Reach-scale variation surface water quality in a reticular canal system in the lower Yangtze River Delta region, China

The aim of this research was to assess the spatial and temporal distribution of surface water pollution within a reticular canal system typical of those found in the lower Yangtze River Delta (YRD). For this purpose, surface water quality data was collected from a drainage canal that bisected the so...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of environmental management 2017-07, Vol.196, p.80-90
Main Authors: Griffiths, James Andrew, Chan, Faith Ka Shun, Zhu, Fangfang, Wang, Vickie, Higgitt, David Laurence
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
China
Cities
Drainage
Environmental Monitoring
Land-use
Rivers
Spatial analysis
Water Pollution
Water Quality
Water-management
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Summary:The aim of this research was to assess the spatial and temporal distribution of surface water pollution within a reticular canal system typical of those found in the lower Yangtze River Delta (YRD). For this purpose, surface water quality data was collected from a drainage canal that bisected the southeast district of Ningbo Municipality (Zhejiang) from 2013 to 2015. The sampling transect was designed to represent the change in land-use from the agriculture dominated rural hinterland, to the predominantly urban city-centre. To calculate the representative land-use fraction of each sampling location, the contributing area was defined using an uni-directional 1 km vector line-buffer around the ‘upstream’ section of canal. The spatial and temporal variation of EC, DO, NH3 and turbidity indicated a measureable difference between the urban and rural sections of the channel. Water quality indicators were most sensitive to urban and parkland land-use types. The study yielded an increased spatial resolution to knowledge of water-quality variability in the urban environment compared to previous studies within the YRD region. The results were used to make recommendations for the development of an effective long-term strategy for the improvement in surface water quality in this region. [Display omitted] •High spatial resolution water-quality monitoring in YRD urban drainage system.•Uni-directional vector line-buffer used to define contributing area.•A measureable difference in urban and rural surface water-quality.•Water-quality sensitive to different land-use, particularly urban and parkland.•No discernable difference in PO4 between rural and urban areas.
ISSN:0301-4797
1095-8630
DOI:10.1016/j.jenvman.2017.02.079