Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2025

DOI

10.1016/j.ejrh.2025.102327

Publication Title

Journal of Hydrology: Regional Studies

Volume

59

Pages

102327 (1-29)

Abstract

Study region

The Dahei River Basin, a sub-basin of the Yellow River Basin, was selected for this study. Encompassing population centers and villages in Inner Mongolia, it supports vital ecosystems and underscores the need to address its unique challenges in water management and protection.

Study focus

This study examines surface water quality dynamics in the Dahei River Basin, a key aspect of sustainable water management. Predicting spatiotemporal variations and driving factors remains challenging. Using 2013–2023 datasets on water quality, hydrology, and meteorology, the composite pollution index (CPI), ANOVA, and generalized additive models were applied to provide insights for effective management.

New hydrological insights for the region

The study identified three water quality phases in the Dahei River Basin: deterioration (2013–2015), improvement (2016–2020), and stabilization (2021–2023). Seasonal variations showed better water quality (lower TN, NH₄+-N, TP, DO, CPI) in wet seasons. Spatial variability was highest in plains and urban areas, driven by runoff, industrial pollution, and sewage, while hilly areas showed minimal variation due to low human impact. Precipitation and sediment dynamics affected water quality in hilly areas, with large runoff events worsening contamination. Solutions include sediment removal, vegetation enhancement in hilly areas, and pollutant management during rainfall and dry seasons.

Rights

© 2025 The Authors.

This is an open access article under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0) License.

Data Availability

Article states: "Data will be made available on request."

ORCID

0000-0003-3455-3124 (Wang)

Original Publication Citation

Xie, L., Gao, R., Wang, X., Duan, L., Fang, L., Tong, H., Yue, C., & Liu, T. (2025). Spatiotemporal evolution of surface water quality and driving factors across varying levels of human interference in a major subbasin of the Yellow River Basin, China. Journal of Hydrology: Regional Studies, 59, 1-29, Article 102327. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejrh.2025.102327

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