Performance of water transfer in response to water environment issues in Wuxi, China

The continuous development of industrialization and urbanization resulted in increased pollution in plain river network areas. In response to water environment issues, water transfer can be a countermeasure to improve water environment. There are five basic elements to be determined of water transfer, i.e., water sources, water transfer patterns, regulating rules, water transfer routes, and flow rate of water transfer. In Wuxi City, needs for water transfer were analyzed from the five aspects above. The former three elements were determined based on the results of water transfer measurements. The water source was Yangtze River, the pattern was continuous water transfer, and regulating rules were water transferred by pumping stations and drained by sluices and pumping stations. Besides, a water quantity and quality coupling model was constructed to analyze routes and flow rate of water transfer. Different flow rate of water transfer, from 80 to 130 m3/s, were analyzed. According to the characteristics of regional river system and the requirements of flood control, the Baiqugang River was taken as the clean water route, and the urban flood control enclosure was taken as the clean water transfer station. In the end, it was concluded that the optimal flow rate is 110 m3/s based on the results of different schemes. It indicates that a proper scheme of water transfer can better improve the water environment in plain river network areas.