Using major ions and δ15N-NO3− to identify nitrate sources and fate in an alluvial aquifer of the Baiyangdian lake watershed, North China Plain

Confined groundwater is important for the domestic water supply in arid and semiarid regions that have salty phreatic water. A systematic investigation was conducted in the Wuyi region, a typical central area of the North China Plain (NCP), regarding the confined groundwater geochemistry. A total of 59 samples were collected from confined aquifers across the region for in situ parameter determination and laboratory analysis. The results showed the confined groundwater was neutral to slightly alkaline, and dominantly soft fresh. The moderately hard brackish water and very hard brackish water accounted for 1.69% and 6.78% of the total samples, respectively. The hydro-chemical faces are mainly SO4·Cl–Na type with a few of the HCO3–Na type. The entropy-weighted water quality index assessment demonstrated that 21.3% of the groundwater samples came under the medium to extremely poor quality, and were unsuitable for drinking purposes due to the high content of major ions. Various populations are at a chronic health risk at some local sites by high levels of F- and Fe in groundwater, with susceptibility in the order of adult females < adult males < children < infants. The poor groundwater quality and health threats result from the natural water–rock interactions (including mineral dissolution and cation exchange) rather than anthropogenic inputs. This research can provide references for groundwater resource development and management in the NCP and other similar regions worldwide.

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Characterizing the groundwater renewability and evolution of the strongly exploited aquifers of the North China Plain by major ions and environmental tracers

Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry ◽

10.1007/s10967-012-2409-3 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 296 (3) ◽

pp. 1263-1274 ◽

Cited By ~ 23

Author(s):

Yuanzheng Zhai ◽

Jinsheng Wang ◽

Huan Huan ◽

Jun Zhou ◽

Wang Wei

Keyword(s):

North China Plain ◽

North China ◽

Major Ions ◽

Environmental Tracers ◽

The North ◽

The North China Plain

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Extreme precipitation accelerates the contribution of nitrate sources from anthropogenetic activities to groundwater in a typical headwater area of the North China Plain

Journal of Hydrology ◽

10.1016/j.jhydrol.2021.127110 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 127110

Author(s):

Wenbo Zheng ◽

Shiqin Wang

Keyword(s):

Extreme Precipitation ◽

North China Plain ◽

North China ◽

Nitrate Sources ◽

The North ◽

The North China Plain

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Differences in hydrogeochemistry between shallow and deep aquifers in the Baiyangdian basin, China

E3S Web of Conferences ◽

10.1051/e3sconf/20199807009 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 98 ◽

pp. 07009

Author(s):

Huaming Guo ◽

Zhaoli Shen ◽

Yi Chen ◽

Kai Zhao ◽

Haitao Li ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Pore Water ◽

North China Plain ◽

North China ◽

Major Ions ◽

Shallow Groundwater ◽

Water Isotopes ◽

Silicate Weathering ◽

Deep Groundwater ◽

Deep Aquifers

Groundwater is the dominant long-term water resource for agricultural irrigation and industrial production in the Baiyangdian basin, North China Plain. Groundwater and pore-water were investigated to evaluate chemical evolution and geochemical processes in shallow and deep aquifers. Results show that both shallow groundwater and shallow pore-water had higher TDS, Ca2+, Mg2+, SO42-, and HCO3- concentrations than deep groundwater and deep pore-water. Generally, concentrations of groundwater major ions were higher than those of pore-water in shallow aquifers, while they were slightly lower in groundwater than in pore-water from deep aquifers. Water isotopes showed the meteoric origin of groundwater and pore-water, although evaporation signature was traced in shallow groundwater. Shallow groundwater also experienced carbonate dissolution and silicate weathering. Silicate weathering and evaporite dissolution were the major hydrogeochemical processes in deep aquifers. This study indicated that deep groundwater has better water quality, but is vulnerable to contamination from shallow groundwater with high TDS and NO3- concentrations.

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