Selection of optimal river water quality improvement programs using QUAL2K: A case study of Taihu Lake Basin, China

► A water quality model was used to assess river water quality improvement programs. ► The QUAL2K model was applied to simulate three water treatment technologies. ► Experimentally-derived degradation coefficients were used in simulations. ► Water quality improvement programs were thus comprehensively evaluated. ► This allowed selection of the optimal river water quality improvement program.