Study on the concentration, flux, occurrence and retention processes of total phosphorus in Dahuofang reservoir

Dahuofang reservoir (DHFR) is one of the most important drinking water sources in Liaoning province, China. The processes of total phosphorus (TP) concentration, flux and retention rate are very important to the water quality management and drinking water safety for the reservoir. Based on the monitoring data of meteorology, hydrology, water quality and sediment, etc. at the controlled stations of Dahuofang catchment during 1992-2017, The suspended sediment centration(SSC) and TP concentration variation and differences from upper to lower reach of DHFR  during floods in 2010 and 2013 are analyzed and compared respectively. Based  on the  mass balance equation of TP and the related fluxes formula at the different boundaries, the stocking processes in both the overlying water and the active surface sediment layer are solved. The results revealed the TP accumulation variation in the overlying water and the surface sediment layer, together with the controlling mechanism of TP concentration in overlying water under different floods events. Moreover, the results discovered that the combination of flood and dry hydrological rhythms is very important to maintain the dynamic balance of accumulated sediment and TP in the reservoir. The study does not only provide the effective calculation method forthe TP flux, accumulation and retention rate in the large reservoir, but also partly supply a new eyesight on the sediment nutrient control and related continuable management  for large reservoirs in north China.