Effects of upstream pollution patterns on the water quality of Paldang Lake

Paldang Lake is a reservoir that formed behind Paldang Dam on the Han River, and it is the largest water resource in South Korea. Thus, managing its water quality is important to secure a supply of clean drinking water. However, the amount of nonbiodegradable organic matter in Paldang Lake has been increasing. In this study, the objective was to quantitatively and qualitatively evaluate the levels of nonbiodegradable organic matter at different points along two rivers flowing into the lake. Multiple water quality indicators were measured including the total organic carbon (TOC), dissolved organic carbon (DOC), and refractory TOC and refractory DOC. The results were used to clarify how pollution patterns in the two watersheds have affected the water quality of Paldang Lake, and they are expected to help guide efforts to protect and manage this resource.