Water Practice and Technology (May 2023)

Water environment characteristics and control countermeasures of typical hilly cities in Southeast China

  • Aiju You,
  • Lei Hua,
  • Jingwen Hu,
  • Ziming Wang

DOI
https://doi.org/10.2166/wpt.2023.062
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 18, no. 5
pp. 1039 – 1050

Abstract

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Due to population growth and economic development, problems such as uneven distribution of freshwater resources and degradation of water quality are becoming increasingly prominent. Many measures have been adopted to address water resources issues; however, few studies have focused on specific changes in water quality after policy implementation. In this study, Yiwu City, Zhejiang Province, a typical hilly city with a well-developed water system, was selected to analyze the changes in water quality. By analyzing the rainfall series and hydrology characteristics, and water quality characteristics, this paper revealed the water environment characteristics and put forward some suggestions for water management in hilly cities. Results showed that the historical rainfall time distribution is uneven, and the water environment capacity of urban inland rivers exhibits strong variability in Yiwu City. The contents of ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N) and total phosphorus (TP) decreased significantly since the policy implementation of ‘Five water cohabitation’. Urban rivers presented regional pollution and surface source pollution characteristics, and the water quality fluctuated significantly with the increase in rainfall. At the same time, the study confirmed that scientific water replenishment measures can effectively improve water quality, providing reference ideas for the protection and management of China's urban water environment. HIGHLIGHTS The water environment shows high variability in water rise and falls in the southern hilly cities.; The policy implementation of ‘Five water cohabitation’ can significantly improve water quality.; Scientific water replenishment measures are one of the measures to effectively improve the water environment.;

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