There are over 2,300 lakes over 1 km2in China (total area 80 000 km2,accounting for about 0.8% of the total area of the country and with a totalfreshwater storage capacity of 225 billion m3). In addition there areapproximately 87 000 reservoirs with a storage capacity of 413 billion m3.These form the main supply of drinking water as well as water for industrialand agricultural production and aquaculture. Because of a lack ofunderstanding of the frailty of lake ecosystems and poor environmentalawareness, human activities have greatly affected freshwater systems (Xie1995). The most marked impacts have been due to land reclamation,destruction of marginal vegetation, discharge of industrial, domestic andagricultural waste and irrational development and use of freshwaterresources. As a result lakes in dry areas are becoming saline, while othersare highly polluted and undergoing a process of rapid eutrophication. Themajority of the lakes tested to date have been classified as hypertrophic(Dokulil et al. 2000). Thus, although China has 28 of the world's largestlakes (Chang 1987, Chen 1994), the annual storage capacity ranks sixth inthe world and the per capita availability is a quarter of the world's average(Jusi 1989) and predicted to fall by the year 2000 (Shiklomanov 1993). Inthis article, we focus on the problems of one water supply reservoir

J Gwynfryn Jones

K X Tian

X S Zhao

Y Li Huiying

FBA Journal System (Freshwater Biological Association)

28 ZHAO X.S. ET AL. 
A STUDY OF THE PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH 
DALANGDIAN RESERVOIR, CHINA 
ZHAO X.S., LI HUIYING Y, TIAN K. X. AND J. GWYNFRYN JONES 
(Mr Zhao X.S., Prof. Li Huiying Y, Prof. Tian, K.X., Shijiazhuang Institute of 
Agricultural Modernization, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 286 Huaizhong 
Road, Shijiazhuang, Hebei 050021, P.R. China [E-mail: yanlee@heinfo.net]; 
Prof. J. Gwynfryn Jones, Freshwater Biological Association, The Ferry 
House, Ambleside, Cumbria LA22 OLP, U.K. 
[E-mail: Gwynfryn @ btinternet. com]) 
Introduction 
There are over 2,300 lakes over 1 km2 in China (total area 80 000 km2, 
accounting for about 0.8% of the total area of the country and with a total 
freshwater storage capacity of 225 billion m3). In addition there are 
approximately 87 000 reservoirs with a storage capacity of 413 billion m . 
These form the main supply of drinking water as well as water for industrial 
and agricultural production and aquaculture. Because of a lack of 
understanding of the frailty of lake ecosystems and poor environmental 
awareness, human activities have greatly affected freshwater systems (Xie 
1995). The most marked impacts have been due to land reclamation, 
destruction of marginal vegetation, discharge of industrial, domestic and 
agricultural waste and irrational development and use of freshwater 
resources. As a result lakes in dry areas are becoming saline, while others 
are highly polluted and undergoing a process of rapid eutrophication. The 
majority of the lakes tested to date have been classified as hypertrophic 
(Dokulil et al. 2000). Thus, although China has 28 of the world's largest 
lakes (Chang 1987, Chen 1994), the annual storage capacity ranks sixth in 
the world and the per capita availability is a quarter of the world's average 
(Jusi 1989) and predicted to fall by the year 2000 (Shiklomanov 1993). In 
this article, we focus on the problems of one water supply reservoir, 
Dalangdian Reservoir, and consider options for improving its management. 
Site description and methods 
Dalangdian Reservoir is situated at the eastern end of the Hebei Plain 
(longitude 115° 6' - 117° 8', latitude 37° 4' - 38° 9'), approximately 300 km 
south east of Beijing. It is only 6 m above sea level on a plain of an area of 
8,200 km2 that represents 38% of the land area of Hebei Province. This is a 
RESERVOIR MANAGEMENT IN CHINA 29 
warm semi-arid region which receives monsoon air, with a mean 
temperature of 12.3°C (minimum -21 °C, maximum 40°C) and a mean 
annual wind speed of 2.6 m sec-1 (maximum 21 m sec-1) largely from the 
south-east. The reservoir enjoys a frost-free period of 190-200 days, during 
which solar illumination is high (mean annual sunlight 2400 h) and the bulk 
of precipitation occurs (590 mm), concentrated in July and August. The 
weather contributes to a high plant and animal biodiversity around the 
reservoir, which was the first to be constructed to supply drinking and 
industrial water for Cangzhou City and was opened in September 1996. It 
remains the largest reservoir on the plain with a total area of 16.7 km2 and a 
maximum depth of 12.5 m. It is fed by canalized water from the Yellow 
River (the channel is 350 km long, Figs 1 & 2), between December and 
January of each year. This is an extremely short period, given that the 
volume involved is 85 x 106 m3. Thereafter, the water is drawn down for 
supply purposes so that the final depth is less than 1 m. Li & Tian (2000) 
have reported some information about the hydrological regime of the 
reservoir, but this is not available in western journals. 
In this study, we investigated the water quality of the reservoir. Samples 
for analysis of water chemistry and phytoplankton were taken from July 
2000 to October 2001 at monthly intervals, from the shoreline, at a depth of 
1 m. The analytical procedures were those of Zhang & Huang (1991) and 
Xie& Wang (1998). 
The samples were filtered on site and refrigerated for the 12 h journey to 
the laboratory. Chlorophyll a was extracted in 90% hot ethanol (80 °C) using 
an ultrasonic agitation bath. The samples were then refrigerated for 2 h and 
then analyzed spectrophotometrically at 665 nm and 750 nm, the final 
concentration being determined by the following formula 
where: 
Chla
 ethanol is the concentration of chlorophyll a (µg 1-1 ) 
E66S and E750 are the absorption values of the extracted solution at the 
relevant wavelengths 
A665 and A750 are the absorption values of the acidified extract 
Vethanol is the volume of ethanol (ml) 
Vsample is the volume of filtered water (1). 
Algal genera were identified according to Belcher & Swale (1976) and 
Zhang & Hong (1991) and noted on a presence/absence basis on raw 
samples examined microscopically at 400x magnification. Water 
transparency was determined by Secchi disc; conductivity, bicarbonate and 
NaCl concentration were analyzed using Horiba field analytical instruments. 
30 ZHAO X.S. ET AL. 
FIG. 1. Above: Satellite image of Dalangdian Reservoir showing feeder channel (blue) 
and the Yellow River (yellow). The length of the feeder channel is 350 km. Below: 
Inflow point for canalized water to the reservoir. Filling time is only three weeks. 
RESERVOIR MANAGEMENT IN CHINA 31 
FIG. 2. Feeder channel to Dalangdian reservoir in full flow (above) and one month later 
when dry (below), indicating the arid nature of the zone. 
32 ZHAO X.S.ET AL. 
Seasonal changes in Dalangdian Reservoir 
Although the results are based on a presence/absence basis, Table 1 shows a 
general trend of algae being detected in early summer followed by a general 
increase until August. Cyanobacteria, particularly, are in evidence in late 
summer when the water level is low, the population being dominated by 
Microcystis aeruginosa. Ceratium spp. are also a component of the late 
summer community although diatoms and green algae are also present. The 
emphasis given to cyanobacteria is based on discussions between two of us 
(Z.X.S. & J.G.J.) and examination of preserved samples. There is no doubt 
that the phytoplankton population is dominated by Microcystis species in 
late summer. It is during this period that the maximum biomass (as 
determined by Chlorophyll a) of algae is observed (Fig. 3). Chlorophyll a 
concentrations increase from undetectable in the winter months, before 
introduction of water from the Yellow River, to 12 - 14 mg m3 in mid- to late 
summer. Electrical conductivity and pH are relatively stable and Secchi disc 
readings vary, relating sometimes to the algal biomass and, at other times, to 
the amount of sediment brought in from the Yellow River. This is reflected, 
to some extent, in the analyses of suspended solids (0.20 - 0.33 g l-1) with 
the highest readings being recorded as the reservoir is filled. The general 
pattern is, therefore, one of an increasing biomass of algae as the summer 
progresses and the volume of water in the reservoir decreases. 
The chemical characteristics of the reservoir reflect these changes. 
Chemical Oxygen Demand is at its highest (5.2 mg l-1) in late summer 
compared with 3.0 mg l-1 in early spring. Total nitrogen concentrations vary 
to a lesser degree, although the pattern is the same, the concentrations range 
only from 0.8 to 1.04 mg l-1. 
What is of greater concern are the high, and relatively stable, 
concentrations of phosphorus in the reservoir. Total phosphorus 
concentrations in winter are around 0.6 mg l-1, but late summer 
concentrations range from 0.5 to 0.8 mg-1 , Similarly, soluble phosphorus 
concentrations are 0.14 - 0.18 mg l-1 during the winter but rise to 0.29 mg l-1 
during August and September. 
Nitrate concentrations range between 2 and 4 mg l-1, with a possible 
minimum during winter months. Other analyses show that mean levels for 
the following determinands were as follows: Cl- 0.17 - 0.19 g 1-1 HCO3-
0 .13- 0.18 g 1-1, Na+ and K+ 0.15-0.21g 1-1, S 0 4 2 - 0.15 -0 .27 g 1-1, Ca2 -
0.04 - 0.06 g 1-1. Total suspended solids were fairly stable ranging from 0.2 
to 0.33 g 1-1 , the highest values being recorded soon after the reservoir was 
filled. 
RESERVOIR MANAGEMENT IN CHINA 33 
FIG. 3. Physicochemical and biological characteristics of Dalangdian Reservoir: pH 
(solid triangles); Secchi disc depth, cm (solid diamonds); electrical conductivity, 
µS cm-1 (open squares); chlorophyll a, mg m-3 (solid squares). 
34 ZHAO X.S. ET AL. 
By any measure, these results indicate that Dalangdian reservoir is at the 
eutrophic end of the scale. The values for chlorophyll a in this large water 
body equate to those found in the smaller lakes at the upper end of the 
Pearsallian series, e.g. Esthwaite Water and Blelham Tarn (Pearsall 1921; 
Jones 1972). The concentrations of total and soluble phosphorus, on the 
other hand, are almost an order of magnitude higher than those experienced 
in Lake District waters. Even more marked are the concentrations of major 
ions, chloride, bicarbonate, sodium, potassium, sulphate and calcium, which 
are orders of magnitude higher than those experienced in U.K. waters 
(Carrick & Sutcliffe 1982). These values reflect the increasing salinity of 
soils and desertification in northern China (Tian et al. 2000) - a problem that 
has been developing for over 50 years. 
To take a more Chinese perspective we compared our results with those 
published by Dokulil et al. (2000). The ratio of chlorophyll a to total 
phosphorus concentrations indicate that Dalangdian reservoir can be 
classified as eutrophic/hypertrophic at the end of the summer but, even at the 
time of filling, the phosphorus concentrations indicate that it falls within this 
area of classification (Forsberg & Ryding 1980). 
Analysis of the Yellow River water provides some indication of the source 
of enrichment. Total suspended solids are 3 g l-1 and total phosphorus and 
soluble phosphorus account for an astonishing 36 and 1.7 g l-1, respectively, 
when the feeder channel is in full flow. The bulk of this sedimentary material 
is deposited at the western end of the lake, beyond the normal sampling 
point. Fortunately, because of prevailing winds and the shallowness of the 
reservoir, no de-oxygenation occurs, thus reducing the potential for 
phosphorus recycling. There is no doubt that climatic factors, particularly 
winds and associated turbulence (Reynolds 1997), play their part in the 
development and maintenance of the algal population in Dalangdian 
reservoir, but its future as a water supply cannot be assured until the filling 
regime is modified. 
The future for Dalangdian Reservoir 
The general consensus is that, although China is well endowed with lakes, 
the vast majority of these may be classified as being eutrophic or 
hypertrophic (Xie 1995; Dokulil et al. 2000). There is some attempt, 
however, to balance economic growth with the constraints of waste-load 
control (Ni et al. 2001), although significant barriers to the sustainable 
supply of high quality. water in the face of increased population and 
economic development have been identified (Huang & Xia 2001). This 
problem is exacerbated by the historical trend of establishment of human 
RESERVOIR MANAGEMENT IN CHINA 35 
populations close to lakes and the consequent urbanisation and development 
of industry and agriculture. 
There is no such population development around Dalangdian Reservoir 
but the water body is situated in an arid zone. Because of changes in the 
climate, particularly in this region, it has been predicted that the availability 
of water per person will have reduced by approximately 50% by the year 
2000 (Shiklomanov 1993). The chlorophyll and total phosphorus data from 
Dalangdian reservoir indicate that it is eutrophic/hypertrophic. There are 
also concerns about the late summer blooms of cyanobacteria, particularly 
Microcystis aeruginosa. There is no separation of water for industrial and 
drinking purposes and treatment (which is expensive) involves filtration and 
chlorination. Although there is awareness of the need for regional water 
management (Guoh et al. 2001), it is difficult to see a solution to the current 
problem at Dalangdian reservoir. The filling regime, which introduces 85 x 
106 m3 of water over a very short time period in December and January, does 
not permit the opportunity to treat the inflow, but proposals have been made 
for treatment (Li & Tian 2000). If this period of filling could be extended for 
six months then it would be possible to treat the water via a low-cost option 
such as a phytoremediation channel. 
However, events have overtaken any suggested remedial measures for the 
incoming water to the reservoir. Plans are well underway to transfer water 
from the Yangzi River to the Yellow River and to increase water supply to 
the reservoir. This also includes proposals for a threefold increase in the area 
covered by the reservoir. If this is done as one major engineering 
construction it will not solve the current problems, in fact it is likely to make 
them worse. It does, on the other hand, provide an opportunity for water 
quality improvement in one of two ways. 
The first option might be to build three reservoirs. The first (probably the 
present water body) would receive incoming water and then transfer it to the 
lower reservoirs via a series of phytoremediation channels. China is rich in 
plant species that have been used in phytoremediation, e.g. poplar (Populus 
spp.), and there are numerous shrub species that could be used lower in the 
channels. Proposals to use floating macrophytes, particularly introduced 
species, should be avoided, given their invasive tendencies. The water body, 
and any extension of it, is clearly too large (with high local wind speeds) to 
implement any proposals for floating rafts of macrophyte supported by 
expanded polystyrene. Such a remedial measure might be considered for 
smaller water bodies such as fish ponds. 
The second option is the one that we would prefer to see implemented. 
Given the engineering capability in China, it should be possible to divert all 
incoming water into a large wetland that would act as a "stripping zone". 
Water could then be introduced to an enlarged reservoir over a longer time 
36 ZHAO X.S. ET AL. 
period and, more importantly, having had nutrients (and pollutants) removed. 
Given the time scale for water transfer plans, we consider that this option 
should be given serious consideration. 
Acknowledgements 
First, we would like to thank our supporting institutions, me Shijiazhuang 
Institute of Agricultural Modernization, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 
which provided the funding for the research programme (Garden 
construction and experiments on the utilization of treated sewage and the 
demonstration of spray irrigation systems, Project No. 2000904), and the 
Freshwater Biological Association, particularly Roger Sweeting, who has 
provided access to the excellent library resources at The Ferry House. 
We would also like to thank The Hebei Foreign Expert Bureau at 
Shijiazhuang, especially Mr Sun Bo who has done much to provide 
opportunities for the improvement of environmental conditions in the region, 
and all members of the British Executive Service Overseas (BESO) team 
(especially Frank Wright and John Walker and all on the China desk) 
without whom this collaboration would not have been possible. 
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A study of the problems associated with Dalangdian reservoir, China

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A study of the problems associated with Dalangdian reservoir, China

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