Applications and exploration of satellite remote sensing in the supervision of drinking water sources in the Pearl River basin
FENG Youbin
HE Yingqing
Abstract：Supervision of drinking water sources is a key component of water security and an essential responsibility of water administrative departments.In recent years,satellite remote sensing has become an important technical tool for supporting water source supervision due to its advantages of wide-area coverage and high-altitude observation.This paper reviews related research progress,analyzes the functional role of water administrative departments and the outcomes achieved in recent years based on the practice of remote sensing-based supervision of drinking water sources involving aquatic water quality monitoring and terrestrial risk source identification in the Pearl River basin.A classification framework of water security risk sources based on regulatory needs is proposed.In response to challenges such as limited satellite data integration,weak coordination between remote sensing and ground monitoring,and incomplete regulatory coverage,this study proposes the following optimization measures:promoting the application of high-frequency satellite constellations and drones to enhance the spatiotemporal coverage of remote sensing;refining the coordination between remote sensing technologies and field investigations to support the formation of a closed-loop supervision system;and deepening the scope of drinking water source supervision by emphasizing both protected areas and small basins,as well as the integrated regulation of water quantity and quality.
Keywords：drinking water sourceremote sensing supervisionrisk sourcesPearl River basin
Publication Date：2025-08-12
Online Publishing Date：2025-08-22(First online date of this platform, not the publication date of the document)
Pages：6( 67-72 )