Impacts of flow regime characterization on selected water quality parameters in Mthatha River catchment

The effects of altered streamflow types on selected water quality parameters provide useful knowledge and information for prompt water pollution management. This study assesses the impacts of inter- and intra-year seasonal variability in streamflow types on selected water quality parameters. The study uses percentiles, multivariance correlation, and agglomerative hierarchical clustering analysis (AHC) in XLSTAT statistics software to achieve the study aim. Historical dataset for streamflow, rainfall, and selected water quality parameters between 2012 and 2020 for the Mthatha River catchment (MRC), Eastern Cape, South Africa were used to characterize the different seasonal variability impacts with the selected water quality parameters at both the upper and lower reach of the river. The result of the inter and intra-year seasonal variability analyses show that the catchment's flow magnitude varies between 2.0 and 2.7 m3/s in summer while the results of the nonlinear polynomial relationship between the grouped streamflow regime show a coefficient of correlation (R2) values of 0.4264 and 0.5643, suggesting that a mild alteration occurs in the catchment. Decision-makers would find the study useful in controlling the pollutant effluent discharge into the river at different times and maintaining standard effluent requirements as mitigation strategies for sustaining the river ecosystem. HIGHLIGHTS Flow regime characterization impacts on selected water quality variables.; Minimization of hazardous health impacts and aesthetic offensive odour that could pose danger to the lives and health of the community if not properly managed and disposed of.; River water quality assessment in relation to hydrological signatures characteristic in a catchment.; Climate change variability and impact on change streamflow type.;