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Influences of heterogeneity on three-dimensional groundwater flow simulation and wellhead protection area delineation in karst groundwater system, Taiyuan City, Northern China

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Abstract

Karstic limestone formation in Lancun spring area is one of the most important drinking water resources for Taiyuan City in Shanxi Province. The mapping of drinking water-protected areas is an effective way to protect drinking water sources. In this study, Lancun spring area in Taiyuan City was considered as a case study. Considering geological deposition and hydrogeological characteristics of this area, the stochastic idea was introduced to structural model establishment to determine the heterogeneity of karst groundwater system and clarify medium parameters. To analyze the influence of heterogeneity on groundwater flow simulation and wellhead-protected area delineation, homogeneous and stochastic hydrogeological parameter models were established and coupled with groundwater flow simulation models. Particle tracer analysis could be performed to determine capture zone. Results showed that stochastic methods could be used to generate a series of possible flow head field distributions and delineate a series of capture zones compared with homogeneous methods; thus, probability distribution was observed instead of a deterministic area. This result could provide a more scientific basis for the design and assessment of protective measures for wellhead areas in karst groundwater systems.

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Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank the anonymous reviewers. Many thanks should be given to the staffs in Taiyuan Water Resources Bureau and workers in Groundwater resources and environment group, IGGCAS, for their help in the field. This research was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 40672170) and Grant 200709055 for public interest from the Ministry of Environment Protection, China.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Computational Geodynamics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China

    Xiaojuan Qiao

  2. College of Earth Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China

    Xiaojuan Qiao

  3. Key Laboratory of Engineering Geomechanics, Institute of Geology and Geophysics, China Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100029, China

    Guomin Li

  4. China University of Petroleum, Beijing, 102249, China

    Yupeng Li

  5. Beijing Institute of Hydrogeology and Engineering Geology, Beijing, 100195, China

    Kai Liu

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  1. Xiaojuan Qiao
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  2. Guomin Li
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  3. Yupeng Li
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  4. Kai Liu
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Correspondence to Xiaojuan Qiao.

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Qiao, X., Li, G., Li, Y. et al. Influences of heterogeneity on three-dimensional groundwater flow simulation and wellhead protection area delineation in karst groundwater system, Taiyuan City, Northern China. Environ Earth Sci 73, 6705–6717 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-015-4031-5

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