The South-to-North Water Diversion Project’s Eastern Route (SNWDPC-ER) has drawn a lot of attention as one of China’s most significant water diversion projects. This study calculated the water quality index (WQI) to analyze the spatial and temporal characteristics of water quality in the study area as well as the effects of water diversion, and developed the minimum water quality index (WQI_min) model based on stepwise multiple linear regression, using data from 56 monitoring stations along the delivery canal of the SNWDPC-ER (the SNWDPC-delivery ER’s canal) from 2014 to 2018. Here are the findings: (1) The water quality state was rated as “good” and the annual average value of WQI climbed year over year along with improvements in water quality. (2) There was a clear difference in water quality across time and space, with autumn having better water quality than other seasons and the south having better water quality than the north. (3) Water quality is impacted by water diversion; throughout the era of diversion, water quality was steadier. (4) The weighted WQI_min model, which is a quick and inexpensive way to assess water quality, can be used to evaluate the water quality in the SNWDPC-delivery ER’s canal. The model’s parameters are DO, NH₃-N, BOD₅, and TN.

The Lake Chaohu Basin (LCB) represents a focal point for water pollution control in China, and its water quality status has drawn substantial attention. We conducted a holistic assessment of water quality using the water quality index (WQI) in the LCB based on monthly measurements of 13 water quality parameters at 16 stations during 2016–2020. We observed a general upward trend in the annual average WQI for Lake Chaohu, suggesting an improvement in water quality. A notable shift in the spatial pattern of water quality was observed. The annual average WQI for inflowing rivers also exhibited an overall upward trend. The WQIs of the lake and inflowing rivers, particularly in the western lake, exhibited a significant positive correlation, suggesting that the water quality of the inflowing rivers is a crucial factor influencing the water quality of Lake Chaohu. The crucial water quality parameters influencing the WQI of the LCB included ammonia nitrogen, total phosphorus, total nitrogen, dissolved oxygen, and permanganate index, which were used to construct a minimum WQI (WQI_min). The WQI_min showed outstanding performance in the LCB. The findings of this study could deepen the understanding of water quality patterns and the response of lake water quality to inflowing river water quality within lake-type basins.