Xinfengjiang Reservoir (XFJR) is the largest drinking water source in the southern China, and plays a vital role in supporting the development of China's Pearl River delta. The levels, source identification, potential ecological risks and health risk of eight metal elements including Zn, Pb, Ni, Mn, Cu, Cr, Cd and As in the sediments of the XFJR and Heyuan section of the East River (HYER) were investigated.