Research on Groundwater Regulation and Recovery in North China Plain after the Implementation of South-to-North Water Transfer
南水北调实施后华北平原地下水调控研究

It is highly serious for the shortage of water resources in North China Plain, and groundwater utilization is up to 69% of the total water supply. Consequently, groundwater table has being gradually descending due to continuous groundwater overexploitation, and many environmental-geological problems have occurred, such as land subsidence, seawater intrusion etc. With the implementation of South-to-North Water Transfer (middle route), research on groundwater regulation in North China Plain has been under heated discussion. Considering present conditions and environmental problems of groundwater in North China Plain, we have proposed a series of rules for groundwater regulation, such as giving priority to reducing groundwater development in seriously overexploited areas and deep aquifers, and sketching out the exploitation amount of groundwater after the implementation of South-to-North Water Transfer is completed based on groundwater recoverable resources. Recovery effect of groundwater regulation has been predicted by applying groundwater numerical model in North China Plain. It can be concluded that ten years after groundwater regulation is brought into effect, the groundwater table of depression cone in shallow aquifer would recover to various degrees in major controlling areas. For example, the groundwater table in depression cone in Shijiazhuang recovers by 2.1m/a. Meanwhile, depression cone area in deep aquifer would also shrink; for instance, the groundwater table in depression cone in Dezhou recovers by 0.8-1.5m/a. The storage rate in unconfined aquifer is 17.79×108m3/a and would recover effectively, but the confined aquifer would recover more slowly. Therefore, South-to-North Water Transfer (middle route) does great help in groundwater recovery in North China Plain. We should take good advantage of abundant water resources available from external regions and give full play to the project. Meanwhile, rules for groundwater regulation should be made to restrict the expansion and deepening of existing depression cone effectively. South-to-North Water Transfer (middle route) Project will relieve groundwater shortage problem as well as conserve and protect groundwater in North China Plain. Furthermore, it plays an important role in the gradual abatement of ecological environment deterioration and sustainable use of groundwater. Though the South-to-North Water Transfer (middle route) can relieve the contradiction between water supply and demand, it can not eradicate water shortage problem, and groundwater will still be the main source of industrial, agricultural and domestic water consumption.