Review: Safe and sustainable groundwater supply in China

• Published in: Hydrogeology journal Vol. 26; no. 5; pp. 1301 - 1324
• Main Authors: Wang, Yanxin, Zheng, Chunmiao, Ma, Rui
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01-08-2018; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Anthropogenic factors; Aquatic Pollution; ARSENIC; CHINA; Coastal aquifers; CONCENTRATION RATIO; Contaminants; CONTAMINATION; Degradation; Drinking water; Earth and Environmental Science; Earth Sciences; Economic development; Economic growth; Economics; ECOSYSTEMS; ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; Exploitation; Fluorides; FLUORINE; Geology; Geophysics/Geodesy; GROUND WATER; Groundwater; Groundwater depletion; Groundwater levels; Groundwater management; Groundwater quality; Groundwater resources; Groundwater supply; Groundwater table; Groundwater withdrawal; Human influences; Hydrogeology; Hydrology/Water Resources; Impact analysis; INTERACTIONS; Intrusion; IODINE; Land subsidence; Marine ecosystems; POLLUTION; Pollution sources; Regional development; Resource depletion; RESOURCE EXPLOITATION; Saline water intrusion; SALINITY; SEAWATER; Seawater intrusion; Subsidence; Surface water; Surface-groundwater relations; SURFACES; SUSTAINABILITY; URBAN AREAS; Waste Water Technology; Water demand; Water Management; Water pollution; WATER POLLUTION CONTROL; Water quality; Water Quality/Water Pollution; Water resources; Water sources; Water supply; Water table; WATER TABLES; China; Groundwater/surface-water relations; Hydrochemistry; Groundwater resources; Groundwater sustainability; China
• ISSN: 1431-2174; 1435-0157
• DOI: 10.1007/s10040-018-1795-1

Exploitation of groundwater has greatly increased since the 1970s to meet the increased water demand due to fast economic development in China. Correspondingly, the regional groundwater level has declined substantially in many areas of China. Water sources are scarce in northern and northwestern China, and the anthropogenic pollution of groundwater has worsened the situation. Groundwater containing high concentrations of geogenic arsenic, fluoride, iodine, and salinity is widely distributed across China, which has negatively affected safe supply of water for drinking and other purposes. In addition to anthropogenic contamination, the interactions between surface water and groundwater, including seawater intrusion, have caused deterioration of groundwater quality. The ecosystem and geo-environment have been severely affected by the depletion of groundwater resources. Land subsidence due to excessive groundwater withdrawal has been observed in more than 50 cities in China, with a maximum accumulated subsidence of 2–3 m. Groundwater-dependent ecosystems are being degraded due to changes in the water table or poor groundwater quality. This paper reviews these changes in China, which have occurred under the impact of rapid economic development. The effects of economic growth on groundwater systems should be monitored, understood and predicted to better protect and manage groundwater resources for the future.