The surface water quality issue in arid regions is becoming increasingly severe and has become a significant challenge for global environmental protection and water resource management. By continuously collecting surface water samples (2000 similar to 2024) and utilizing hydrochemical and principal component analysis, the changes in the chemical composition of surface water and its water quality pollution characteristics are examined in the Shiyang River Basin. The surface water anion concentrations are characterized by HCO3- > SO42- > Cl-, with average concentrations of 214.11 mg/L, 117.31 mg/L, and 21.61 mg/L, respectively. The cation concentrations follow the trend of Ca2+ > Mg2+ > Na+ > K+, with average concentrations of 56.22 mg/L, 33.75 mg/L, 22.91 mg/L, and 5.33 mg/L, respectively. The dominant water types are Ca-HCO3 and Ca (Mg)-HCO3 in the mountainous area and in the plains, respectively. The weathering of carbonates and silicates is the main controlling factor for the evolution process of surface water. Strong evaporation leads to significant differences in ion concentrations, which is manifested as low in mountainous areas and high in plain areas. In addition, the surface water quality in the plains is worse than that of the mountainous areas. The main pollution indicators include DO, CODMn, COD, BOD5, NH4+-N, TP, TN, and fecal coliforms. The surface water quality of Hongyashan Reservoir and Caiqi has improved significantly, reflecting the impact of the water diversion project. The results of this study are of great significance for improving water resource management and ensuring the sustainability of the ecological environment in arid regions.