Temporal variations of groundwater quality in the Western Jianghan Plain, China

• Published in: The Science of the total environment 2017-02, Vol.578, p.542-550
• Main Authors: Niu, Beibei, Wang, Huanhuan, Loáiciga, Hugo A., Hong, Song, Shao, Wei
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: China; Environmental Monitoring; Groundwater - chemistry; Groundwater quality; Jianghan Plain; Nitrate; Nitrates - analysis; Temporal variations; Three Gorges Dam; Time Factors; Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis; Water Pollution; Water Wells
• ISSN: 0048-9697; 1879-1026
• DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.10.225

The Western Jianghan Plain (WJHP) lies in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River. It has been impacted by anthropogenic activities during the past decades. The long-term variations of the WJHP's regional aquifer's hydrochemistry and groundwater quality have not been previously assessed. Sixteen physiochemical parameters at 29 monitoring wells within the Western Jianghan Plain were monitored during 1992–2010 and analyzed with multiple approaches. The confined groundwater is predominantly of the HCO3-Ca-Mg type with Cl−, SO42−, NH4-N, and NO3-N showing remarkable spatial variations. Correlation analysis was used to identify the origins and contamination sources of groundwater. The seasonal Mann-Kendall test revealed that pH, NO3-N, and Cl− concentrations at 27, 26 and 15 wells, respectively, exhibited significant increasing trends during 1992–2010. The increase of pH may be attributed to CO2 degassing caused by extensive groundwater extraction. Regional average NO3-N concentrations of groundwater increased coincidently with the increased use of fertilizer, which suggests that nitrate pollution is caused by agricultural activities. Abnormally high values of Cl− and SO42− at some wells were induced by industrial chemicals. In addition, the similarity of the temporal variations of the regional average of pH, NH4-N, and NO3-N concentrations in groundwater with those in the Yangtze River at the outlet of the Three Gorges Reservoir (TGR) suggests that the variations of these parameters in the WJHP is partly due to water storage by the TGR. This study presents an analysis of temporal variations of groundwater quality in the WJHP that reveals a relation between the creation of the TGR and downstream groundwater quality. This paper's findings provide clues for measures that could be taken to protect the groundwater quality of the WJHP's aquifer. [Display omitted] •Spatial-temporal variations of groundwater quality were characterized.•CO2 degassing caused by groundwater extraction increased the groundwater pH.•NO3-N increased coincidently with the increased use of fertilizer.•The Three Gorges Dam contributes partly to the variations of pH, NH4-N and NO3-N.