Abstract
Groundwater quality degradation has raised widespread concerns about water supplies and ecological crises in China. In this study, hydrogeochemistry, environmental stable isotopes (δ18O, δD), and principal component analysis were conducted together to reveal the mechanism’s response to the hydrogeochemical and quality degradation of groundwater in Yuncheng Basin, Northern China, so that reasonable water resource management strategies can be developed. The study reveals that groundwater faces a tremendous risk of quality decrease during the past decade: (1) the hydrochemical facies of groundwater shows that the bicarbonate and chloride type water was replaced with sulfate type water and the occupying area of SO4·Cl-Na, SO4·HCO3-Na type water expanded dramatically in shallow and intermediate-deep aquifers. (2) Major ion chemistry and hydrogen and oxygen isotope compositions indicate that the major hydrogeochemical processes responsible for groundwater quality deterioration include the dissolution of evaporates (i.e., halite, gypsum, and mirabilite), ion exchange, and evaporation process. Additionally, (3) anthropogenic activities (overutilization of fertilizer) have resulted in nitrate contamination, and have thereby led to groundwater quality degradation.
Highlights
Groundwater is a vital part of the total water resource for domestic, agricultural, and industrial purposes in Northern China, which is one of the world’s most water-scarce regions [1,2,3]
Groundwater hydrogeochemistry is controlled by water–rock interactions within the groundwater system, while human activities, Int
The ionic compositions were dominated by Na+ (8.28–3638 mg/L), SO4 2− (11.51–9214 mg/L), and HCO3 − (15.39–1953 mg/L)
Summary
Groundwater is a vital part of the total water resource for domestic, agricultural, and industrial purposes in Northern China, which is one of the world’s most water-scarce regions [1,2,3]. The study area in Yuncheng Basin, located in Shanxi province, is a typical semi-arid area in Northern China. Along with the underdeveloped surface water system, groundwater has become the primary water resource. With rapid population growth and economic development, the unreasonable exploitation and utilization of groundwater has brought about a series of environmental and geological issues such as the decrease in the groundwater level, the enlargement of the scope of groundwater salinization, the intrusion of a salt lake, and groundwater quality degradation [4,5]. A comprehensive understanding of the geochemical evolution and the factors affecting groundwater quality is crucial to guarantee the safety of groundwater consumption and the rational management of groundwater resources. Public Health 2020, 17, 867; doi:10.3390/ijerph17030867 www.mdpi.com/journal/ijerph
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