A dataset of water environment characteristics of typical small watersheds in the Guizhou karst region (2016–2022)

<p indent="0mm">Based on the long-term fixed-site monitoring of the physicochemical characteristics of groundwater and surface water in the Chenqi Basin by Puding Karst Ecosystem Research Station ( Puding Station), a dataset water environmental characteristics from 2016 to 2022 has been compiled. This dataset includes five monitoring sites within the Chenqi Basin: three underground wells (Wells No. 1, 3, and 5) in the central part of the small watershed, as well as the surface water outlets and groundwater outlets. Sampling was conducted quarterly in 2016 and monthly in all other years, with all sample collections consistently performed during the middle ten days of each month. The data includes 19 physicochemical indicators that reflect the water environment: water temperature, pH, calcium ions, magnesium ions, potassium ions, sodium ions, carbonate ions, bicarbonate ions, chloride, sulfate ions, phosphate ions, nitrate ions, mineralization, chemical oxygen demand, dissolved oxygen, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, conductivity, and dissolved organic carbon. The setup of monitoring points, water sampling process, laboratory analysis, and data analysis all follow the protocols and standards required by the Chinese Ecosystem Research Network (CERN) and the National Science and Technology Infrastructure, ensuring high and comparable data quality consistent with other CERN field stations. These data provide critical support for hydrological and geochemical studies of watersheds, elucidating natural dynamic changes and the impacts of anthropogenic activities. They facilitate comprehensive analyses of water quality, enable the tracing of pollution sources, advance the study of material transport, aid in the simulation of water resource trends, and monitor ecological health. Consequently, these datasets serve as a robust scientific foundation for the management and protection of watersheds.