Origin and recharge estimates of groundwater in the ordos plateau, People’s Republic of China

• Published in: Environmental earth sciences Vol. 60; no. 8; pp. 1731 - 1738
• Main Authors: Lihe, Yin, Guangcai, Hou, Zhengping, Tao, Ying, Li
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer-Verlag 01.06.2010; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Biogeosciences; Earth and Environmental Science; Earth Sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Engineering and environment geology. Geothermics; Environmental Science and Engineering; Exact sciences and technology; Geochemistry; Geology; Groundwater management; Groundwater potential; Groundwater recharge; Hydrogeology; Hydrology. Hydrogeology; Hydrology/Water Resources; Mineral resources; Mineralogy; Natural gas; Original Article; Pollution, environment geology; Resource development; Silicates; Sustainable development; Terrestrial Pollution; Water geochemistry; Water resources management; Far East; Asia; China; China, People's Rep; Groundwater origin; Ordos Plateau; Recharge estimate; chlorides; stable isotopes; rainfall; O-18/O-16; mass balance; halite; ground water; ground-water recharge; halides; aquifers; hydrochemistry; deuterium; water resource management
• ISSN: 1866-6280; 1866-6299
• DOI: 10.1007/s12665-009-0310-3

Groundwater is a valuable resource in the semiarid Ordos Plateau region where abundant mineral resources, such as coal, natural gas, and halite, are present. With resources development, groundwater demand will increase dramatically. The origin identification and recharge estimates of groundwater are significant components of sustainable groundwater development in the Ordos Plateau. Groundwater and precipitation samples were taken and the isotopic compositions δ 2 H, δ 18 O, and chloride were analyzed to identify groundwater origins and to estimate recharge rates. The δ 2 H and δ 18 O of the groundwater show that the groundwater recharge is of meteoric origin. The chloride mass balance (CMB) method was used to quantify recharge rates of groundwater in the Ordos Plateau, which varies from 2.93 to 22.11% of the effective annual rainfall. Recharge rates estimated by CMB were compared with values obtained from other methods and were found to be in good agreement. This study can be used to develop effective programs for groundwater management and development.