The importance of environmental pollution source identification has been widely discussed in recent years. The analysis of pollution sources with more scientific and systematic technology has received high attention. To regulate the industrial wastewaters, the establishment of pollution source analysis and tracing methods is essential. In the past, relevant research reports have conducted follow-up investigations on river water quality, sediment and biofacies in different regions. However, these general parameters (i.e., temperature, pH, turbidity, total solids, fecal coliform, dissolved oxygen, biochemical oxygen demand, phosphates, and nitrates) are unable to identify pollution from industrial wastewater. River water influenced by discharge from an industrial district usually has a complex composition including metal elements, water-soluble ions, and volatile organic compounds. Stable and non-degradable metal elements are suitable tracers which can further be used for monitoring pollution discharged by industries. This project attempted to investigate the spatial and temporal distributions of water pollution sources based on the usage of metal elements and their impacts on the river water quality. River water samples were collected from selected sites at the Fulin River, Puzi River, and the other two assigned rivers. Bottom mud samples were collected at the upstream and downstream of river water sampling sites. Source profiles were obtained from sampling and analysis of industrial waste-waters. Source contributions (both industrial effluents and bottom muds) to river water were estimated by statistical and modeling analysis. The works of this project were summarized as follows: (1) Literature review: analytical results of pollutants in river water, water pollution source profile, and application of source apportionment models were reviewed and summarized; (2) Sampling and analysis of industrial waste water: a total of 62 wastewater samples from 43 effluent discharges and 19 manufacture unit discharges were documented; (3) Characterization of industrial waste water: specific markers of industrial waste-water were identified; (4) Sampling and analysis of river water: a total of 158 water samples were collected from the upstream and downstream areas of the potential pollution sources in two phases, followed by analyses of 52 heavy metals and various organic compounds; (5) Sampling and analysis of bottom buds: a total of 36 bottom mud samples were collected at the upstream and downstream of river water sampling sites in two phases; (6) Spatial and temporal distributions of pollutants in river water: temporal variations of pollutants were observed at several hotspots in each river, which were identified as the most polluted hotspot; (7) Source apportionment of river water pollutants: the percent mass accounted for measured mass (%MASS) were calculated during the monitoring periods. Potential sources of pollutants, including heavy metals, and their possible locations were estimated for further investigation; (8) The bottom mud is seen as a pollution source used in the receptor model; (9) A four-year industrial profile database is analyzed and established.

Industrial waste water, River water pollution, Pollution hotspot, Source apportionment