The tributaries of Daechung Lake play an important role in controlling eutrophication in the lake, which is used for agricultural purposes and as potable water. However, water quality properties were not extensively studied in the tributaries of Daechung Lake. The objectives of this study are to investigate spatial and temporal properties of water quality and to characterize streams which could threaten water quality of Daechung Lake. For this study, water samples were weekly or monthly collected from February 2014 to October 2014 in 9 streams. Water quality parameters analyzed in this study include biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), total organic carbon (TOC), total nitrogen and phosphorus (TN and TP), suspended solids (SS), and chlorophyll a. Based on temporal distribution and principal component analysis, BOD, COD, TOC, SS, and TP were controlled by not only river discharge that increased during summer due to heavy rain fall, but also due to anthropogenic input (e.g., bridge construction and/or agricultural activity). Dilution is also one of the factors explaining TN and conductivity, both of which decreased with increased discharge. Generally, concentrations of contaminants (BOD, COD, TOC, TN and TP) in the tributaries were higher than those of Daechung Lake. However, pollution load indicated that only the main channel of Geum River and Sook Stream may largely influence lake waters, attributed mostly to their large volumes. This implies that the main channel and Sook Stream are the major influences on the water quality of Daechung Lake.