Abstract: Scientific understanding and reasonable calculation of water's assimilative capacity is of crucial significance to the pollution reduction and the red-line management of water functional area. We summarized the existing connotations, calculation methods, principle selections, design conditions and parameter determining of water's assimilative capacity based on systematic investigation of a large number of documents, reports, books, specifications and articles related to the calculation theory of assimilative capacity. We also discussed the advantages and shortcomings as well as their applicability. In addition, we put forward the development directions: refining and strengthening the rationality analysis and verification of the calculation of assimilative capacity; promoting the coupling research of hydrology, hydrodynamics, water quality and pollutant carrying capacity. The research offer reference for the scientific, reasonable and accurate calculation of assimilative capacity of water body.

Key words: water pollution prevention, water pollution capacity, water functional zone, calculation method, calculation principle