Search

Microbial Water Quality in Urban Watersheds: Spatiotemporal Assessment, Urban Planning Implications, and Urban Management Strategies for Sustainable Water Management in Qingdao, China

Author(s)

Simiao Cai1, Xiangrong Cai2, Yingjun Xu2, Min Pan3, Jiajin Tan3,*

Affiliation(s)

1Qingdao No. 2 Middle School, Qingdao, Shandong, China 2Qingdao Hi-Tech Industrial Park Hope Bio-Technology Co., Ltd., Qingdao, Shandong, China 3College of Forestry and Grassland, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China *Corresponding Author.

Abstract

This study investigated microbial pollution in Qingdao’s urban surface waters. Results revealed clear seasonal peaks in summer and higher bacterial levels in non-flowing water bodies. Urban planning should prioritize enhancing water connectivity to prevent pollutant accumulation. Elevated coliforms in residential rivers indicated impacts from domestic sewage, underscoring the necessity for improved sewage infrastructure in urban management. The reservoir in agricultural areas showed pollution spikes after rainfall, highlighting the need for integrated planning that coordinates land use with water quality protection. These findings emphasize that effective urban water management must incorporate targeted pollution control and regular microbial monitoring.

Keywords

Surface Water; Bacterial Level; Water Quality Protection; Microbial Monitoring

References

[1]Wang X.Integrating water-quality management and land-use planning in a watershed context. Journal of Environmental Management, 2001, 61(1):25-36. [2] Meyer J L, Paul M J, Taulbee W K.Stream ecosystem function in urbanizing landscapes. Journal of the North American Benthological Society, 2005, 24(3):602-612. [3] Xu S, Wang K, Wang F.Monitoring changes and multi-scenario simulations of land use and ecosystem service values in coastal cities: A case study of Qingdao, China. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 2025, 197(2). [4] Walsh C J, Roy A H, Feminella J W,et al.The urban stream syndrome: current knowledge and the search for a cure. Journal of the North American Benthological Society, 2005, 24(3):706-723. [5] Wang Z, Lin K, Liu X.Distribution and pollution risk assessment of heavy metals in the surface sediment of the intertidal zones of the Yellow River Estuary, China. Marine pollution bulletin, 2022. [6] Paerl H W, Huisman J.Climate change: a catalyst for global expansion of harmful cyanobacterial blooms.. Environmental Microbiology Reports, 2010, 1(1). [7]Xia S Y,Lv W,Yang J Y,Yu C. Analysis of the spatiotemporal distribution characteristics and influencing factors of river water quality in suzhou. Environmental Science, 1-14. [8] Wen L Z, Jia Q Y. Current situation and countermeasures of water drinking source protection in Qingdao. Shandong Water Conservancy, 2020(7):2. [9] Edberg S C, Rice E W, Karlin R J, et al. Escherichia coli: the best biological drinking water indicator for public health protection. Journal of Applied Microbiology, 2000, 88(S1): 106S-116S. [10] Scott T M, Rose J B, Jenkins T M, et al. Microbial source tracking: current methodology and future directions. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 2002, 68(12): 5796-5803. [11]Wang Y Y, Ge L Y, Bai G H, Fan Y C, Qin Y H, Liu S Y. Microbial contamination status of drinking water quality in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region from 2018 to 2021. Journal of Environment and Health, 2025, 42(01):24-28. [12] Payment P, Locas A.Pathogens in Water: Value and Limits of Correlation with Microbial Indicators. Ground Water, 2010, 49(1):4-11. [13] Mallin M A, Williams K E, Esham E C, et al. Effect of human development on bacteriological water quality in coastal watersheds. Ecological Applications, 2000, 10(4): 1047-1056. [14] Tiefenthaler L L, Stein E D, Schiff K C. Watershed and land use-based sources of trace metals in urban storm water. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 2008, 27(2): 277-287. [15] Odonkor S T, Ampofo J K. Escherichia coli as an indicator of bacteriological quality of water: an overview. Microbiology Research, 2013, 4(1): e2. [16] Lin C, Gong J, Zhou Y,et al.Spatiotemporal distribution, source apportionment, and ecological risk of corticosteroids in the urbanized river system of Guangzhou, China. The Science of the Total Environment, 2020, 706(Mar.1):135693.1-135693.11. [17] Lee J H, Bang K W. Characterization of urban stormwater runoff. Water Research, 2000, 34(6): 1772-1780. [18] Lee J H, Bang K W, Ketchum L H,et al.First flush analysis of urban storm runoff. Science of the Total Environment, 2002, 293(1-3):163-175. [19] Stoeckel D M, Harwood V J. Performance, design, and analysis in microbial source tracking studies. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 2007, 73(8): 2405-2415.