Groundwater quality variability with inter-basin water transfer and overexploitation control in an agriculture-dominant subregion of North China Plain
Inter-basin water transfer (IBWT) and groundwater exploitation reduction (GWER) are changing the surface and subsurface hydrological processes in the North China Plain (NCP), but groundwater quality variability with the impacts of IBWT and GWER remains unclear. To address this issue, a total of 209...
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| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2025-08-01
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| Series: | Agricultural Water Management |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378377425003749 |
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| author | Fei Liu Congli Liu Pinna Zhen Xiaoshuai Guo Shou Wang |
| author_facet | Fei Liu Congli Liu Pinna Zhen Xiaoshuai Guo Shou Wang |
| author_sort | Fei Liu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Inter-basin water transfer (IBWT) and groundwater exploitation reduction (GWER) are changing the surface and subsurface hydrological processes in the North China Plain (NCP), but groundwater quality variability with the impacts of IBWT and GWER remains unclear. To address this issue, a total of 209 groundwater samples and 26 surface water samples were collected from a typical subregion (Handan Eastern Plain) of the NCP, and major ions & trace elements were measured during three sampling campaigns (May, September, December 2023). Results showed that deep groundwater (DGW) was more suitable for drinking than shallow groundwater (SGW) in this region. Poor quality of SGW in urban areas and farmlands may result from agricultural practices and sewage from domestic and industrial sectors. Salinity control measures should be fully considered to avoid high salinity hazards, in the case of utilizing groundwater (especially SGW) to irrigate the crops. The fluctuations of water levels (below 2 m) were mostly concomitant with reduced salinity of SGW. The salts likely accumulated in the SGW and DGW once the water level increased over 2 m. Additionally, the GWER and the Water Diversion from the Yellow River to the Baiyangdian Lake in Hebei Province jointly contributed to the desalinization of shallow groundwater, while the GWER and the South-to-North Water Diversion Project triggered the salinization of deep groundwater. This study is a step forward in the knowledge of groundwater quality variability impacted by IBWT and GWER, with important implications for optimized regulation and management of multiple water sources in similar basins worldwide. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-26cbcf63594d434891be6da59efdf6f2 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1873-2283 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Agricultural Water Management |
| spelling | doaj-art-26cbcf63594d434891be6da59efdf6f22025-08-20T02:46:09ZengElsevierAgricultural Water Management1873-22832025-08-0131710966010.1016/j.agwat.2025.109660Groundwater quality variability with inter-basin water transfer and overexploitation control in an agriculture-dominant subregion of North China PlainFei Liu0Congli Liu1Pinna Zhen2Xiaoshuai Guo3Shou Wang4School of Water Conservancy and Hydropower, Hebei University of Engineering, Handan 056038, China; Hebei Key Laboratory of Intelligent Water Conservancy, Handan 056038, China; Correspondence to: School of Water Conservancy and Hydropower, Hebei University of Engineering, 19 Taiji Road, Handan, Hebei 056038, China.School of Water Conservancy and Hydropower, Hebei University of Engineering, Handan 056038, China; Hebei Key Laboratory of Intelligent Water Conservancy, Handan 056038, ChinaSchool of Water Conservancy and Hydropower, Hebei University of Engineering, Handan 056038, China; Hebei Key Laboratory of Intelligent Water Conservancy, Handan 056038, ChinaSchool of Water Conservancy and Hydropower, Hebei University of Engineering, Handan 056038, China; Hebei Key Laboratory of Intelligent Water Conservancy, Handan 056038, ChinaKey Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resources Development of Shallow Lakes of Ministry of Education, Hohai University, Nanjing 210024, China; College of Agricultural Science and Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing 211100, ChinaInter-basin water transfer (IBWT) and groundwater exploitation reduction (GWER) are changing the surface and subsurface hydrological processes in the North China Plain (NCP), but groundwater quality variability with the impacts of IBWT and GWER remains unclear. To address this issue, a total of 209 groundwater samples and 26 surface water samples were collected from a typical subregion (Handan Eastern Plain) of the NCP, and major ions & trace elements were measured during three sampling campaigns (May, September, December 2023). Results showed that deep groundwater (DGW) was more suitable for drinking than shallow groundwater (SGW) in this region. Poor quality of SGW in urban areas and farmlands may result from agricultural practices and sewage from domestic and industrial sectors. Salinity control measures should be fully considered to avoid high salinity hazards, in the case of utilizing groundwater (especially SGW) to irrigate the crops. The fluctuations of water levels (below 2 m) were mostly concomitant with reduced salinity of SGW. The salts likely accumulated in the SGW and DGW once the water level increased over 2 m. Additionally, the GWER and the Water Diversion from the Yellow River to the Baiyangdian Lake in Hebei Province jointly contributed to the desalinization of shallow groundwater, while the GWER and the South-to-North Water Diversion Project triggered the salinization of deep groundwater. This study is a step forward in the knowledge of groundwater quality variability impacted by IBWT and GWER, with important implications for optimized regulation and management of multiple water sources in similar basins worldwide.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378377425003749Shallow groundwater desalinizationDeep groundwater salinizationWater quality indexSouth-to-North Water Diversion ProjectYellow River-to-Baiyangdian Lake Water DiversionGroundwater exploitation reduction |
| spellingShingle | Fei Liu Congli Liu Pinna Zhen Xiaoshuai Guo Shou Wang Groundwater quality variability with inter-basin water transfer and overexploitation control in an agriculture-dominant subregion of North China Plain Agricultural Water Management Shallow groundwater desalinization Deep groundwater salinization Water quality index South-to-North Water Diversion Project Yellow River-to-Baiyangdian Lake Water Diversion Groundwater exploitation reduction |
| title | Groundwater quality variability with inter-basin water transfer and overexploitation control in an agriculture-dominant subregion of North China Plain |
| title_full | Groundwater quality variability with inter-basin water transfer and overexploitation control in an agriculture-dominant subregion of North China Plain |
| title_fullStr | Groundwater quality variability with inter-basin water transfer and overexploitation control in an agriculture-dominant subregion of North China Plain |
| title_full_unstemmed | Groundwater quality variability with inter-basin water transfer and overexploitation control in an agriculture-dominant subregion of North China Plain |
| title_short | Groundwater quality variability with inter-basin water transfer and overexploitation control in an agriculture-dominant subregion of North China Plain |
| title_sort | groundwater quality variability with inter basin water transfer and overexploitation control in an agriculture dominant subregion of north china plain |
| topic | Shallow groundwater desalinization Deep groundwater salinization Water quality index South-to-North Water Diversion Project Yellow River-to-Baiyangdian Lake Water Diversion Groundwater exploitation reduction |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378377425003749 |
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