Abstract: Under the current technological conditions,a relatively simple method was used to estimate non-point source pollution(NPS) load in the Taihu Lake Basin.Through field survey and investigation,pollutant producing coefficients of various types of pollution sources,i.e.,farming,rural and urban domestic wastes,livestock and poultry breeding,and aquiculture were obtained.The coefficients were used in combination with remote sensing and GIS data to calculate pollution loads of various types of pollution sources,separately.Results show that domestic activity and livestock and poultry breeding are the main sources of NPS in the region,contributing 34%,58% and 61% to the total pollution load of the region in TN,TP and COD,respectively,while farmland has a relatively small share in NPS.Therefore,it is essential to set livestock and poultry breeding and domestic activity as priority for control of NPS in the Taihu Lake Basin.

Key words: Taihu Lake Basin, large scale, non-point source pollution, pollution load, livestock and poultry breeding, domestic pollutant