STEMM Institute Press
Science, Technology, Engineering, Management and Medicine
Calculation and Analysis of Water Environmental Capacity of Typical Rivers in the Loess Area of Northern Shaanxi Based on a One-Dimensional Water Quality Model
DOI: https://doi.org/10.62517/jlsa.202607208
Author(s)
Qian Huang1,*, Pu Zhang1, Yuan Zhang1, Xiaohu Du2, Chunxing Guan1, Xiaokun Xu1, Lu Zhang1, Bo Yang1
Affiliation(s)
1Shaanxi Modern Architectural Design and Research Institute Co., Ltd., Xi'an, Shaanxi, China 2Huoqi County Water Resources Bureau, Lu'an, Anhui, China *Corresponding Author
Abstract
Water environmental capacity (WEC) is a key indicator for pollutant load control and watershed management. Taking the Xingzi, Xichuan, and Pingqiaochuan rivers in Ansai District, Yan’an City as case studies, this study selected COD, NH₃-N, and TP as control indicators and applied a one-dimensional water quality model based on GB/T 25173–2010 to estimate WEC under wet (10%), normal (50%), and dry (90%) hydrological years. Results showed that all three rivers maintained surplus WEC and generally good water quality. WEC followed the pattern of wet year > normal year > dry year and was significantly higher in summer than in winter. Among the rivers, Xichuan River had the largest WEC, followed by Xingzi River, while Pingqiaochuan River had the smallest. It is recommended that dry-year WEC be adopted as the baseline for total pollutant load control, with strengthened management of rural non-point source pollution and improved dry-season monitoring and early-warning systems. This study provides scientific support for regional water environmental management and pollutant control.
Keywords
Water Environmental Capacity; Water Quality Model; Design Hydrological Conditions; Non-Point Source Pollution; Loess Plateau
References
[1]Ke Z. Study on the dynamic prediction and optimum regulation scheme of water resource carrying capacity in the yellow river basin. Scientific Reports, 2025, 15: 8188. [2]Mohsen Dehghani D, Britta S. River quality management: Integrating uncertainty, failure probability, and assimilation capacity. Ecological Informatics, 2024, 83: 102829. [3]He S, Yutong Z, et al. Spatiotemporal characteristics, drivers, sources, and health risks of nitrate and sulfate in groundwater on the Chinese Loess Plateau. Water Research, 2026, 288: 124531. [4]Zijun L, Qingchun Y, et al. Spatiotemporal variability of groundwater chemistry, source identification and health risks in the southern Chinese Loess Plateau. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, 2025, 289: 117429. [5]Fang P, Ma Y, Shen J, et al. Problems and countermeasures of water ecological environment in Yanhe River Basin. People’s Yellow River, 2022, 44(01): 80-82+88. [6]Zhang Y L. Development of the basic concept of water environmental capacity. Research of Environmental Sciences, 1992(03): 59-61. [7]iu H D. Study on water environmental capacity of typical polluted reaches of Yanhe River. Xi’an: Northwest University, 2021. [8]Zhang Q H, Tan F F, Wu Z H, et al. Calculation of water environmental capacity of ammonia nitrogen and total phosphorus in Laodao River Basin of the Xiangjiang River. Journal of Environmental Engineering Technology, 2022, 12(2): 468-476. [9]Lao G M. Sensitivity analysis of parameters in one-dimensional model for calculating water environmental capacity. Zhejiang Hydrotechnics, 2003(02): 18-19. [10]Zhou R, Wang B, Lin H D, et al. Application of one-dimensional water quality model combined with improved export coefficient method in estimation of non-point source pollution load in watershed. Journal of Jilin University, 2021, 51(2): 505-515. [11]Bo P, Kun L. An Analytical Approach for Initial Allocation of Discharge Permits with Consideration of the Water Environmental Capacity and Industrial Technical Feasibility. Sustainability, 2021, 13(24): 13743. [12]Wang X D. Study on water environmental capacity calculation and pollution prevention and control of Weihe River in Shaanxi Province based on process. Xi’an: Chang‘an University, 2022. [13]Jin H, Chen W, Zhao Z, et al. New Framework for Dynamic Water Environmental Capacity Estimation Integrating the Hydro-Environmental Model and Load–Duration Curve Method—A Case Study in Data-Scarce Luanhe River Basin. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2022, 19(14):8389. [14]Zhang Q, Tan F, Wu Z, et al., Calculation of water environmental capacity of ammonia-nitrogen and total phosphorus in Laodao River Basin of the Xiang River. Journal of Environmental Engineering Technology, 2022, 12(2): 468-476. [15]Obin N, Tao H, et al. Research on Water Quality Simulation and Water Environmental Capacity in Lushui River Based on WASP Model. Water, 2021, 13(20): 2819. [16]Song Y, & Wang H. Study on the Stage Method of the Water Environmental Capacity Flood Season in the Ningxia Section of the Yellow River. Hydrology, 2025, 12(1): 10. [17]Wang J, Tian C. Study of the allocation strategy of water pollutant emission permits under a bidirectional ecological compensation mechanism: A case study of China's Yellow River Basin. Journal of Cleaner Production / ResearchGate, Art. 2024, 141258.
Copyright @ 2020-2035 STEMM Institute Press All Rights Reserved