Protection of the Liuzheng Water Source: A Karst Water System in Dawu, Zibo, China

Henghua Zhu,Lizhi Yang,Xiaoxun Lan,Yanan Dong,Liting Xing,Zhizheng Liu

doi:10.3390/w11040698

Abstract

The Dawu water source is a rare, large-scale groundwater source located in northern China. The water supply function from this water source has, however, been lost due to anthropogenic pollution. In order to fully utilize valuable groundwater resources, a new water source of urban domestic water in Liu Zheng is planned. In this study, a tracer test and a numerical simulation method are used to examine the hydraulic connection between the Liuzheng water source and the Wangzhai industrial park; to optimize the exploitation layout of the Liuzheng water source and Dawu water source; and to propose the extent of the Liuzheng water source protection area. Results indicate that: (1) Karst development in the study area is uneven, and the Wangzhai area is a recharge area of the Liuzheng water source; (2) it is predicted that the groundwater flow field will not be significantly changed when a groundwater volume of 150,000 m3/day is exploited from the Liuzheng water source; (3) it is predicted that the proposed chemical park in Wangzhai will gradually pollute to the groundwater in the northern area of Liuzheng; and (4) results using the empirical formula method and the numerical simulation method indicate that the area of the primary protection area of the Liuzheng water source is about 0.59 km2, and the area of the secondary protection area is about 14.98 km2. Results from this study provide a certain technical basis for the exploitation and protection of groundwater in the Liuzheng water source.

Highlights

The karst landforms are widely distributed around the world, and karst water provides drinking water to nearly a quarter of the world’s population
In order to examine the hydraulic connection between the Wangzhai, Hougao and Liuzheng areas, WK01 and W512 were used as source wells for field tracer tests (Figure 1)
Our results indicate that the numerical method is relatively accurate recording the area of the primary protection area of the Liuzheng water source to be about 0.59 km2, and the area of the

Summary

Introduction

The karst landforms are widely distributed around the world, and karst water provides drinking water to nearly a quarter of the world’s population. In China, the total area of bare limestone is about 1.3 million square kilometers, accounting for 13.5% of the total area of the country, and covered limestone buried underground is more extensive. During the long geological history evolution, landforms such as gully, dissolved depression, dry valley, blind valley, falling water cave, and skylight are formed. The soluble rocks can be dissolved and eroded by groundwater along the layers, joints or structural fractures, and formed underground passages, rapidly moving through karst fissures, karst conduits, etc. The multiple conduit flow of karst medium leads to rapid contamination, while the diffuse flow forms persistent contamination [4].

Methods

Results

Conclusion