Abstract
Environmental tracers are proving to be a unique tool for assessing groundwater sustainability, such as characterization of recharge, identification of pathways and sources of contaminants, and prediction of groundwater change in response to excessive abstraction. This paper helps to better understand the groundwater sustainability in the Quaternary aquifer from the tracer data in the North China Plain. Relatively modern ground waters occur in the piedmont plain with 3H-3He age less than 40 a within a depth 100 m. These ground waters are mainly recharged from the local precipitation and irrigation return. The recharge rate estimated by tracers is in the range of 0.24 to 0.32 m/a. Paleowater which is dated from 10 000 a B.P. to more than 35 000 a B.P. by radiocarbon dating is found in highly-confined portions of Quaternary aquifer systems. This indicates that water recharge took place during the past glacial period. The tracers have suggested a slow natural replenishment rates to the central plain. The aquifer has been overexploited currently. Some strategies that can be implemented to promote a sustainable groundwater supply are needed to implement in future.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References Cited
Chen, W. H., 1999. Ground Water in Hebei. Seismological Press, Beijing. 539 (in Chinese)
Chen, J., Tang, C., Sakura, Y., et al., 2004. Nitrate Pollution from Agriculture in Different Hydrogeological Zones of the Regional Groundwater Flow System in the North China Plain. Hydrogeology Journal, 13: 481–492, doi:10.1007/s10040-004-0321-9
Chen, J., Tang, Y., Shen, Y., et al., 2003. Use of Water Balance Calculation and Tritium to Examine the Dropdown of Groundwater Table in the Piedmont of the North China Plain (NCP). Environmental Geology, 44: 564–571, doi:10.1007/s00254-003-0792-3
Chen, Z., Qi, J., Xu, J., et al., 2003. Paleoclimatic Interpretation of the Past 30 ka from Isotopic Studies of the Deep Confined Aquifer of the North China Plain. Applied Geochemistry, 18(7): 997–1009
Chen, Z., Qi, J., Zhang, Z., et al., 2010. Isotope Hydrogeology Methods Used in Typical North China Plain. Science Press, Beijing. 461 (in Chinese)
Chen, Z., Nie, Z., Zhang, Z., et al., 2005. Isotopes and Sustainability of Ground Water Resources, North China Plain. Ground Water, 43(4): 485–493
Clark, I. D., Fritz, P., 1997. Environmental Isotopes in Hydrogeology. CRC Press, Florida. 352
Duan, Y., Xiao, G., 2003. Sustainable Utilization of Groundwater Resources in Hebei Plain. Hydrogeology and Engineering Geology, 30(1): l–7 (in Chinese with English Abstract)
Foster, S., Garduno, H., Evans, R., et al., 2004. Quaternary Aquifer of the North China Plain-Assessing and Achieving Groundwater ReSource Sustainability. Hydrogeology Journal, 12: 81–93, doi:10.1007/10040-003-0300-6
Gu, W., Pang, Z., Wang, Q., et al., 2011. Isotope Hydrology. Science Press, Beijing. 1113 (in Chinese)
Jiao, P., 1996. 15N/14N Ratios of Ground Water Nitrate in Shijiazhuang City. Bulletion of the Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, 17(6): 181–188 (in Chinese with English Abstract)
Kendall, C., 1998. Tracing Nitrogen Sources and Cycling in Catchments. In: Kendall, C., McDonnell, J., eds., Isotope Tracers in Catchment Hydrology. Elsevier, Oxford. 519–576
Kreuzer, A. M., Von Rohden, C., Friedrich, R., et al., 2009. A Record of Temperature and Monsoon Intensity over the Past 40 kyr from Groundwater in the North China Plain, Chemical Geology, 259(3–4): 168–180
Liu, C., Wang, P., Zhou, L., 1997. The Environment Significance of H, O, C and Cl Isotopic Composition in Groundwater of Hebei Plain. Earth Science Frontiers (China University of Geosciences, Beijing), 4(1–2): 267–274 (in Chinese with English Abstract)
Liu, J., Chen, Z., 2009. Using Stable Isotope to Trace the Sources of Nitrate in Groundwater in Shijiazhuang. Environmental Sciences, 30(6): 1602–1607 (in Chinese with English Abstract)
Margat, J., Foster, S., Droubi, A., 2006. Concept and Importance of Non-Renewable Resources. In: Foster, S., Loucks, D. P., eds., Non-Renewable Groundwater Resources, a Guide Book on Socially-Sustainable Management for Water-Policy Makers. United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Paris. 1: 13–24
Mihelcic, J., 1999. Fundamentals of Environmental Engineering. Wiley, New York. 196–198
Shi, J., Guo, J., Sun, Y., et al., 2006. Spatial Analysis of the Relation between Deep Groundwater Exploitation and Land Subsidence in Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei-Dezhou Plain Area. Geological Review, 52(6): 804–809 (in Chinese with English Abstract)
Tang, C., Chen, J., Shindo, S., et al., 2004. Assessment of Groundwater Contamination by Nitrates Associated with Wastewater Irrigation: A Case Study in Shijiazhuang Region, China. Hydrological Processes, 18(12): 2303–2312, doi:0.1002/hyp.5531
Von Rohden, C., Kreuzer, A., Chen, Z., et al., 2010. Characterizing the Recharge Regime of the Strongly Exploited Aquifers of the North China Plain by Environmental Tracers. Water Resources Research, 46(5): 1–14, doi:10.1029/2008WR007660
Zhang, G., Wang, J., 2002. Mechanism of Confined Groundwater Recharge and Release in the Middle-East Plain of Haihe River Basin. Hydrology, 22(3): 5–9 (in Chinese with English Abstract)
Zhang, H., 2001. The Problem of Freshwater Resources of China. Shanghai Geology, 3: 1–9 (in Chinese)
Zhang, R., 2003. Characteristics of Groundwater Resources and Their Reasonable Development. Hydrogeology and Engineering Geology, 6: l–5 (in Chinese with English Abstract)
Zhang, W., 2003. The Functions of Rational Exploitation and Utilization of Ground Water Resources in South-to-North Water Transfer Project. South-to-North Water Transfers and Water Science & Technology, 1(4): 1–7 (in Chinese with English Abstract)
Zhang, Z., Fei, Y., Chen Z., et al., 2009. Assessment of Groundwater Resources in the North China Plain. Geological Publishing House, Beijing. 471
Zhang, Z., Liu, F., Zhang, H., et al., 1990. Study of Soil Water Movement and Recharge Rate of Rainfall Infiltration in Aeration Zone of Loess by Measuring Natural Tritium. Hydrogeology and Engineering Geology, 3: 5–7 (in Chinese with English Abstract)
Zhang, Z., Zhang, H., Sun, J., et al., 1987. Environmental Isotope Study Related to Ground Water Age, Flow System and Saline Water Origin in Quaternary Aquifer of Hebei Plain. Hydrogeology and Engineering Geology, 4: 1–6 (in Chinese with English Abstract)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Su, A., Chen, Z., Liu, J. et al. Sustainability of intensively exploited aquifer systems in the North China Plain: Insights from multiple environmental tracers. J. Earth Sci. 25, 605–611 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12583-014-0441-7
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12583-014-0441-7