Water quality assessment of inter‑basin water transfer in water supply areas based on coupled EFDC‑SWAT model

LI Haixiang; XU Yueping; JIANG Yanming; WANG Xiuling; YANG Le; KONG Linlin; QIU Jiong; JIA Xiaofang

doi:10.13205/j.hjgc.202608015

Volume 44 Issue 8

Aug. 2026

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Article Navigation > ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING > 2026 > 44(8): 156-168

LI Haixiang, XU Yueping, JIANG Yanming, WANG Xiuling, YANG Le, KONG Linlin, QIU Jiong, JIA Xiaofang. Water quality assessment of inter‑basin water transfer in water supply areas based on coupled EFDC‑SWAT model[J]. ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING , 2026, 44(8): 156-168. doi: 10.13205/j.hjgc.202608015

Citation:

LI Haixiang, XU Yueping, JIANG Yanming, WANG Xiuling, YANG Le, KONG Linlin, QIU Jiong, JIA Xiaofang. Water quality assessment of inter‑basin water transfer in water supply areas based on coupled EFDC‑SWAT model[J]. ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING , 2026, 44(8): 156-168. doi: 10.13205/j.hjgc.202608015

Citation:

LI Haixiang, XU Yueping, JIANG Yanming, WANG Xiuling, YANG Le, KONG Linlin, QIU Jiong, JIA Xiaofang. Water quality assessment of inter‑basin water transfer in water supply areas based on coupled EFDC‑SWAT model[J]. ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING , 2026, 44(8): 156-168. doi: 10.13205/j.hjgc.202608015

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Water quality assessment of inter‑basin water transfer in water supply areas based on coupled EFDC‑SWAT model

doi: 10.13205/j.hjgc.202608015

1. Institute of Hydrology and Water Resources, College of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China;
2. Hangzhou Zhishui Engineering Consulting Co., Ltd., Hangzhou 310020, China;
3. Xinchang Water Resources and Hydropower Bureau, Shaoxing 312500, China

Received Date: 2025-09-22

Abstract

Abstract

Inter-basin water diversion projects can profoundly alter the water quality dynamics of receiving basins. Taking the Qincun Reservoir and its downstream reaches in the Huang ze River Basin as a case study， this research quantitatively evaluates the water-quality responses under multiple coordinated management measures. An integrated Environmental Fluid Dynamics Code-Soil and Water Assessment Tool （EFDC-SWAT） modeling framework was established， coupling a two-dimensional hydrodynamic-water-quality model for the reservoir with a hydrology-water-quality model for the downstream reaches. Seven management scenarios were designed to reflect various combinations of point-and non-point-source pollution control strategies. Simulations focused on the spatiotemporal variations in key indicators，total nitrogen （TN）， total phosphorus （TP）， ammonia nitrogen （NH₃-N）， and permanganate index （COD_Mn），and assessed the pollution-load reduction effectiveness of each measure. Comparative analysis using the comprehensive water quality identification index （CWQⅡ） revealed that under Scenario 3 （highest pollution-control standards with lowest diversion volume）， TN and TP concentrations in the reservoir decreased by 80% and 50%， respectively， achieving the Class Ⅱ water-quality standards. Downstream TN and TP levels declined by 36% and 33%，and the CWQⅡ improved from 4.211 to 3.410. Land consolidation contributed 77% and 45% to TN and TP load reductions in the reservoir， respectively， while a 20% reduction in diversion volume was most effective in improving downstream TN （>50%）. These results demonstrate that the coupled EFDC-SWAT model effectively elucidates the mechanisms through which inter-basin water diversion influences the water quality in supply-area. Moreover， synergistic point-and non-point-source controls exhibit a nonlinear enhancement effect on overall water-quality improvement.
- EFDC,
- SWAT,
- inter-basin water transfer,
- water quality assessment,
- comprehensive water quality identification index

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References(42)

References

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