Spatiotemporal characteristics of the water quality in the Jinsha River Basin (Panzhihua, China)

Abstract

Spatiotemporal changes in the water quality index are important measures with which to analyze water quality. Fifteen water quality indices at the Longdong, Luoguo, and Jinjiang stations in the Panzhihua Section of the Jinsha River Basin from 2016 to 2018 were analyzed using cluster analysis (CA), discriminant analysis (DA), independent sample t-test and correlation analysis. The results of CA showed that the months can be divided into the following groups based on the similarities in the water quality characteristics: group 1 (dry season), January-April and December; group 2 (flood season), August-September; and group 3 (flat season), May-July and October-November. In group 1 the river is remarkably polluted. The main parameters that distinguish the spatial differences are pH level, chemical oxygen demand, chlorophyll a, fecal coliforms, and electrical conductivity. All sections of the river meet the National Level III standard, and the water quality of the Jinsha River is generally good. Spatial results show that the Luoguo station is seriously polluted compared with the other two stations. Significant negative correlation is found between forest land and COD (P < 0.05). Therefore, the management of land use and pollutant discharge should still be strengthened in the Luoguo section to improve the overall water quality of the Jinsha River.