253

Journal of Hydrodynamics
Ser.B, 2006,18(3): 253-261 sdlj.chinajournal.net.cn

WATER QUALITY MODELING AND POLLUTION CONTROL FOR THE

EASTERN ROUTE OF SOUTH TO NORTH WATER TRANSFER PROJECT
IN CHINA*

WANG Chao, WANG Yan-ying,WANG Pei-fang

Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resource Development on Shallow Lakes, College of
Environmental Science and Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China,
E-mail: cwang@mailsvr.hhu.edu.cn

(Received Oct. 14, 2005)

ABSTRACT: South to North Water Transfer Project in China
is the largest project over centuries to solve the water shortage
problem in vast areas of northern China. It comprises of three
routes: the eastern, central and western route and this study
mainly focused on the eastern route. As water quality is the key
factor for the eastern route, this paper examined the main
factors influencing water quality of the main route south of the
Yellow River, by investigating the point source, non-point
source (diffusive source) and internal source pollutions along
the main eastern route and in its drainage basins, and assessing
the current water quality in the waterways. According to the
complicated and combined systems of rivers and lakes in this
route, one-dimensional water quantity and quality model for
rivers and two-dimensional model for lakes were developed to
simulate the hydrodynamic and pollutant transport processes.
The numerical method and model algorithm were described.
The values of model parameters were estimated by using
field-monitoring data along the main route and the inverse
modeling technique. Established models were employed to
predict the degradations of CODMn and NH4+-N in the main
stream, under the conditions of current pollution loads and
different hydrologic conditions. Schemes were present for
controlling total quantities of pollutants from point source and
non-point source along the main route to secure water quality
for the eastern route.
KEY WORDS: South to North Water Transfer, Eastern Route
Project, water quality, pollution loads, pollution control
1. INTRODUCTION
South to North Water Transfer Project in China
is designed to solve water shortage problem and
support sustainable social and economic development
in northern China. Eastern Route Project (ERP) is one
of the three components of the water transfer project.
Pumping water from the Yangtze River in Yangzhou,
Jiangsu Province, ERP utilizes the Grand Canal and
its parallel rivers to transfer water from south to north.
It also employs Hongze Lake, Huoma Lake, Nansi
Lake and Dongping Lake for flood regulation. There
are two water transfer ways after Dongping Lake. One
way is northward: water goes through the Yellow
River in tunnels near Weishan Hill, enters Nan Canal
and finally flows to Tianjing City. The total length of
this route is 1156 km, of which 646 km are south of
Yellow River, 17 km through the Yellow River and
493 km north of Yellow River. The other way is
eastward: water is transferred to Yantai City and
Weihai City through 704 km long rivers in the
Jiaodong area. Thirteen levels of pumping stations are
set from Yangtze River to Dongping Lake with a total
delivery head of 65 m. The main route for ERP is
shown in Fig. 1.
The design flow rate for ERP is 600 m3/s. As
South to North Water Transfer Project spans 23
municipalities and 105 counties, it is excessive of the
total quantity of pollutants from point sources in these
areas, the non-point sources in the basins, and the
internal sources from watercrafts, resulting in very

* Project supported by the National Basic Research Program of China (Grant No: 2002CB412303) and the National Natrual
Science Foundation of China (Grant No: 50379012).
Biography: WANG Chao (1958- ), Male, Ph.D., Professor
 254
Fig. 1 The main route for water transfer in ERP
bad water quality in main rivers. So water pollution
control is vital for the success of the ERP. According
to investigations and analysis on pollution loads of the
main waterways for water transfer, one-dimensional
and two-dimensional water quantity and quality
models were developed to simulate water quality in
ERP. And the allowable quantities of pollutants
discharged into the rivers were analyzed and
calculated based on water quality targets designed for
water transfer. Then pollution control and pollutant
abatement scheme were established along the main
route. These results provided scientific support for
pollution control and water environment protection in
ERP.
2. THE POLLUTION LOADS ALONG THE
MAIN ROUTE OF WATER TRANSFER
According to the characteristics of their spacial
distribution, the pollution sources are classified as
point sources, non-point sources and internal sources
discharged into rivers and lakes in ERP [1, 2]. Point
pollution sources mainly include industrial and
domestic wastewater from urban areas. Non-point
pollution sources comprise of the pollutants from
surface runoff from agriculture lands, town lands,
woodlands, meadows and so on. Internal sources are
commonly caused by shipping and released from
riverbed mud and so on.
The pollution loads of urban point sources,
non-point sources, and shipping internal sources
discharged into the main route in ERP were assessed
by corresponding methods, of which non-point
sources assessment referred to Jeffrey [3]. It indicates
that the amount of COD from urban point sources is
about 78.5% of the total COD. So point sources are
overwhelmingly and should be the priority for control
and abatement. Non-point pollution sources should
also be paid adequate attention, because the NH4+-N
from these sources accounts for 34.5% of the total
NH4+-N, and for COD, it accounts for 20.9%.
3. MODELS OF WATER QUANTITY AND
QUALITY SIMULATION
3.1 Mathematical formulation for calculating water
quantity and quality in rivers
Flow dynamics and changes of the chemical
composition of water in rivers and their tributaries can
be adequately described by a system of nonlinear
partial differential equations as listed below [4, 5].
∂h ∂Q
B + =d (1)
∂t ∂s
 255

1 ⎡ ∂Q ∂ ⎛ Q 2 ⎞⎤ n Q Q ∂h
2 ∂ζ ∂hu ∂hv
+ ⎜ ⎟ + + − i = 0 (2) + + =0 (5)
⎢ ⎥
gA ⎣ ∂t ∂s ⎜⎝ A ⎟⎠⎦ A 2 R 4 / 3 ∂s ∂t ∂x ∂y

∂C ∂C ∂ ⎛ ∂C ⎞ ∂u ∂u ∂u ∂ζ ⎛ ∂ 2u ∂ 2u ⎞
A +Q = ⎜ Es A ⎟ − kC + r = 0 (3) +u +v = −g +ν t ⎜ 2 + 2 ⎟ +
∂t ∂s ∂s ⎝ ∂s ⎠ ∂t ∂x ∂y ∂x ⎝ ∂x ∂y ⎠

where h is the cross-section average of the river τx gn 2

− 4 / 3 u ( u 2 + v2 )
1/ 2
depth ( h = A B ), Q is flow rate, C is solute fv + (6)
hρ0 h
concentration, A and B are the cross-section area
and the average width of the river, respectively, d is
∂v ∂v ∂v ∂ζ ⎛ ∂ 2v ∂ 2v ⎞
the rate of lateral inflow, g is the magnitude of + u + v = −g +νt ⎜ 2 + 2 ⎟ −
gravitational acceleration, R is the hydraulic radius , ∂t ∂x ∂y ∂y ⎝ ∂x ∂y ⎠
n is the Manning coefficient, i is river bed slope,
E s is the coefficient of longitudinal dispersion [6], τ y gn 2
− 4 / 3 v ( u 2 + v2 )
1/ 2

k is self-purification coefficient, r is the substance

fu + (7)
hρ0 h
input from external sources, s is coordinate along
the channel, t is time.
∂C ∂C ∂C ∂ ⎛ ∂C ⎞
Two independent conditions are required at the +u +v = ⎜ Ex ⎟+
location of confluence and diffluence for a river ∂t ∂x ∂y ∂x ⎝ ∂x ⎠
network system [7], they are:
(a) The condition of continuity:
∂ ⎛ ∂C ⎞
Qtoatal = Qbranch1 + Qbranch2 + … + Qbranchn ⎜ Ey ⎟ − kC + SC (8)
∂y ⎝ ∂y ⎠
(b) The condition of equal water level:
where u and v are depth-averaged horizontal
components of velocity vector of water movement
Ztotal = Zbranch1 = Zbranch2 = … = Zbranchn
along axes x and y, C is depth-averaged solute
For the floodgate boundary, continuity condition concentration, ζ is the elevation of free water
of flux and the relationship between the upstream and surface of the water body, f is Coriolis’ parameter,
the downstream of the floodgate water levels should n is the Manning coefficient, h is the depth of the
be considered in the calculation. Taking the
submerged hydraulic gate as an example, water body, τ x and τ y are the components of the
wind friction stress, ρ 0 andν t are the average density
Q = μbe 2 g (Z j − Z j +1 )
1/ 2
(4) and turbulent viscosity, respectively, E x and E y ,
are the eddy diffusivity in x and y directions, k is
where b is the net width of water gate, μ is the flux
self-purification coefficient, SC is the substance
coefficient influenced by submergence, e is the
input and leak from external sources. Numerical
unlocking height of floodgate, Z j is the water level
solutions of equations refer to Wang[11].
upstream of the floodgate, Z j +1 is the water level
downstream of the floodgate.
4. MODEL CONDITION AND
3.2 Mathematical formulations for calculating water
DETERMINATION OF PARAMETERS
quantity and quality in lakes
4.1 Model grids
A two-dimensional (horizontal) model was
According to the hydrological characteristics of
developed to describe the dynamics and quality of
lakes and rivers along the main route south of Yellow
water in lakes and large rivers. The governing
River, one and two-dimensional water quantity and
equations are [8-10]:
 256

quality models were adopted for simulation and
calculation [12]. The main route for water transfer
comprises in total of 12 reaches (Fig. 1).
One-dimensional model was used for the reach
simulation. The grid size, commonly between 50 m
to 200 m, was determined by actual conditions of
each reach. The grids were denser near urban areas
having more sewage outlets. Two-dimensional
models were employed to simulate the four lakes in
the route, Hongze Lake, Luoma Lake, Nansi Lake
and Dongping Lake. According to the lake shapes,
respectively in this paper. Another important model
parameter is the dispersion coefficient in the equations
of pollutant concentration. The longitudinal
coefficient E s in one-dimensional equations of
concentrations in rivers is usually expressed
as Es = αU ∗ H , where α is a constant coefficient of
longitudinal dispersion, U ∗ is shear velocity, H is
water depth. In the two-dimensional equations of
concentrations for lakes, the eddy diffusivity
Ex = α uU H ， E y = α vU H , here α u and α v are
∗ ∗

orthogonal grids system was adopted for the partition

constant coefficients of dispersion in x and y
of calculation grids. The grid sizes withΔX =ΔY
directions, respectively. The estimated values of the
varied between 100 m and 300 m. Grid sizes were
parameters are shown in Table 1.
gradually changed in the reaches between rivers and
lakes to keep the numerical solution stable.
4.2 Determination of parameters
(1) Determination of pollutant degradation
coefficient
Based on water quality monitoring in ERP, the
main water pollutants are CODMn and NH4+-N in ERP.
And their degradation coefficients were estimated in
the main waterways.
Water qualities of reaches along the main route
for water transfer were monitored specially in Sept.,
2000 by Water Resources Protection Agency of Huai
River. According to the monitoring data, the
parameters of models for reaches and lakes were
determined using the method of inverse modeling [11-14]
(Table 1). Parameters were also calculated using the
HSY calculation method with the Monte Carlo
method and based on routine monitoring data of water
quality from 1997 to 1999 by the Environmental
Science and Engineering Department of Tsinghua
University. Table 1 shows that the average values of
the parameters calculated by both two methods are
almost the same. However, the pollutant degradation
coefficients are largely different between dredged
river reaches and natural ones. And pollutant
degradation coefficients of large and newly dredged
reaches are lower than those of natural reaches. This is
mainly because of the different ecological
characteristics and geometrical dimensions between
the two kinds of reaches. In addition, the coefficients
of lakes are smaller than those of rivers due to lower
flow rates.
(2) Determination of roughness coefficients and
dispersion coefficients of pollutants
The roughness coefficients of rivers and lakes, in
relation with the coarseness degree of river beds, are
very important parameters in the hydrodynamic
models. Generally speaking, the roughness
coefficients of newly dredged or dug rivers are
smaller than those of natural rivers. As the rivers in
ERP consist of both dredged and natural reaches, the Fig. 2 The comparison between calculated values and
measured values
roughness coefficient of each reach was determined
 257

Table 1 Determined parameters in water quantity and quality models

Roughness coefficients
Coefficients of pollutant degradation (1/d) and dispersion coefficients
Reaches Methods of pollutant

Types KCODMn KNH4-N n α α αV

Inverse modeling Mean value 0.09550 0.083400 0.035 95

Sanjiang Ying-
Mean value 0.083168 0.075424
Nanyunxi Floodgate
HSY method
Mean variance 0.049821 0.014058

Inverse modeling Mean value 0.02580 0.066702 0.037 98

Sanyang River Mean value 0.013976 0.074852

HSY method
Mean variance 0.005829 0.014221

Inverse modeling Mean value 0.10250 0.112330 0.038 100

Nanyunxi
Floodgate-The inlet of Mean value 0.061910 0.075327
Hongze Lake HSY method
Mean variance 0.015449 0.014122

Inverse modeling Mean value 0.067500 0.085500 0.040 86

The outlet of Hongze
Mean value 0.049179 0.109113
Lake-Fangting River
HSY method
Mean Variance 0.007858 0.022050

Inverse modeling Mean value 0.044500 0.051500 0.028 101

The outlet of Luoma
Lake-The inlet Of Mean value 0.010587 0.022157
lower lake HSY method
Mean variance 0.006183 0.012962

Inverse modeling Mean value 0.045600 0.038700 0.041 85

Hanzhuang Cannal
–The inlet of Mean value 0.009628 0.021018
Dongping Lake HSY method
Mean variance 0.002847 0.003011

Hongze Lake Inverse modeling Mean value 0.025800 0.019500 0.022 58 5.2

Huoma Lake Inverse modeling Mean value 0.021200 0.020500 0.025 65 5.7

Nansi Lake,
Inverse modeling Mean value 0.044500 0.031600 0.027 55 5.0
Dongping Lake
 258
Fig. 3 Velocity field of Luoma Lake under different influent
and effluent conditions
4.3 Model validation
Degradation coefficients were employed in water
quantity and quality simulation models for
corresponding river reaches and lakes. The monitoring
data from Dec. 8th to 12th, 2003, which was 10 times
as many as before, was used for model validation.
Figure 2 is the comparison between the calculated
values and measured ones. It shows that error ranges
of river flow rate, water level and pollutant
concentration, which are within 15%, 18%, and 22%
respectively, all meet the precision requirement for the
prediction of water quality.
5. PREDICTION OF WATER QUANTITY AND
QUALITY, AND POLLUTION CONTROL
SCHEMES
5.1 Results of simulated water quantity
The calculation of water quantities for the main
route of water transfer in ERP is very complex. This is
because the water quantity imported from Yangtze
River, imported or exported from branches all need to
be considered.
Figure 3 shows the velocity field of Luoma Lake
under different influent and effluent conditions. As
seen from Fig. 3(a), when the transferred water enters
into the lakes from the Zaohe Flashboard and leaves
from the lakes from the Huangdun Flashboard, there is
little mixing between the transferred water and the
water bodies of Luoma Lake. A clear mainstream
region is formed in Luoma Lake between the inlet and
the outlet. The velocity distribution of Luoma Lake
shows that the water in the southern and the eastern
parts of the lake are not affected by water transfer. But
for the northern lake, water coming from Yi River and
Laoyi River is affected, and the flow velocity
distribution is modified as shown in Fig 3(a). So the
quality of transferred water will be affected if Yi
River or Laoyi River is polluted. Figure 3(b) presents
the velocity field when the Grand Canal flows into the
southern part of the Luoma Lake. Seen from the figure,
most of the mixing happens between the transferred
water and the lake water while the transferred water
enters the lake from the south and leaves from the
west. Obviously, Luoma Lake will be beneficial in
perforwing quantity adjustment for water transfer. A
mainstream region is also formed between the inlet
and the outlet, though the velocity there is lower than
that in the Fig. 3(a). Meanwhile, the velocity field is
also affected by the conflux of Yi River and Laoyi
River in the north, so the water quality of transferred
water is also affected by the two rivers.
5.2 Results of simulated water quality
Based on the results of water quantity and
pollutant quantity discharged into the water bodies,
pollutant concentrations were calculated in the main
waterways. The following results are obtained: the
concentrations of pollutants increases gradually along
the main route with current pollution loads and
different water quantity, the concentrations at the
inlets of the four lakes are all higher than those at the
outlets, which demonstrates that the lakes are
advantageous for water quality improvement in ERP.
The calculation results also indicate that: the water
qualities degrade distinctively when the transferred

Fig. 4 Distribution of CODMn concentration in Hongze Lake
water passes through urban areas. In particular when
the water passes through the reaches of Pizhou and
Xuzhou City, the concentrations of CODMn and
NH4+-N drastically exceed the level of water quality
target set by ERP. Therefore, it is necessary to
enhance pollution control in urban areas along the
main route to secure water quality. Figure 4 shows the
distribution of CODMn concentration in Hongze Lake.
The concentration of CODMn in most areas of Hongze
Lake is less than 8.0 mg/L as required by ERP. But in
the southwestern water bodies where about 20% area
of the lake is influenced by the pollutant inflow from
Huai River, the concentration of CODMn increases.
Consequently, the measure of pollution control in
Huai River drainage basin should be enhanced to
secure the water quality of Hongze Lake for ERP.
5.3 Schemes for pollution control
In order to meet the requirement on water quality
for ERP, stringent measures of controlling pollution
loads into the rivers north of Pizhou Bridge should be
implemented. According to the current quantity of
pollutants discharged from urban and rural areas along
the main route, the allowable quantity discharged
intothe water bodies and the quantity abatement of
259
main pollutants of CODMn and NH4+-N were
calculated using water quality models (Table 2). With
the abatement in effect, the concentrations of CODMn
and NH4+-N will decrease to the range between 1 and
6 mg/L, which meets the requirements on water
quality in ERP.
6. CONCLUSIONS
According to the investigation and analysis on
pollution sources along the main route for water
transfer and its adjacent area, the main sources that
influence the water quality of waterways were
identified in this paper. The urban point pollution
sources are the principal sources, the non-point
pollution sources take the second place, and the
internal pollution sources are less significant. So
wasterwater treatment plants in cities and towns along
the main route should be built as soon as possible to
ensure the water quality in ERP.
Based on the complicated combination of rivers
and lakes in ERP and hydrodynamic characteristics,
one-dimensional water quantity and quality models
for rivers and two-dimensional models for lakes were
 260

Table 2 Quantities of current, allowable and abatement of CODMn and NH4+-N discharged into waterways
Quantities of CODMn Quantities of NH4+-N discharged
Control sections discharged into waterways (t/a) into waterways (t/a)
Current Allowable Abatement Current Allowable Abatement

New Tongyang Cannal 7458 3729 3729 438 358 80

Beichengzi River 6382.4 809 5573.4 383.8 161 222.8

Huai River 1962.8 880 1082.8 65.4 34 31.4

Laobian River 2060.8 602 1458.8 184.2 72 112.2

Huaian Canal 14455.9 0 14455.9 1090.8 0 1090.8

Xusha River 1620.3 1105 555.3 153.5 52 101.5

Fangting River 22787 5600 17187 67.7 16 51.7

Bulao River 29684.5 0 29684.5 1164.7 0 1164.7

Peiyan River 3560.1 3213 347.1 693.5 176 517.5

Fuxin and Yi River 30436.1 12769 17667.1 3009.5 1051 1958.5

Picang Floodway 7576 2359 5217 401.1 79 332.1

Hangzhuang Canal 1688.7 0 1688.7 27.5 0 27.5

Chengguo River 15075.6 0 15075.6 2522.8 0 2522.8

Dongyu River 2958.5 648 2310.5 51.2 8 43.2

Old Wanfu River 898.6 522 376.6 95.5 12 83.5

Baima River 3754.7 624 3130.7 1798.2 825 973.2

Si River 3999.8 1890 2109.8 283.2 207 76.2

Zhuzhao New River 12488 2054 10434 2365.8 153 2214.8

Guangfu River 51306.2 13023 38283.2 3311 1480 1831

Liangji Canal 2238.6 700 1538.6 601.8 11 590.8

Zhaowang River 1616 670 946 112.5 62 50.5

Liangji Canal 1095.4 0 1095.4 223.4 0 223.4

Dawen River 23365.5 7444 15921.5 3540.1 326 3214.1

Dongping Lake 4445.7 993 3452.7 437.2 134 303.2

Total 2052955.2 59634 1993321.2 22993.4 5176 17817.4

established to simulate and calculate the flow rate,
water level, CODMn and NH4+-N concentrations in
ERP. The calculated results agree with the
field-measured values, which demonstrates that it is
practicable to use these models to simulate and
calculate the water quality of the complicated
combination of rivers and lakes in ERP.
Flow rate prediction indicate that under the effect
of transferred water and branches influx, the
hydrodynamic condition of the main route for water
transfer is very complex. Especially in the
convergence of rivers and the lakes, the flow state of
the water changes greatly. And transferred water does
not mix completely with the lake water before flowing
out of it, but it mixes locally with the lake water and
then flows out of the lake tanking the shortest
distance.
Water quality prediction indicates that under the

conditions of present pollution loads and different
hydrologic design criteria, the water quality of the
main rivers is drastically different from that of the
lakes, the water quality of the lakes is better than that
of rivers, the quality of the water flowing out of the
lakes is better than that entering the lakes. The
pollutants discharged into the main route of water
transfer should be strictly managed, because they have
great impact on the water quality. On the whole, the
water quality upstream Luoma Lake outlet in the main
route is better than downstream one.
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