Is urban development an urban river killer? A case study of Yongding Diversion Channel in Beijing, China

Xi Wang; Junqi Li; Yingxia Li; Zhenyao Shen; Xuan Wang; Zhifeng Yang; Inchio Lou

doi:10.1016/S1001-0742(13)60593-8

Is urban development an urban river killer? A case study of Yongding Diversion Channel in Beijing, China

J Environ Sci (China). 2014 Jun 1;26(6):1232-7. doi: 10.1016/S1001-0742(13)60593-8.

Authors

Xi Wang¹, Junqi Li², Yingxia Li³, Zhenyao Shen⁴, Xuan Wang⁴, Zhifeng Yang⁴, Inchio Lou⁵

Affiliations

¹ State Key Laboratory of Water Environment Simulation, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China; Beijing University of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Beijing 100875, China. Electronic address: c-wang@163.com.
² Beijing University of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Beijing 100875, China.
³ State Key Laboratory of Water Environment Simulation, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China. Electronic address: yingxia@bnu.edu.cn.
⁴ State Key Laboratory of Water Environment Simulation, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China.
⁵ Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Macau, Macau SAR, China.

PMID: 25079830
DOI: 10.1016/S1001-0742(13)60593-8

Abstract

The high population and concrete environment alter urban areas by changing temperature, rainfall runoff, and water resource utilization activities. This study was conducted to investigate the water quality features of the Yongding Diversion Channel in Beijing, China, and its relationship with rainfall and urban development. Monthly water quality data were obtained from April to October of 2004 at monitoring sites of Sanjiadian, Gaojing, Luodaozhuang, and Yuyuangtan. The monthly water quality grades from 2007 to 2011 were also investigated and compared with those of other rivers. Dissolved oxygen and pH showed greater decreases after one or two moderate rainfall events than several light rainfall events. The potassium permanganate index (CODMn), ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N) and total phosphorus (TP) increased more after several light rainfall events than after one or two moderate or heavy rainfall events. Pollutant concentrations (CODMn, NH3-N, TP) in downstream regions showed greater changes than those in upstream areas after heavy rainfall events. Intense human activities around the channel greatly influenced the water quality of the channel in rainy season because of runoff pollution; however, heavy rainfall had a strong dilution effect on the pollutant concentrations in rivers. Overall, urban development has obviously deteriorated the water quality of the Yongding Diversion Channel as indicated by an increase in the water quality index from 3.22 in 2008 to 4.55 in 2010. The Pearson correlation between monthly rainfall and water quality indices from 2007 to 2011 ranged from 0.1286 to 0.6968, generally becoming weaker as rainfall and rainfall runoff became more random and extreme.

Keywords: Yongding Diversion Channel; rainfall; urban development; water quality indices.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

China
Rain
Rivers*
Urbanization*
Water Pollution
Water Quality*