Analysis of Water Quality and Trophic Status of Reservoirs in Chuzhou
City, China
Abstract
Reservoir is a vital tool for human utilization of water resources, and
the deterioration of its water quality can seriously threaten the water
cycle and sustainable urban development. However, there are relatively
few studies in academia that analyze and evaluate the water quality of
multiple reservoirs at the same time. To address this knowledge deficit,
we collected 108 water samples from three different reservoirs in
Chuzhou City for 36 months (from 2019 to 2021), explored the drivers of
changes in water quality parameters over time and the extent of
eutrophication. Our results indicated that the water quality of the
reservoirs was deteriorating during the study period, among which
Huanglishu Reservoir and Shahe Reservoir reached mild eutrophic status,
and both had higher eutrophication levels than Chengxi Reservoir. Secchi
Depth (SD), Total Nitrogen (TN), and Total Phosphorus (TP) were the
principal factors inducing eutrophication. The biased utilization of
reservoir functions was the major contributor to the discrepancy in the
degree of eutrophication. Furthermore, Pearson Correlation Analysis
revealed that there are significant correlations between many water
quality parameters. Cluster Analysis (CA) grouped the 12 months of each
year into three clusters (stable water level period, rainy season high
flow period, and winter low flow period). Based on this, Analysis of
Variance (ANOVA) showed that most water quality parameters varied
considerably between the clusters. Collectively, this study identified
the actual water quality conditions of three reservoirs in Chuzhou City
and provided guidance for local water quality management and
environmental protection.