Eutrophication has become one of the most serious threats to aquatic ecosystems in the world, especially to water quality of lakes as drinking water sources, and further posed negative effects on the health of local residents. With the combined drivers of climate change and human activities, eutrophication has expanded from shallow lakes in temperature zone to water lakes in cold areas (named as cold-water lakes). Trends, characteristics and research advances in eutrophication of cold-water lakes throughout the world were summarized. Besides, influences of climate change and human activities, including agricultural activities, livestock farming and misguided policies, on eutrophication processes of cold-water were also analyzed. In the future research, eutrophication mechanism of cold-water lakes should be further explored and ecological restoration is desiderated to ensure the ecosystem health of the cold-water lakes and improve the quality of drinking water.