水污染指標乃吾人透視污染問題所在的有效工具。目前較廣為人採 用的水污染指標可分為流域污染負荷指標及河川水質指標。其中流域污 染負荷指標包括單位里程污染負荷指標、單位面積污染負荷指標及人口 污染當量指標三種。河川水質指標則包括物理、化學指標及生物水質指 標兩大類。流域污染負荷指標可代表河川物理特性及實際負載污染量之 程度，而河川水質指標則是負載之污染量對河川水質影響的表示方法。因 此，兩者如能交互運用，於污染防治上，當有事半功倍之效。本文除對各種 指標提出說明外，並根據以往資料選擇大漢溪、基隆河、二仁溪、高屏溪 四流域作為範例，針對流域污染負荷指標，物理、化學水質指標（WQI）及 水質積分法實施污染分級（WPI）三類指標作綜合評估，以了解河川污染 程度及污染量負荷之情形。最後並利用「流域污染負荷指標」與「以涵容 能力計算之容許負荷指標值」及「統計污染負荷分佈中值」比較，探討事 業密集之界定，以為先期實施總量管制區域之參考。

　　　　　River pollution indices noramlly can be classified to two types: water quality indices and pollution loading indices. Water quality in- dices imply the pollution effect of river quality and can be described by physical, chemical or biological parameters. While the River Pollution Loading Indices(RPLI), proposed by this study, express the following types of indices: unit length of pollution loading, unit catchment area of pollution loading and equivalent pollution loading. The RPLI ex- presses the river physical characteristics and actual pollution loading situation. While water quality indices represent the result of river pol- lution. Should both types of indices can replace each other, one may describe the pollution in more comprehensive conditions. This study uti- lizes Keelong River, Eir-zen Creek and Kao-ping Creek, as application examples. A series proposed RPLI, Water Quality Index (WQI) and Water Pollution Index (WPI) of those irvers are calculated and com- pared. The river self-purification capability is taken into account while measuring RPLI.A statistical median loading obtained from distribu- tion plot also proposed to imply the strength of pollution loading along the river. This statistical value may utilize to define the medium pollu- tion strength alone each reach. Finally, correlations between one another of those indices are obtained. For a short river with steep slope, various loading along river reach and low self-purification capability situation, one can utilize the RPLI directly imply the river pollutio "source" and "effect" simultaneously.