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Spatiotemporal variation of groundwater quality in an arid area experiencing long-term paper wastewater irrigation, northwest China

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Abstract

Groundwater is crucial for multiple uses over the world, especially in arid and semiarid regions. However, human activities significantly decreased groundwater quality. In this study, the spatiotemporal variation of groundwater quality was evaluated in an arid area where long-term paper wastewater irrigation has been implemented. For this study, seven wells were regularly monitored for physicochemical parameters over a period of 1 year. Statistical and graphical approaches were applied to interpret the spatiotemporal variation of groundwater quality parameters in the wastewater irrigation zone. Correlation analysis was also carried out to reveal the sources of some major ions. The results indicate that the groundwater type in the study area is dominated by the Cl–Na, followed by the HCO3–Na, the HCO3–Ca·Mg, and the SO4·Cl–Ca·Mg types. Groundwater in the area is significantly contaminated locally with fluoride, nitrite and ammonia, and the chemical oxygen demand levels were increased in some groundwater monitoring wells. Most contaminants showed an increasing trend from the Yellow River water irrigation zone toward the wastewater irrigation zone. Rock weathering, mineral dissolution, and cation exchange are important processes controlling groundwater quality, but human activities, such as wastewater irrigation, play an undeniable role in affecting groundwater quality in this area. The results of this study contribute to the understanding of the formation and circulation of groundwater under human activities and provide a scientific basis for regional water quality evaluation, water quality improvement, and protection.

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Acknowledgements

The research is supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (41502234 and 41602238), the Foundation of Outstanding Young Scholar of Chang’an University (310829153509), the Research Funds for Young Stars in Science and Technology of Shaanxi Province (2016KJXX-29), the General Financial Grant from the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (2015M580804 and 2016M590911), the Special Financial Grant from the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (2016T090878), the Special Financial Grant from the Shaanxi Postdoctoral Science Foundation (2016BSHTDZZ03 and 2015BSHTDZZ09), the Innovation Training Program for Undergraduate Students of Chang’an University (201610710073, 201710710099 and 201710710100), and the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (310829161014, 310829173306, 310829173701 and 310829172202). We are grateful to the anonymous reviewers and the Editors for their useful comments.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Chang’an University, 126 Yanta Road, Xi’an, 710054, Shaanxi, China

    Jianhua Wu, Lei Wang, Siting Wang, Rui Tian, Chenyang Xue, Wei Feng & Yinghao Li

  2. Key Laboratory of Subsurface Hydrology and Ecological Effects in Arid Region (Chang’an University), Ministry of Education, 126 Yanta Road, Xi’an, 710054, Shaanxi, China

    Jianhua Wu, Lei Wang, Siting Wang, Rui Tian, Chenyang Xue, Wei Feng & Yinghao Li

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  1. Jianhua Wu
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Correspondence to Jianhua Wu.

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This article is a part of a Topical Collection in Environmental Earth Sciences on Water resources development and protection in loess areas of the world, edited by Drs. Peiyue Li and Hui Qian.

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Wu, J., Wang, L., Wang, S. et al. Spatiotemporal variation of groundwater quality in an arid area experiencing long-term paper wastewater irrigation, northwest China. Environ Earth Sci 76, 460 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-017-6787-2

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