The stochastic variations and structures of time series data on water quality were examined by employing the techniques of autocorrelation function, variance spectrum, Fourier series, autoregressive model and ARIMA model. These time series included hourly and daily observation on DO, turbidity, conductivity pH and water temperature. The measurement was made by automatic recording instrument at Noryangjin and Dook-do located in the downstream part of Han River during 1975 and 1976. Hourly water quality time series varied with the dominant 24-hour periodicity, and the 12-hour periodicity was also observed. An important factor affecting 24-hour periodic variation of DO is believed to be photosynthesis by algae. These phenomena might be attributable to periodic discharges of municipal sewage. Noryangjin site showed the more distinct 12-hour periodicity than Dook-do site did, and tidal effect might be responsible for the difference. The water quality, as measured by DO and turbidity, was better in the afternoon compared with the quality in the morning. This change can be explained by the periodic variation of DO, temperature and the amount of municipal wewage discharge. It was also observed that the water temperature at Noryangjin was higher than the temperature at Dook-do. This difference might have been caused by the pollutants that were added to the section between two sites. The correlation coefficients between some of the variables were fairly high. For example, the coefficient was -0.88 between DO and water temperature, 0.75 between turbidity and river flow, and 0.957 between water temperature and air temperature. The lag time of heat transfer from the air to the water was estimated as 24 days. The first order auto-regressive model was appropriate for explaning standardized hourly DO time series. The ARIMA model of (1, 0, 0) type provided relatively satisfactory results for daily DO time series after the removal of significant harmonic value.