Riverbank filtration in China: A review and perspective

• Published in: Journal of hydrology (Amsterdam) 2016-10, Vol.541, p.914-927
• Main Authors: Hu, Bin, Teng, Yanguo, Zhai, Yuanzheng, Zuo, Rui, Li, Jiao, Chen, Haiyang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Groundwater; Removal of pollutants; Research perspective; Riverbank filtration; Security water supply
• ISSN: 0022-1694; 1879-2707
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jhydrol.2016.08.004

•A comprehensive review of China’s riverbank filtration was proposed firstly.•The technical overview of China’s riverbank filtration was summarized firstly.•The research hotspots of China’s riverbank filtration were comprehensive summarized.•The perspectives of China’s RBF technology development were proposed. Riverbank filtration (RBF) for water supplies is used widely throughout the world because it guarantees a sustainable quantity and improves water quality. In this study, the development history and the technical overview of RBF in China are reviewed and summarized. Most RBF systems in China were constructed using vertical wells, horizontal wells, and infiltration galleries in flood plains, alluvial fans, and intermountain basins. Typical pollutants such as NH4+, pathogens, metals, and organic materials were removed or diluted by most RBF investigated. There have recently been many investigations of the interaction between groundwater and surface water and biogeochemical processes in RBF. Comprehensive RBF applications should include not only the positive but also negative effects. Based on a discussion of the advantages and disadvantages, the perspectives of China’s RBF technology development were proposed. To protect the security of water supply, China’s RBF systems should establish a management system, monitoring system and forecasting system of risk. Guidelines of RBF construction and management should also be issued on the basic of relevant fundamental investigations such as climate influence, clogging, and purification mechanism of water-quality improvement.