Anthropogenic Effects on Hydrogeochemical Characterization of the Shallow Groundwater in an Arid Irrigated Plain in Northwestern China

Abstract

Many irrigated plains in arid and semi-arid regions have groundwater quality issues due to both intensive human activity and natural processes. Comprehensive studies are urgently needed to explore hydrogeochemical evolutions, investigate possible pollution sources, and understand the controls on groundwater compositions in such regions. Here, we combine geostatistical techniques and hydrogeochemical assessments to characterize groundwater quality over time in the Yinchuan Plain (a typical irrigated plain in China), using 12 physicochemical variables derived from sampling in 600 and 602 wells in 2004 and 2014, respectively. Our results show that groundwater-rock interactions and evaporation are the key natural factors controlling groundwater compositions. Hydrogeochemical water types in both 2004 and 2014 were Ca-HCO3, Na-Cl, and mixed Ca·Mg-Cl. Along with the hydrogeochemical compositions, we used ionic ratios and the saturation index to delineate mineral solution reactions and weathering processes. Dissolution of gypsum, halite, fluorite, and mirabilite, along with silicate weathering and cation exchange, were identified in the study area. Our results indicated rising ion concentrations in groundwater, which could be the result of anthropogenic influences. Increasing total hardness and nitrates over the study period were most likely caused by agricultural activity and the discharge of waste water from human residential areas.

Groundwater Salinity Across India: Predicting Occurrences and Controls by Field-Observations and Machine Learning Modeling

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Hydrogeochemical Behaviour and Groundwater Suitability of Vislon Area, Part of WRD Watershed, Chandrapur District, Maharashtra, India

“…In addition to geogenic sources, the nonlithological anthropogenic inputs may also deteriorate the quality of groundwater, may be situated at shallow or even deeper depth. The groundwater contamination and its threat to human health has now been a major concern at a global level and hence various studies have been carried out to understand the hydro-geochemical behavior of groundwater (Jalali, 2006;Bharadwaj et al, 2010;Brindha and Elango 2013;Wu et al, 2015;Hirojeet et al, 2015;Thilagavathi et al, 2015;Xu et al, 2018;Li et al, 2012Li et al, , 2018Duraisamy et al 2018;Sreedevi et al, 2018;Adimalla and Qian 2019;Singh et al, 2019;Wang et al, 2019;Eyankware et al, 2020).…”

Hydrochemical Characteristic of Groundwater and Its Impact on Crop Yields in the Baojixia Irrigation Area, China

“…Population growth and the acceleration of industrialization have led to excessive demand for natural resources, which has subsequently resulted in many social and ecological problems. These issues inevitably exacerbate the human impact on the environment, particularly on surface water and groundwater resources [5][6][7][8][9]. Groundwater is the most reliable source of water for human survival, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions such as northwest China, where precipitation and surface runoff are scarce and large volumes of groundwater are extracted for domestic, agricultural, and industrial activities.…”

“…It is very difficult to study. Therefore, research on irrigation water quality is nevertheless of great significance for long-term management planning of crop yield [9,[14][15][16][17].…”