high number of point sources

[Camilla Negri]

Dear all,

I am unclear how/ why when I create a new watershed I automatically create a very high number of points which are marked as point sources. These are at the head of streams or where two streams converge (eg see pictures). 

These are not real point sources at least from the water quality point of view, so what is the best way to approach them? Do they need to be there? Can they be deleted from the Editor/ the QSWAT project, or should I just go back to the delineation and avoid their creation altogether?

1. Primary Issue Location

• Component: QSWAT+/ Editor
• Area of impact: inputs/ outputs

2. Software Versions

• GIS Interface: * SWAT+ Editor: * SWAT+ Revision: rev 62 - but this is generic, older versions too

3. Project Characteristics

• Watershed Details: Lake Simcoe Watershed, ON, Canada
• Modeling Aim: Water balance + water quality

4. Description of Issue

• The Problem: no errors produced, just unclear what these points are and whether it's normal to get so many, I do no recall seeing these in the tutorials hence the confusion on my part
• Step to Reproduce: NA

Many thanks and best wishes,

Camilla 

[Chris George]

This is a feature added for user convenience: a point source is
automatically added to every channel. They have no effect on the model
unless data is provided for them in the SWAT+ editor. Then if you wish
to add an actual point source to your model you only have to identify
the nearest channel and provide data for its point source.

Chris

On 8/10/2026 7:17 PM, 'Camilla Negri' via QSWAT+ wrote:
> Dear all, I am unclear how/ why when I create a new watershed I
> automatically create a very high number of points which are marked as
> point sources. These are at the head of streams or where two streams
> converge (eg see pictures).   These are

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> Dear all,
>
> I am unclear how/ why when I create a new watershed I automatically
> create a very high number of points which are marked as point sources.
> These are at the head of streams or where two streams converge (eg see
> pictures).
>
> These are not real point sources at least from the water quality point
> of view, so what is the best way to approach them? Do they need to be
> there? Can they be deleted from the Editor/ the QSWAT project, or should
> I just go back to the delineation and avoid their creation altogether?
>

> *1. Primary Issue Location*
>
> * *Component:* QSWAT+/ Editor
> * *Area of impact:* inputs/ outputs
>
> *2. Software Versions*
>
> * *GIS Interface:* * *SWAT+ Editor:* * *SWAT+ Revision: *rev 62 - but

> this is generic, older versions too
>

> *3. Project Characteristics*
>
> * *Watershed Details:* Lake Simcoe Watershed, ON, Canada
> * *Modeling Aim:* Water balance + water quality
>
> *4. Description of Issue*
>
> * *The Problem:* no errors produced, just unclear what these points

> are and whether it's normal to get so many, I do no recall seeing
> these in the tutorials hence the confusion on my part

> * *Step to Reproduce:* NA

>
> Many thanks and best wishes,
> Camilla

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> points.png
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