Water quality variation and its conditioning factors in the Three Gorges Reservoir, China

Abstract

The variation of water quality has been an issue of concern since the impoundment of the Three Gorges Reservoir (TGR). In this study, water samples from the TGR were collected in July and November 2015 and in May and July 2016 to reveal the variations of water quality and its key conditioning factors. The results showed that the concentrations of major ions, nutrients and heavy metals in the TGR's water body exhibited heterogeneous variations. Especially, the hotspot for major ions and heavy metals emerged at Chongqing downtown, and a decreasing trend from Chongqing toward the TGR dam was spatially observed. The heterogeneous variation of hydrochemistry in the TGR revealed the integrated influences of natural processes and human activities. Especially, the intense rainfall in the spring and early summer of 2016 promoted the transport of pollutants to the TGR, and further magnified the influence of large cities on the spatial variations of the hydrochemistry in the TGR. This study will give more insights into the change of water quality in large reservoirs in the context of the intense rainfall and the human activities. HIGHLIGHTS The spatial and seasonal variations of water quality indexes in the TGR were revealed.; The heterogeneous variations of the major ions and heavy metals revealed the integrated influences of natural processes and human activities.; The intensified rainfall promoted the pollutants transport and magnified large cities’ effects on the variations of the hydrochemistry in the TGR.;

Keywords

• heavy metals
• major ions
• rainfall
• three gorges reservoir
• water quality