Application and comparison of four assessment methods for water quality of Sancha Lake in Central Sichuan Province, China

Abstract In order to analyze and compare the characteristics and applicability of different water quality evaluation methods applied to lake water quality evaluation, four monitoring sections were set up in Sancha Lake in 2019, 2020, and 2021, and 20 water quality parameters were selected. The single factor index method, the comprehensive pollution index method, the Nemerow pollution index method, and the improved Nemerow pollution index method were used to comprehensively evaluate water quality. The research results showed that the single factor index evaluation method is simple to operate and can quickly determine the water quality category by identifying the worst single water quality indicator. The comprehensive pollution index method and the Nemerow pollution index method determine the degree of water pollution based on the numerical values representing the overall pollution level of the representative water body. The evaluation results showed that except for the evaluation results of the single factor evaluation method with categories II and III, the results of other evaluation methods were all category I, indicating that the water quality was good.