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A special issue of Water (ISSN 2073-4441). This special issue belongs to the section "Water Quality and Contamination".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 June 2025 | Viewed by 3245

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Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Lei Chen

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Guest Editor

State Key Laboratory of Water Environment Simulation, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
Interests: non-point source pollution; watershed model; uncertainty; climate change; multi-objective optimization; watershed management
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Prof. Dr. Qiuliang Lei

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Institute of Agricultural Resources and Regional Planning, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
Interests: agricultural non-point source pollution; watershed modeling; watershed management; nitrogen migration and transformation mechanisms
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Cheng Sun

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor Assistant

College of New Energy and Environment, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China
Interests: non-point source pollution; watershed model; best management practices; agricultural management; ditch-pond system; optimal configuration

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The Special Issue, entitled “Basin Non-Point Source Pollution” serves as a comprehensive platform via which to explore and address the multifaceted challenges posed by non-point source pollution (NPS) within basins. The scope of discussion encompasses a wide array of topics related to the sources, impacts, mitigation strategies, and management approaches associated with NPS pollution in various basin contexts worldwide.

The primary focus of this Special Issue is to deepen our understanding of the complexities surrounding NPS pollution within basins, emphasizing the interconnectedness of land use, hydrology, water quality, and ecosystem health. Through a multidisciplinary approach, this Special Issue aims to elucidate the mechanisms driving NPS pollution, identify emerging threats, and explore innovative solutions for sustainable basin management.

This Special Issue builds upon and contributes to the existing body of literature on NPS pollution and watershed management. By synthesizing recent advancements in scientific research, technological innovations, and policy frameworks, this Special Issue seeks to enhance the knowledge base and inform decision-making processes at local, regional, and global scales. Additionally, by integrating insights from diverse disciplines such as hydrology, ecology, agriculture, engineering, and social sciences, this Special Issue endeavors to foster interdisciplinary collaboration and promote holistic approaches to NPS pollution management.

Prof. Dr. Lei Chen
Prof. Dr. Qiuliang Lei
Guest Editors

Dr. Cheng Sun
Guest Editor Assistant

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

non-point source pollution
watershed model
best management practices
watershed management
agricultural management

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

20 pages, 3031 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Drainage Control on Non-Point Source Pollutant Loads in the Discharges from Rice Paddy Fields

by Sunyoung Jeon, Dogun Kim and Seokoh Ko

Water 2025, 17(11), 1650; https://doi.org/10.3390/w17111650 - 29 May 2025

Abstract

Non-point source (NPS) pollution from agriculture accounts for more than 20% of the total pollution load in the Republic of Korea, with the highest nutrient balance among OECD countries. Rice paddy fields are among the most important NPSs because of their large area, intensive fertilizer use, intensive use of irrigation water, and subsequent drainage. Therefore, the use of controlled drainage in paddy fields (Test) was evaluated for reduction in the discharged volumes and pollutant loads in drainage and stormwater runoff in comparison to plots using traditional drainages (Control). The results show that the loads were highly variable and that the reductions in the annual load of biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), suspended solid (SS), total nitrogen (T-N), total phosphorus (T-P), and total organic carbon (TOC) in the Test compared to that of the Control were 31.0 ± 28.9%, 83.5 ± 11.8%, 65.4 ± 12.2%, 69.1 ± 21.7%, and 64.9 ± 12.9%, respectively. It was shown that discharge in the post-harrowing and transplanting drainage (HD) was predominantly responsible for the total loads; therefore, the load reduction in HD was evaluated further at additional sites. The reduction at all studied sites was highly variable and as follows: 30.0 ± 33.6%, 70.9 ± 24.6%, 32.2 ± 45.5%, 45.7 ± 37.0%, and 27.0 ± 71.5%, for BOD, SS, T-N, T-P, and TOC, respectively. It was also demonstrated that controlled drainage contributed significantly to reducing the loads and volume of stormwater runoff from paddy fields. Correlations between paddy field conditions and multiple regression showed that the loads were significantly related to paddy water quality. The results of this study strongly suggest that controlled drainage is an excellent alternative for reducing the discharge of NPS pollutants from paddy fields. It is also suggested that the best discharge control would be achieved by combinations of various discharge mitigation alternatives, such as the management of irrigation, drainage, and fertilization, as well as drainage treatment, supported by more field tests, identification of the fates of pollutants, effects of rainfall, and climate changes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Basin Non-Point Source Pollution)

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21 pages, 6979 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Nitrogen and Gray Water Footprints of Various Cropping Systems in Irrigation Districts: A Case from Ningxia, China

by Huan Liu, Xiaotong Liu, Tianpeng Zhang, Xinzhong Du, Ying Zhao, Jiafa Luo, Weiwen Qiu, Shuxia Wu and Hongbin Liu

Water 2025, 17(5), 717; https://doi.org/10.3390/w17050717 - 1 Mar 2025

Viewed by 560

Abstract

Under the influence of water resource conservation policies, the annual water diversion volumes in irrigation areas have been steadily decreasing, leading to substantial changes in regional cropping systems. These shifts have profoundly impacted agricultural reactive nitrogen (Nr) emissions and surface water quality. This study focuses on the Yellow River Irrigation area of Ningxia, China, and employs a life cycle assessment method to quantitatively analyze fluctuations in the nitrogen footprint (NF) and gray water footprint (GWF) across three cropping systems—rice-maize intercropping, rice monoculture, and maize monoculture—during 2021–2023. The results indicate that rice monoculture exhibited significant variability in NF values (197.89–497.57 kg Neq·ha⁻¹), with NO₃⁻ leaching identified as the primary loss pathway (102.33–269.48 kg Neq·ha⁻¹). The GWF analysis revealed that in 2021, the region’s GWF peaked at 23.18 × 10⁴ m³·ha⁻¹, with water pollution predominantly concentrated in Pingluo County (8 × 10⁴ m³·ha⁻¹). LMDI analysis identified nitrogen fertilizer application as the main contributor to variations in NF, while surface water pollution was indirectly influenced by crop yield. Furthermore, gray correlation analysis highlighted a significant coupling relationship between NF and GWF, with nitrogen fertilizer application having the most pronounced impact on GWF. Therefore, in the face of the gradual tightening of water resources in the irrigation areas, the current situation of reduced water diversion should be adopted as early as possible, and initiatives such as the reduction of nitrogen fertilizer application and the adjustment of the planting area of dryland crops should be accelerated to cope with the problem of nitrogen pollution brought about by changes in the cropping system. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Basin Non-Point Source Pollution)

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20 pages, 4323 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Treatment of Acid Mine Water from the Breiner-Băiuț Area, Romania, Using Iron Scrap

by Gheorghe Iepure and Aurica Pop

Water 2025, 17(2), 225; https://doi.org/10.3390/w17020225 - 15 Jan 2025

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 828

Abstract

Acid mine drainage (AMD) forms in mining areas during or after mining operations cease. This is a primary cause of environmental pollution and poses risks to human health and the environment. The hydrographic system from the Maramureș mining industry (especially the Baia Mare area) was heavily contaminated with heavy metals for many years due to mining activity, and after the closing of mining activity, it continues to be polluted due to water leaks from the abandoned galleries, the pipes, and the tailing ponds. The mineralization in the Băiuț area, predominantly represented by pyrite and marcasite associated with other sulfides, such as chalcopyrite, covelline, galena, and sphalerite, together with mine waters contribute to the formation of acid mine drainage. The Breiner-Băiuț mining gallery (copper mine) permanently discharges acidic water into the rivers. The efficiency of iron scrap (low-cost absorbent) for the treatment of mine water from this gallery was investigated. The treatment of mine water with iron shavings aimed to reduce the concentration of toxic metals and pH. Mine water from the Breiner-Baiut mine, Romania, is characterized by high acidity, pH = 2.75, and by the association of many heavy metals, whose concentration exceeds the limit values for the pollutant loading of wastewater discharged into natural receptors: Cu—71.1 mg/L; Zn—42.5 mg/L; and Fe—122.5 mg/L. Iron scrap with different weights (200 g, 400 g, and 600 g) was put in contact with 1.5 L of acid mine water. After 30 days, all three treatment variants showed a reduction in the concentrations of toxic metals. A reduction in Cu concentration was achieved below the permissible limit. In all three samples, the Cu concentrations were 0.005 for Sample 1, 0.001 for Sample 2, and <LOQ for Sample 3. The Zn concentration decreased significantly compared to the original mine water concentration from 42.5 mg/L to 1.221 mg/L, 1.091 mg/L, and 0.932 mg/L. These values are still above the permissible limit (0.5 mg/L). The Fe concentration increased compared to the original untreated water sample due to the dissolution of iron scrap. This research focuses on methods to reduce the toxic metal concentration in mine water, immobilizing (separating) certain toxic metals in sludge, and immobilizing various compounds on the surface of iron shavings in the form of insoluble crystals. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Basin Non-Point Source Pollution)

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15 pages, 3980 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Analysis of the Distribution and Influencing Factors of Antibiotic Partition Coefficients in the Fenhe River Basin

by Jing Zhao, Hailong Yin and Linfang Wang

Water 2024, 16(19), 2793; https://doi.org/10.3390/w16192793 - 30 Sep 2024

Viewed by 1079

Abstract

Affected by point and non-point source pollution, the Fenhe River Basin faces significant environmental challenges. This study aimed to analyze the distribution characteristics and influencing factors of antibiotics in the water and sediments of the Fenhe River Basin. Samples were collected from 23 sites within the basin, and 26 antibiotics from five different classes were detected and analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS). The water–sediment partition coefficient (Kp) was calculated, and spatial analysis was conducted using geographic information system (GIS) technology. The results showed that 25 antibiotics were detected in the water, with concentrations ranging from 130 to 1615 ng/L, and 17 antibiotics were detected in the sediments, with concentrations ranging from 121 to 426 μg/kg. For quinolones (QNs), except for ofloxacin, all others could be calculated with overall high values of Kp ranging from 692 to 16,106 L/kg. The Kp values for QNs were generally higher in the midstream, with considerable point source pollution from industries and non-point source pollution from developed agriculture. The distribution of Kp is closely associated with risk. This study found that the Kp values of the antibiotics were influenced by various factors such as temperature, water flow, and the physicochemical properties of sediments. Correlation analysis revealed significant relationships between Kp and parameters such as river width, water depth, water quality (total nitrogen, total phosphorus, and chemical oxygen demand), and sediment pH and clay content. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Basin Non-Point Source Pollution)

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