wakool River downstream of Thule Creek confluence compared to the Wakool River upstream of Thule Creek confluence (DOC 6.6 mg/L, total phosphorus up to 64 μg/L, total nitrogen up to 805 μg/L) during the period when the environmental flow in Thule Creek was connected with the Wakool River. This research provides an example of how irrigation canal networks can be used to deliver environmental water to an ephemeral river to maintain refuges and contribute to the productivity of a receiving river further downstream. Careful management of the timing, volume and duration of environmental flows in arid or semi-arid landscapes is needed to avoid the development of poor water quality during, or following, the delivery of environmental water.

Assessing water quality in a distribution network based on hydraulic conditions

Abnormalities in hydraulic conditions inside a water distribution network are strongly related to the deterioration of drinking water quality. Leaking pipes and valves cause changes to the hydraulic conditions and allow the entry of impurities into the distribution system. Sudden flow and pressure shocks can detach soft deposits and biofilms from the pipe surface, resulting in deterioration of water quality. Online water quality measurements in a distribution network are scarce, but more common online flow and pressure measurements reveal the changes in hydraulic conditions in a distribution network and can be utilized to assess the water quality continuously and near real-time via modelling. Here, a data-driven model based solely on the online flow and pressure measurements in a distribution network for assessing the water quality at the end of an urban district metered area is presented. With the accuracy of R2 0.77, the developed data-driven model is able to assess the level of and the changes in potable water quality in a non-laborious and cost-effective way, also enabling proactive operations to ensure the distribution of high-quality drinking water to the consumers.

An unsupervised water quality anomaly detection method based on a combination of time-frequency analysis and clustering.

Anomalies in water quality, which frequently arise due to pollution, constitute a substantial menace to human health. The preservation of public welfare critically entails the timely recognition of abnormal water quality. Conventional techniques for detecting water quality anomalies face obstacles such as the necessity of expert knowledge, limited accuracy in detection, and delays in identification. In this paper, we proposed an original unsupervised technique for identifying water quality anomalies combined with time-frequency analysis and clustering (TCAD). We chose time-frequency analysis because it effectively evaluates water quality changes, generating distinct multi-band signals that reflect different aspects of water quality dynamics. We also proposed a clustering technique which can identify water quality markers and amalgamate data from multi-band signals for accurate anomaly detection. We seek to clarify the reasoning behind our methodology by portraying how time-frequency analysis and clustering address the deficiencies of conventional methods. Our experiments evaluated various indicators of water quality, and the effectiveness of our proposed approach was supported by comparative analyses with commonly used models for detecting anomalies in water quality.

Characteristics and Impact Evaluation of Hydrological and Water Quality Changes in the Northern Plain of Cixi, Eastern China, from 2010 to 2022

This paper analyzes the spatiotemporal changes and patterns of a regional water environment based on the hydrological and water quality monitoring times and the geographical locations of the monitoring sections in the research area, the plain of Cixi, eastern China. Based on the calculation of runoff generation and concentration in the coastal plain river network and based on the characteristics and impact evaluation of the regional water pollution, the migration and diffusion mechanisms of surface water pollutants were studied for different sources and characteristics of pollutants entering the river in different river sections. The analytic results show that the water environment and water resource security of the coastal plain mainly cause the problem of eutrophication in the water bodies, and the input of nitrogen and phosphorus from land sources is the main cause of eutrophication in the water bodies, mainly including the production and discharge of domestic sewage, nutrient loss in aquaculture water bodies, affecting agricultural activities, etc. The evaluation also demonstrates that with the development of coastal zones and the rapid development of coastal towns, as the population in coastal plain areas continues to increase, industrial development and population growth are the main driving factors for water quality changes.

Effects of river regulation on aquatic invertebrate community composition: A comparative analysis in two southern African rivers.

While natural floods play a crucial role in shaping the composition of aquatic communities, the most rivers worldwide are regulated or dammed for anthropogenic purposes, resulting in alterations to the biological and chemical composition of these ecosystems. Studies have demonstrated various negative effects of river regulation on aquatic invertebrate communities globally. However, there is a scarcity of research in Africa, despite its vulnerability to anthropogenic impacts. This study aimed to compare aquatic invertebrate communities in the Phongolo River, an impacted regulated river, and the Usuthu River, a less impacted unregulated river, in South Africa. It further aimed to ascertain whether Lake Nyamithi, a naturally saline lake receiving water from both of the aforementioned systems, exhibited a stronger similarity to one of the two rivers in terms of its aquatic invertebrate composition. Aquatic invertebrate and water samples were collected from 2012 to 2018 over several surveys. The Usuthu River demonstrated a diverse and sensitive aquatic invertebrate community, emphasising its high conservation value. The Phongolo River demonstrated effects of anthropogenic impact, with taxa more resilient to changes in water quality and flow compared to the Usuthu River. Mismanagement and excessive water use may lead to the loss of any remaining sensitive aquatic invertebrate communities in this river. The presence of invasive molluscan in the Phongolo River and Lake Nyamithi also poses a threat to the native aquatic invertebrate communities. These invasive species are currently absent from the Usuthu River although other invasive species, such as the Australian redclaw crayfish, are found in both river systems. Lake Nyamithi displayed a unique aquatic invertebrate community, distinct from both rivers and their floodplains. This study provides important baseline information on the Usuthu River's aquatic invertebrates and emphasises the need to maintain adequate water flow in rivers and floodplains to protect biodiversity and sensitive species.

Application of a multiparameter sonde for real-time monitoring of seawater quality in Durrës Bay in Albania

Abstract Coastal areas are characterized by a high population and a wide range of industrial and agricultural activities, which puts them under high pressure and continuous pollution from anthropogenic activities. This research focuses on the application of HYDROLAB HL7 multiparameter sonde equipped with smart sensors for the measurement of physical–chemical parameters in marine waters in the Durrës Bay. The sonde is part of a transnational repository network that receives, stores, and analyzes data about seawater quality, serving as an early warning system for preventing the diffusion of marine pollution. This sophisticated instrument can thrive in demanding environmental conditions for long-term continuous monitoring. It maximizes deployment lifespan, and provides traceable data for high-quality, reliable monitoring of vital changes in water quality. Low variability on the measured parameters indicates a stable status in the water quality of the Durrës site. Time series revealed small seasonal variations on all parameters, except turbidity and water temperature. Total dissolved solids, salinity, and electrical conductivity revealed similar temporal trends over the monitoring period by indicating strong relationships between them. The obtained data for the physical–chemical parameters in this study align with the recommended values. Ensuring water quality in the Durrës Bay requires advanced monitoring, regulatory measures, and community engagement.

Distribution and Characteristic Sediment Material of Watershed Deli River-Sumatera, Indonesia

Rivers are a source of surface water and bring benefits to human life. River water quality changes along with the development of the river environment which is influenced by various activities and human life. Deli River is one of the rivers used by the people of Medan-North Sumatra as a provider of clean water and various other daily activities and is also used as a transportation route for fishermen. This study aims to determine the flooding conditions that often occur in the Deli River, this is caused by the shallowness and narrowness of the river body. In this study, the quantitative method was taking sediment samples at several points along the river starting from upstream, middle, and downstream with research time on 7 July 2023. The results obtained from this study were river sediment material along the Deli River from upstream to downstream generally has a grain size of 65% sand, a grain size of 26% clay, a grain size of silt 6.3%, and a grain size of gravel 3.7%. The upstream sediments are dominated by sand-sized sediments and in the middle (between the upstream and downstream) the sediments are dominated by clay-sand-sized sediments, while the downstream sediments are predominantly sandy loam. The flooding of the Deli River is caused by the reduced capacity of the river, high intensity of rainfall in the upper reaches, and narrowing of the river and high sediment deposits in the middle to lower reaches so flooding often occurs along the Deli River.

Exploring the Impact of Land Use Scales on Water Quality Based on the Random Forest Model: A Case Study of the Shaying River Basin, China

Optimizing the land use structure is one of the most effective means of improving the surface water aquatic environment. The relationship between land use patterns and water quality is complex due to the influence of dams and sluices. To further investigate the impact of land use patterns on water quality in different basins, we use the Shaying River as an example, which is a typical tributary of the Huai River Basin. Utilizing 2020 land use data and surface water quality monitoring data from two periods, this study employs GIS spatial analysis, the Random Forest Model, redundancy analysis, and Partial Least-Squares Regression to quantitatively explore how different-scale buffer zone land use patterns impact surface water quality. The key findings include: (1) notable seasonal differences in water quality indicators within the basin. The Water Quality Index (WQI) is significantly better in the non-flood season compared to the flood season, with water quality deteriorating towards the lower reaches. Key indicators affecting water quality include dissolved oxygen (DO), ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N), total phosphorus (TP), and turbidity (Tur) in the flood season and NH3-N, permanganate index (CODMn), and electrical conductivity (EC) in the non-flood season. (2) Cultivated land and construction land are the main land uses in the basin. The sub-basin buffer zone was identified as the most effective scale for land use impact on water quality indicators in the Shaying River. (3) Partial Least-Squares Regression (PLSR) analysis revealed that cultivated land, construction land, and grass are the primary land use types influencing surface water quality changes, and the PLSR model is better during the non-flood season. Cultivated and construction lands show a positive correlation with most water quality indicators, while forest land, water bodies, and grasslands correlate positively with DO and negatively with other indicators. The study underscores that rational land use planning in the sub-basin is crucial for enhancing the quality of the surface water environment.

Simulation Study on Water Quality of Paddy Field Ditches Considering the Effects of Rainfall and Sediment Release

As the main channel for the drainage of paddy fields, the water quality of canals directly affects the water quality of surrounding water bodies. Factors such as rainfall and the release of accumulated pollutants from the sediment of the canals have a direct impact on the water quality of drainage ditches. Based on the measured hydrological and water quality data, a dynamic water quality model was built to simulate the runoff and water quality changes in a paddy field for different return periods (1, 2, 5, 10, 20, and 50 years), and to consider the effects of released drainage sediment on the water quality of the paddy field. The change in water quality in paddy fields and ditches in different periods was studied. The simulation results showed that under different return periods, the total nitrogen concentration and total phosphorus concentration in the water of the paddy field and ditch increased first, and then decreased with time in June and July–September, while the pollutant concentration remained basically stable after the end of rainfall. With the increase in return period, the total nitrogen concentration and total phosphorus concentration decreased gradually. The release of nitrogen and phosphorus from the sediment of ditches resulted in an increase in the total nitrogen concentration and total phosphorus concentration in the ditches, and an increase in the pollution load. Under the influence of rainfall and fertilizer, the total nitrogen concentration and total phosphorus concentration in paddy ditch drainage were generally higher and more polluted in June than in July–September, and under the influence of released sediment, the ditch drainage was most polluted in June when the return period was one year, with the total nitrogen concentration and total phosphorus concentration at the outlet of the paddy ditch reaching 21.63 mg/L and 0.88 mg/L, respectively. The research results can provide a theoretical basis and basic support for the interception and treatment of non-point source pollution in farmland.

Exploring nonlinear responses of lake nutrients and algal blooms to restoration measures: A three-dimensional flux network modelling approach

Excessive anthropogenic nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) inputs accelerate harmful algal blooms (HABs) and pose a significant global threat to lake ecosystems. Despite the adoption of extensive restoration measures to improve water quality, their effects on nutrient cycles and the underlying pathways remain unclear. In this study, a three-dimensional nutrient flux modelling approach was developed based on a validated Environmental Fluid Dynamics Code (EFDC) model and the Spatiotemporal Integral for Nutrient Networks (SINN) to compute nutrient storages and fluxes in lakes. We then conducted a scenario analysis, composed of 10 schemes, to assess the eight restoration measures in Lake Dianchi, China. The results showed that our model exhibited a high level of agreement with observed data and fluxes reported in previous studies. Of all the measures implemented, pollution interception by lakeshore wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) accounted for the largest historical improvements in water quality, with reductions of total nitrogen (TN) by 9.3%, total phosphorus (TP) by 36.4%, and chlorophyll a (Chla) by 18.2%. Furthermore, combined implementation of transboundary water transfer and wastewater diversion contributed to a reduction of 13.3% in TN, 11.5% in TP, and 6.2% in Chla. To achieve greater improvements in water quality, efforts must be made to improve the emission standard of WWTPs and ensure compliance with water quality standard of inflow rivers. The cyanobacteria biomass catch can only be used as a supplementary approach to restrict the HAB peaks. The nonlinear responses of lakes were characterized by large loading abatement but slight changes in water quality. Through the SINN approach, we revealed that weakened internal cycling was the primary driver of water quality improvements in all restoration measures. Further analysis demonstrated that measures targeting reducing external loadings significantly weakened internal cycling processes. In contrast, measures targeting the internal loadings, such as sediment dredging, exhibited limited effectiveness in reducing the intensity of internal cycling and Chla in the lake. For eutrophic lakes with substantial legacy nutrients, the abatement of external loadings remains the principal strategy. The approach presented in this study can be used to assess and optimize lake restoration measures.

Monitoring to detect changes in water quality to meet policy objectives

Detecting change in water quality is key to providing evidence of progress towards meeting water quality objectives. A key measure for detecting change is statistical power. Here we calculate statistical power for all regularly (monthly) monitored streams in New Zealand to test the effectiveness of monitoring for policy that aims to decrease contaminant (phosphorus and nitrogen species, E. coli and visual clarity) concentrations to threshold levels in 5 or 20 years. While > 95% of all monitored sites had sufficient power and samples to detect change in nutrients and clarity over 20 years, on average, sampling frequency would have to double to detect changes in E. coli. Furthermore, to detect changes in 5 years, sampling for clarity, dissolved reactive phosphorus and E. coli would have to increase up to fivefold. The cost of sampling was predicted to increase 5.3 and 4.1 times for 5 and 20 years, respectively. A national model of statistical power was used to demonstrate that a similar number of samples (and cost) would be required for any new monitoring sites. Our work suggests that demonstrating the outcomes of implementing policy for water quality improvement may not occur without a step change in investment into monitoring systems. Emerging sampling technologies have potential to reduce the cost, but existing monitoring networks may also have to be rationalised to provide evidence that water quality is meeting objectives. Our study has important implications for investment decisions involving balancing the need for intensively sampled sites where changes in water quality occur rapidly versus other sites which provide long-term time series.

Modelling the potential for local management practices to offset climate change impacts on freshwater macroinvertebrate communities

Abstract A robust understanding of the interactions between global and local anthropogenic stressors is crucial for ecosystem management in the Anthropocene. Manipulative experiments in the laboratory or in the field can be used to build knowledge about the physiological and ecological effects of stressors, but predicting the combined landscape‐scale effects of global stressors such as climate change, and local stressors such as land‐use change requires a different approach. Here we used water quality and hydrology process‐based models of entire river catchments in combination with a large biomonitoring dataset to predict the responses of macroinvertebrate communities under different climate change and land‐use change scenarios. Using the River Thames in the U.K. as a model system, we predicted changes in water quality (temperature, flow, phosphorus [P], nitrogen, dissolved oxygen [DO]) and subsequent changes in macroinvertebrate communities for two climate change scenarios, individually and in combination with intensified agriculture and reduced P pollution (representing improved wastewater treatment). Our models predicted that water‐quality changes associated with climate change may not influence total species richness, but that community composition will shift towards more pollution‐tolerant and common taxa based on responses of community indices and taxon‐specific responses. We also found that the negative impacts of climate change on water quality (e.g., increased P concentration, decreased DO concentration) accumulate through the catchment, but that local land‐use practices influencing P dynamics can modify this trend. Furthermore, although the intensified agriculture scenario was predicted to have minimal impacts on macroinvertebrate communities (a result potentially related to shifting baselines as the Thames is already heavily polluted), we found that reduced P pollution resulting from improved wastewater treatment was able to mostly offset the negative impacts of climate change on macroinvertebrate communities. Our results demonstrate that using process‐based models to study networks of interacting stressors at a landscape scale can provide useful insights into the ecological impacts of anthropogenic global change, and adds support to the idea that management of local stressors has the potential to mitigate some of the impacts of climate change on ecosystems.