Work

Groundwater quality changes induced by overexploitation in the Qiantao Basin near the Yellow River

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: ABSTRACT Groundwater pumping near large rivers is commonly used to prevent agricultural water shortages, yet the impacts of high extraction rates on groundwater systems require clarification. In Dalat County along the Yellow River, intensive extraction has reshaped groundwater flow patterns, forming a cone of depression that reversed groundwater discharge to recharge from the river. The values of groundwater δ18O, EC and Cl within the cone are lower than in the Yellow River irrigation zones. Paradoxically, groundwater in the cone exhibits an older groundwater age, confirming the shift of groundwater flow patterns. This stems from shallow, salinized aquifers in river-irrigated areas, where increased leaching after river recharge elevated EC/Cl despite younger groundwater ages. The cone's depleted δ18O signals suggest mountain-sourced recharge from southern highlands. These findings elucidate recharge dynamics critical for sustainable water management in changing environments.

Source: Water Policy

DOI: 10.2166/wp.2025.047

Authors: Yan Yang, Yunling Li, Qiubo Song, Fei Chen, Peiwei Xiao, Baohong Lu

Institutions: Hohai University, Ministry of Water Resources of the People's Republic of China

Language: English

Topic: Groundwater and Isotope Geochemistry

Subfield: Geochemistry and Petrology

Field: Earth and Planetary Sciences

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Clean water and sanitation

Open Access status: diamond

Funder: National Natural Science Foundation of China