The scientists studied water flowing from the Yangtze River into Lake Taihu via Wangyu River to see how it affects the lake's environment. They found that the diverted water, starting in 2007, had lower amounts of phosphorus and nitrogen than local sources. This means that the Yangtze River water was cleaner, and the diversion project helped improve Lake Taihu's water quality. The research shows that the project has positively impacted the lake's water environment by increasing its capacity and reducing pollution.