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The influence of irrigation and Wuliangsuhai Lake on groundwater quality in eastern Hetao Basin, Inner Mongolia, China

Influence de l’irrigation et du lac Wuliangsuhai sur la qualité des eaux souterraines dans la partie est du bassin de Hetao, Mongolie intérieure (Chine)

La influencia de la irrigación y del Lago Wuliangsuhai en la calidad del agua subterránea en el este de la cuenca Hetao, Mongolia Interior, China

灌溉水和乌梁素海湖水对中国内蒙古河套灌区东部地下水的影响演化研究

A influência da rega e do Lago Wuliangsuhai na qualidade das águas subterrâneas da parte oriental da Bacia Hetao, Mongólia Interior, China

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Abstract

Geochemical and isotopic characterization of groundwater and lake-water samples were combined with water and total dissolved solids balances to evaluate sources of groundwater quality deterioration in eastern Hetao Basin, Inner Mongolia, China. Groundwater quality is poor; 11 of 13 wells exceed drinking-water guidelines for at least one health-based parameter and all wells exceed aesthetic guidelines. The well water is largely derived from Yellow River irrigation water. Notably high uranium concentrations in the Yellow River, relative to world rivers, suggest groundwater uranium and other trace elements may originate in the river-derived irrigation water. Complex hydrostratigraphy and spatial variation in groundwater recharge result in spatially complex groundwater flow and geochemistry. Evapotranspiration of irrigation water causes chloride concentration increases of up to two orders of magnitude in the basin, notably in shallow groundwater around Wuliangsuhai Lake. In addition to evapotranspiration, groundwater quality is affected by mineral precipitation and dissolution, silicate weathering, and redox processes. The lake-water and TDS balances suggest that a small amount of discharge to groundwater (but associated with very high solute concentrations) contributes to groundwater salinization in this region. Increasing salinity in the groundwater and Wuliangsuhai Lake will continue to deteriorate water quality unless irrigation management practices improve.

Résumé

La caractérisation géochimique et isotopique d’échantillons d’eau souterraine et d’eau du lac est combinée avec l’analyse des équilibres ioniques de l’eau et des éléments dissous (TDS) dans le but d’évaluer les origines de la détérioration de la qualité de l’eau souterraine dans la partie est du bassin de Hetao en Mongolie intérieure (Chine). La qualité d'eaux souterraines est pauvre; 11 puits sur 13 dépassent les directives sur l’eau potable pour au moins un paramètre relatif à la santé publique et tous les ouvrages dépassent les recommandations sur les paramètres esthétiques de l’eau. L’eau des puits provient pour une grande part de l’eau d’irrigation à partir de la Rivière Jaune. En particulier les concentrations en uranium élevées dans le fleuve jaune, par rapport aux autres fleuves du monde, suggèrent que l'uranium des eaux souterraines et d'autres éléments traces puissent provenir des eaux du fleuve dérivé pour l’irrigation. L’hydrostratigraphie complexe et les variations spatiales de la recharge des eaux souterraines ont pour conséquence un écoulement et une géochimie complexes dans l'espace. L’évapotranspiration de l'eau d'irrigation entraine une augmentation des concentrations en chlorures jusqu'à deux ordres de grandeur dans le bassin, notamment dans les eaux souterraines peu profondes autour du lac Wuliangsuhai. En plus de l'évapotranspiration, la qualité des eaux souterraines est affectée par la précipitation et la dissolution des minéraux, l’altération des silicates, et les processus redox. L’eau du lac et la balance des TDS suggèrent une légère alimentation des eaux souterraines (associée à des concentrations très élevées en solutés) qui contribue à la salinisation des eaux souterraines dans cette région. La salinité croissante dans les eaux souterraines et le lac Wuliangsuhai continuera à détériorer la qualité de l'eau à moins que les procédures de gestion d'irrigation ne s'améliorent.

Resumen

Se combinaron la caracterización geoquímica e isotópica de muestras de agua subterránea y de agua del lago con balances de agua y de sólidos totales disueltos para evaluar las fuentes del deterioro de la calidad del agua subterránea en el este de la cuenca Hetao, Mongolia Interior, China. La calidad del agua subterránea es pobre; 11 de 13 pozos excedieron los niveles guías de agua potable para por lo menos un parámetro base de la salud y todos los pozos excedieron los niveles guías estéticos. El agua de pozo proviene mayoritariamente de agua de irrigación del Río Amarillo. Concentraciones notablemente altas de uranio en el Río Amarillo, en relación con los ríos del mundo, sugieren que el uranio del agua subterránea y otros elementos trazas pueden originarse en el agua de irrigación derivada del río. La hidroestratigrafía compleja y la variación espacial en la recarga de agua subterránea resultan en un flujo y geoquímica del agua subterránea espacialmente complejo. La evapotranspiración de agua de riego causa incremento en la concentración de cloruro de hasta dos órdenes de magnitud en la cuenca, notablemente en el agua subterránea somera alrededor del lago Wuliangsuhai. Además de la evapotranspiración, la calidad del agua subterránea está afectada por la precipitación y disolución mineral, meteorización de silicatos y procesos redox. Los balances de agua del lago y TDS sugieren que una pequeña cantidad de la descarga de agua subterránea (pero asociada con una muy alta concentración de soluto) contribuye a la salinización del agua subterránea en esta región. El incremento de la salinidad en el agua subterránea y en el lago Wuliangsuhai continuarán deteriorando la calidad del agua a menos que se mejoren las prácticas de manejo de la irrigación.

摘要

根据湖水和地下水的同位素和地质化学特性,并结合水平衡模拟及总溶解性固体(TDS)平衡模拟,对中国内蒙古河套灌区东部的地下水质量恶化进行了演化分析。结果表明,河套灌区东部地下水质量较差,在取样的13口饮水井中,一种或多种健康质量标准超标的水井达11口。浅层地下水井的水源主要来自黄河灌溉水。相比于世界其他大河,黄河水铀浓度明显较高,这可能是水源为黄河灌溉水的地下水铀超标的主要原因。河套灌区东部复杂的水文地质特征,再加上地下水以及地表水空间分布的多变性导致了本区域较为复杂的地下水流动和水文特性。研究区灌溉水极强的蒸散发作用,导致氯浓度上升了两个数量级,尤其是乌梁素海周围的浅层地下水受蒸散发影响最大。除蒸散发影响以外,矿物质的溶解和析出,岩石的风化以及氧化还原过程都是地下水质量的重要影响因素。水平衡模拟以及TDS平衡模拟结果显示,仅有少量的乌梁素海湖水入侵地下水,但由于各类溶解物浓度较高,导致对地下水的质量影响较大。研究结果表明,河套灌区的灌溉方法如果得不到科学的改善,河套东部的地下水和乌梁素海湖水将会持续恶化。

Resumo

A caraterização geoquímica e isotópica de amostras de águas subterrâneas e de água do lago foi cruzada com informação do balanço hídrico e de sólidos dissolvidos totais (SDT), de forma a avaliar as origens da deterioração da qualidade da água subterrânea na parte oriental da Bacia Hetao, Mongólia Interior, China. A qualidade das águas subterrâneas é pobre; 11 em 13 furos excedem as diretrizes relativas à água potável pelo menos num parâmetro, e todos os poços ultrapassam as diretrizes asséticas. A água dos furos provém em grande parte dos excedentes de rega do rio Amarelo. As concentrações de urânio, notoriamente elevadas no rio Amarelo relativamente às de outros rios do mundo, sugerem que o urânio das águas subterrâneas, bem como outros elementos traço, possam ter origem na água de rega proveniente do rio. A hidroestratigrafia complexa e a variação espacial da recarga de águas subterrâneas resultam num complexo padrão de escoamento e de caraterísticas geoquímicas das águas subterrâneas. A evapotranspiração da água de rega provoca um aumento da concentração de cloreto de até duas ordens de magnitude na bacia, principalmente nas águas subterrâneas pouco profundas em torno do Lago Wuliangsuhai. Além da evapotranspiração, a qualidade das águas subterrâneas é afetada pela precipitação e dissolução de minerais, degradação de silicatos e por processos redox. Os balanços hídricos e de SDT sugerem que uma pequena quantidade de recarga para as águas subterrâneas (mas associada a concentrações muito elevadas de solutos) contribui para a salinização das águas subterrâneas nesta região. O aumento da salinidade nas águas subterrâneas e no Lago Wuliangsuhai vai continuar a deteriorar a qualidade da água, a menos que haja uma melhoria na gestão dos processos de rega em uso.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank Zhao Shengnan, Zhang Wenying, Pan Runhou and the Inner Mongolia Agricultural University lake research team for sampling assistance, and Farzin Malekani for laboratory assistance. Helpful comments from Emilio Custodio, one anonymous reviewer, and in particular editor Vincent Post, were much appreciated. Support from the Chinese National Natural Science Foundation (Nos. 51339002, 51269016, 51269017, 41263010, 51169017, 51169011, 51069007), China Scholarship Council (No. 2011815020), Natural Science Foundation of Inner Mongolia (Nos. 2012MS0612, 20091408, 20080105), international cooperation collaboration projects (2011DFA90710), Chinese Ministry of Water Resources (201101021, 201001039), and the Geological Survey of Canada are gratefully acknowledged.

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  1. Geoscience, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, AB, Canada, T2N 1 N4

    M. Cathryn Ryan

  2. Water Conservancy and Civil Engineering College, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, 306, Zhaowuda Road, Hohhot, People’s Republic of China, 010018

    Dongnan Zhu, Biao Sun & Changyou Li

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  1. Dongnan Zhu
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Zhu, D., Ryan, M.C., Sun, B. et al. The influence of irrigation and Wuliangsuhai Lake on groundwater quality in eastern Hetao Basin, Inner Mongolia, China. Hydrogeol J 22, 1101–1114 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-014-1116-2

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