An innovative approach based on water environmental capacity for non-point source NPS pollution removal rate estimation was discussed by using both univariate and multivariate data analysis.Taking Shenzhen city as the study case a 67% to 74% NPS pollutant load removal rate can lead to meeting the chemical oxygen demand COD pollution control target for most watersheds.In contrast it is hardly to achieve the ammonia nitrogen NH4-N total phosphorus TP and biological oxygen demand BOD5 pollution control target by simply removing NPS pollutants. This highlights that the pollution control strategies should be taken according to different pollutant species and sources in different watersheds rather than one-size-fits-all .
