Research

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15 pages, 11075 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Study and Evaluation of Dynamic Carrying Capacity of Groundwater Resources in Hebei Province from 2010 to 2017

by Boxin Wang, Bin Wang, Xiaobing Zhao, Jiao Li and Dasheng Zhang

Sustainability 2023, 15(5), 4394; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15054394 - 01 Mar 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1058

There is a severe issue with groundwater overuse and water scarcity in the North China Plain. The capacity of groundwater resources to promote economic development is also diminished due to the overexploitation of resources to suit the industrial needs of diverse sectors. Therefore, [...] Read more.

There is a severe issue with groundwater overuse and water scarcity in the North China Plain. The capacity of groundwater resources to promote economic development is also diminished due to the overexploitation of resources to suit the industrial needs of diverse sectors. Therefore, it is crucial to research the regional groundwater resource carrying capacity from both a temporal and spatial perspective. The relationship between water usage efficiency and groundwater availability, which was built using regional data on water supply and consumption as well as gross domestic product, is used in this study to assess the carrying capacity of Hebei’s groundwater resources through time and space. The results show that from the perspective of time, in the years when the groundwater resource exploitation degree is greater than one from 2010 to 2017, the contribution rate of the groundwater resource exploitation to economic development reaches 62.5%, indicating that the economic development of the study area is highly dependent on the groundwater resources. The exploitation degree of groundwater resources is less than one, but the degree of economic development value keeps increasing to nearly 80% and the overexploitation rate is 75% in the total time scale. In terms of spatial scale, only Hengshui City has no overexploitation index, and the overexploitation rate is 9.1%. The overload and severe overload areas account for 45.45%, respectively. Among them, the exploitation degree of groundwater has been in a state of over-saturation, and as economic development depends on groundwater resources, water efficiency needs to be improved through water saving. Optimizing and promoting industrial structures and water-saving technology to further improve water efficiency are key factors to improve the carrying capacity of groundwater resources. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Assessment and Management of Groundwater Resources)

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22 pages, 7316 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Sustainability Indicators of Groundwater Withdrawal in a Heavily Stressed System: The Case of the Acque Albule Basin (Rome, Italy)

by Vincenzo Piscopo, Chiara Sbarbati, Francesca Lotti, Luigi Lana and Marco Petitta

Sustainability 2022, 14(22), 15248; https://doi.org/10.3390/su142215248 - 17 Nov 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1343

Abstract

Groundwater sustainable yield is a concept widely treated theoretically in the literature. Moving from theoretical concepts to the definition of practical measures for groundwater management is not easy due to site-specific characteristics of the system. This study is aimed at identifying which factors [...] Read more.

Groundwater sustainable yield is a concept widely treated theoretically in the literature. Moving from theoretical concepts to the definition of practical measures for groundwater management is not easy due to site-specific characteristics of the system. This study is aimed at identifying which factors influence the sustainable yield of the plain of Tivoli (Central Italy), where thermal springs with considerable flow (over 2 m³/s) emerge (or rather emerged) and supply a thermal plant. In the same plain, another profitable economic activity concerns the extraction of travertine; it caused a progressive decline in groundwater levels and in the discharge of the thermal springs. The hydrogeological history of the site and the data available in the literature and in new focused surveys are encapsulated in a simple flow model addressed to compare the pre- with the under-development conditions. The withdrawal of groundwater from the quarry area determined a significant impact on the water balance of the system. An increase in inflow from surrounding aquifers and a decrease in storage and in natural discharge of the travertine aquifer result in under-development conditions. Residual discharges towards the springs and river are very sensitive to the pumping flow rate of quarries, according to an inverse linear relationship; this hydrogeological feature may be adopted as an indicator of the sustainability of groundwater withdrawals from the plain. The residual discharge is most affected by the position of the pumping center in the groundwater flow net and its distance from boundaries to be captured, as well as on the depth and extent of the quarries. This lays the basis for developing sustainable management models of groundwater considering the economic and environmental aspects of the issue. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Assessment and Management of Groundwater Resources)

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13 pages, 2187 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Groundwater Vulnerability and Groundwater Contamination Risk in Karst Area of Southwest China

by Jingchao Liu, Jin Wu, Shaowei Rong, Yanna Xiong and Yanguo Teng

Sustainability 2022, 14(21), 14483; https://doi.org/10.3390/su142114483 - 04 Nov 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1406

Abstract

Groundwater pollution in karst areas is often the result of the interaction of hydrogeological characteristics and human activities. In this study, a chimeric evaluation system of groundwater vulnerability and pollution load was constructed, and the groundwater contamination risk was intuitively displayed using a [...] Read more.

Groundwater pollution in karst areas is often the result of the interaction of hydrogeological characteristics and human activities. In this study, a chimeric evaluation system of groundwater vulnerability and pollution load was constructed, and the groundwater contamination risk was intuitively displayed using a risk map. The study area is located in Qiannan, a typical karst area in Southwest China. Groundwater vulnerability was mainly calculated using the PLEIK model. Pollution source load evaluation was evaluated using the classification method. The groundwater pollution status was evaluated by the CCME WQI method. The results show that the groundwater vulnerability in the research area was mainly at a medium level. The areas with high pollution load values were mainly distributed in industrial parks and other pollution-source-gathering areas. The results of the water quality evaluation show that the groundwater quality in the study area was generally good. However, the impact of some pollution sources on the surrounding groundwater still cannot be ignored. The results reveal the risk level of groundwater pollution in typical karst areas and provide theoretical support for regional groundwater protection. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Assessment and Management of Groundwater Resources)

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20 pages, 7486 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Evaluation of Terrestrial Water Storage Changes over China Based on GRACE Solutions and Water Balance Method

by Menglin Zhang, Yanguo Teng, Yazhen Jiang, Wenjie Yin, Xuelei Wang, Dasheng Zhang and Jinfeng Liao

Sustainability 2022, 14(18), 11658; https://doi.org/10.3390/su141811658 - 16 Sep 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1403

Abstract

Accurate estimation of terrestrial water storage anomalies (TWSA) is crucial for the sustainable management of water resources and human living. In this study, long-term TWSA estimates are reconstructed by integration of multiple meteorological products and the water balance (WB) method at 0.5° × [...] Read more.

Accurate estimation of terrestrial water storage anomalies (TWSA) is crucial for the sustainable management of water resources and human living. In this study, long-term TWSA estimates are reconstructed by integration of multiple meteorological products and the water balance (WB) method at 0.5° × 0.5° resolution, generating a total of 12 combinations of different meteorological data. This scheme is applied to 10 river basins (RBs) within China and validated against GRACE observations and GLDAS simulations from 2003 to 2020. Results indicate that similar seasonal characteristics can be observed between different precipitation and evapotranspiration products with the average correlation coefficient and Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency coefficient metrics larger than 0.96 and 0.90, respectively. Three GRACE solutions indicate similar seasonal variations and long-term trends of TWSA over 10 RBs, with the correlation above 0.90. Similar performance can also be observed concerning the root mean square error and mean absolute error metrics. Nevertheless, WB-based TWSA estimates represent larger discrepancies compared to GRACE observations and GLDAS simulations. Specifically, the variation amplitude and long-term trend of WB-based results are much larger than that of the GRACE observations, which is mainly caused by the inaccuracy of remote sensing products and the neglect of anthropogenic activities. Comparable TWSA estimates independently computed from the WB method can only be achieved in 4 out of 10 RBs. This study can provide insightful suggestions for an enhanced understanding of TWSA estimates and improving the performance of the water balance method. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Assessment and Management of Groundwater Resources)

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17 pages, 4013 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Arsenic Adsorption and Desorption in Various Aqueous Media in the Nearshore Zone and Influencing Factors

by Shuai Lu, Yimeng Yang, Xiaosi Su, Kaining Yu and Xinzhou Wang

Sustainability 2022, 14(17), 10935; https://doi.org/10.3390/su141710935 - 01 Sep 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1618

Abstract

A profound understanding of the adsorption and desorption characteristics of arsenic on various media in aqueous solutions is helpful for evaluating the behavior of arsenic in groundwater. In this study, the characteristics of arsenic adsorption and desorption on aqueous media including silty clay, [...] Read more.

A profound understanding of the adsorption and desorption characteristics of arsenic on various media in aqueous solutions is helpful for evaluating the behavior of arsenic in groundwater. In this study, the characteristics of arsenic adsorption and desorption on aqueous media including silty clay, fine sand, medium sand, and coarse sand with gravel from Shenyang Huangjia water source, China were investigated by batch experiments. The results showed that the aqueous media in the study area had a strong fixation ability for arsenic, and both physical and chemical adsorption of arsenic occurred. Among them, silty clay had the strongest adsorption capacity and the largest buffer capacity for arsenic. As the specific surface area (SSA) of the medium decreased, the adsorption capacity decreased, and the desorption capacity increased. There was an obvious positive correlation between the desorption capacity and adsorption capacity of arsenic, and the force of the adsorption process was larger than that of the desorption process. The pH, temperature, carbonate, and ionic strength all affected the arsenic adsorption and desorption, and adsorption of arsenic occurred mainly by obligate adsorption in the study area. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Assessment and Management of Groundwater Resources)

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16 pages, 10555 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Groundwater Contamination Risk Assessment Based on Groundwater Vulnerability and Pollution Loading: A Case Study of Typical Karst Areas in China

by Yanna Xiong, Jingchao Liu, Wenchao Yuan, Weijiang Liu, Shaobing Ma, Zhiyu Wang, Tongtong Li, Yanwei Wang and Jin Wu

Sustainability 2022, 14(16), 9898; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14169898 - 10 Aug 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1522

Abstract

Groundwater contamination risk assessment is an important basis to support the protection of the groundwater ecological environment. In this research, the groundwater contamination risk in typical karst areas in China was evaluated by PLEIK model (P: protective cover; L: land use; E: epikarst [...] Read more.

Groundwater contamination risk assessment is an important basis to support the protection of the groundwater ecological environment. In this research, the groundwater contamination risk in typical karst areas in China was evaluated by PLEIK model (P: protective cover; L: land use; E: epikarst development; I: infiltration conditions; K: karst development) and classification and discrimination methods were used to assess groundwater vulnerability and pollution source load; the water quality index method was used to assess the status of groundwater contamination in the research area. The results show that groundwater vulnerability values in the research area range from 3.04 to 7.79, and most areas have low groundwater vulnerability. Groundwater pollution loading indexes, in the region of the pollution sources, gathered numerical up-water quality status evaluation that shows that most of the regional groundwater quality in the research area has good groundwater at present. The groundwater contamination risk assessment results show that the groundwater pollution risk is mainly at a very low level in most areas of the study area, but the groundwater pollution risk is higher in the areas where the pollution sources gather. The result reveals that the regional groundwater contamination risk level for regional groundwater ecological environment protection provides a theoretical basis for policy making. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Assessment and Management of Groundwater Resources)

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14 pages, 3266 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Impact of Clogging Issues at a Riverbank Filtration Site in the Lalin River, NE, China: A Laboratory Column Study

by Bin Hu, Linmei Liu, Ruihui Chen, Yi Li, Panwen Li, Haiyang Chen, Gang Liu and Yanguo Teng

Sustainability 2022, 14(15), 9330; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14159330 - 29 Jul 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1256

Abstract

Although riverbank filtration (RBF) has been widely applied in China, the managers do not pay enough attention to the inevitable clogging issues during continuous RBF operation. The RBF site, which is located near the Lalin River, northeastern China, was selected as the study [...] Read more.

Although riverbank filtration (RBF) has been widely applied in China, the managers do not pay enough attention to the inevitable clogging issues during continuous RBF operation. The RBF site, which is located near the Lalin River, northeastern China, was selected as the study area, and the laboratory column experiments were used to simulate the RBF process and further investigate the physical and chemical clogging. The removal of turbidity (59.4–95.1%), COD (21.9–71.7%), NH₄⁺ (10.9–39.4%), Fe (18.5–64.8%), and Mn (19.8–71.7%) demonstrated the water quality improvement by RBF. Whereas, the significant decrease in permeability (39.6–88.2%) also indicated that the clogging issues could not be ignored during RBF. Among them, the physical clogging-dominated area, chemical clogging-dominated area, and the transition zone were located at 0–12.5%, 37.5–100%, and 12.5–37.5% of the infiltration pathway, respectively. Moreover, the concentration of suspended particle materials, mean size of riverbed sediments, and aquifer media are the major impact factors for physical clogging; the precipitation of soluble constituents and redox reaction and other hydrochemical processes were the major impact factors for chemical clogging. The conclusion of this study can contribute to managers alleviating the clogging issues and improving the effectiveness of the sustainable operation in the local RBF system. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Assessment and Management of Groundwater Resources)

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16 pages, 8265 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Analysis and Evaluation of Variation Characteristics in Groundwater Resources Carrying Capacity in Beijing between 2010 and 2020

by Yinxin Ge, Jin Wu, Binghua Li, Xiaoyuan Cao and Jiangyue Wu

Sustainability 2022, 14(15), 9200; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14159200 - 27 Jul 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1265

Abstract

The problems of water shortages and groundwater overexploitation are serious in Beijing. Resources are over-exploited to meet the industrial needs of various sectors, and the capacity of groundwater resources to support economic development is also reduced. Therefore, it is of great significance to [...] Read more.

The problems of water shortages and groundwater overexploitation are serious in Beijing. Resources are over-exploited to meet the industrial needs of various sectors, and the capacity of groundwater resources to support economic development is also reduced. Therefore, it is of great significance to study the evaluation of regional groundwater resources carrying capacity from the perspective of time and space. This study evaluates the groundwater resource carrying capacity of Beijing from time and space by using the function between water use efficiency and groundwater availability constructed by regional water supply, consumption data and GDP data. The results show that: The proportion of groundwater in water supply in Beijing has decreased and it was still one of the main sources of water supply from 2010 to 2020. From the perspective of time, when the degree of groundwater exploitation (De) was greater than 1, the contribution rate of exploitation degree of economic development (Dg) reached 60% from 2010 to 2015, indicating that the economic development of Beijing is highly dependent on groundwater resources. From 2015 to 2020, the De was less than 1, but the Dg value kept increasing and approaching 90% and the total overload rate was 81.8%. The supporting capacity of groundwater resources will become more fragile. At the spatial scale, only the Dongcheng and the Xicheng regions were overloaded whose rates were 58.48% and 69.92%. The research shows that the degree of groundwater exploitation has approached the saturation state, the economic development is highly dependent on groundwater resources and there is a large space for water saving. Improving the utilization efficiency of water resources cannot improve the carrying capacity of groundwater resources, so it is still necessary to increase the amount of groundwater resources by recharging the groundwater through a series of comprehensive over-exploitation control measures, which is of great significance to the management and sustainable development of regional groundwater. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Assessment and Management of Groundwater Resources)

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20 pages, 6247 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Ammonium Reactive Migration Process and Functional Bacteria Response along Lateral Runoff Path under Groundwater Exploitation

by Li Meng, Jian Shi, Yuanzheng Zhai, Rui Zuo, Jinsheng Wang, Xueru Guo, Yanguo Teng, Jian Gao, Li Xu and Bingchi Guo

Sustainability 2022, 14(14), 8609; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14148609 - 14 Jul 2022

Viewed by 1161

Abstract

In order to elucidate the importance of biogeochemical interactions between NH₄⁺ and aquifer media in groundwater runoff paths, a dynamic monitoring section in the riverbank zone, which is most sensitive to environmental characteristics and perpendicular to the flow direction of the [...] Read more.

In order to elucidate the importance of biogeochemical interactions between NH₄⁺ and aquifer media in groundwater runoff paths, a dynamic monitoring section in the riverbank zone, which is most sensitive to environmental characteristics and perpendicular to the flow direction of the Songhua River in northeastern China, was selected for field experiments in this study. The results indicated that the NH₄⁺ concentration decreased gradually along the groundwater runoff path under exploitation conditions. The NH₄⁺ concentrations of J1, J2, and J3 decreased by 8%, 18%, and 22%, respectively, as compared to the starting concentration of 1.3 mg/L. Adsorption of NH₄⁺ by aquifer media at different depths is a monolayer adsorption process in accordance with pseudo-second-order kinetic equation. The maximum reduction of NH₄⁺ from the aquifer media from top to bottom was 76%, 67%, 56%, and 42%, respectively. The function and activity of dominant functional bacteria have characteristics of coevolution with the NH₄⁺ transformation process. The main genera in the fluctuation zone are Pseudomonas (8.83%) and Acinetobacter (4.37%), which mainly transform NH₄⁺ by heterotrophic nitrification–aerobic denitrification (HN–AD). The main genera in the saturated zone are Flavobacterium (32.60%) and Sphingobium (3.54%), which mainly transform NH₄⁺ by anaerobic denitrification. The spatial variations of species and abundance for NH₄⁺ transformation functional bacteria decrease by 2.74% and 3.47%, respectively, along groundwater runoff paths. In the vertical and horizontal directions of groundwater runoff, the percentage of adsorption in NH₄⁺ transformation gradually decreased and the percentage of biotransformation gradually increased. The adsorption processes in the O₂/NO₃⁻ reduction, Fe/Mn reduction, and SO₄²⁻ reduction zones were 20.7%, 3.6%, and 1.0%, respectively. The corresponding proportions of the biotransformation process were 79.3%, 96.4%, and 99.0%. This research is critical for elucidating the bio-geochemical interaction between NH₄⁺ and aquifer media along the course of groundwater runoff in order to offer a scientific basis for the prevention and management of groundwater nitrogen pollution. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Assessment and Management of Groundwater Resources)

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14 pages, 2589 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Comparison of Adsorption Capacity and Removal Efficiency of Strontium by Six Typical Adsorption Materials

by Hu Li, Kexue Han, Jinhua Shang, Weihai Cai, Minghao Pan, Donghui Xu, Can Du and Rui Zuo

Sustainability 2022, 14(13), 7723; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14137723 - 24 Jun 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2261

Abstract

The rapid development and application of nuclear technology have been accompanied by the production of large amounts of radioactive wastes, of which Sr is a typical nuclide. In this study, six typical materials with strong adsorption properties, namely activated carbon, kaolin, montmorillonite, bentonite, [...] Read more.

The rapid development and application of nuclear technology have been accompanied by the production of large amounts of radioactive wastes, of which Sr is a typical nuclide. In this study, six typical materials with strong adsorption properties, namely activated carbon, kaolin, montmorillonite, bentonite, zeolite, and attapulgite, were selected. Their adsorption mechanisms were investigated by analyzing their adsorption isotherms, adsorption kinetics, micromorphologies, element contents, specific surface areas, crystal structures, and functional groups. The results showed that the adsorption efficiency of Sr by the six adsorbents can be ranked as zeolite, bentonite, attapulgite, montmorillonite, activated carbon, and kaolin, among which the maximum adsorption capacity of zeolite was 4.07 mg/g. Based on the adsorption kinetic and thermodynamic fitting results, the adsorption of Sr by zeolites, bentonite and attapulgite is consistent with Langmuir model, the pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order model, and the adsorption process of Sr (II) by montmorillonite, activated carbon and kaolinite is consistent with the Freundlich model and corresponds to non-uniform adsorption. The main mechanisms of the six materials are physical adsorption, ion exchange and complexation. In summary, zeolite, bentonite, and attapulgite, especially zeolite, are highly effective for the treatment of radioactive wastewater containing strontium and have great application value in the treatment of radioactive wastes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Assessment and Management of Groundwater Resources)

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16 pages, 4306 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Characteristics of Hydro-Geochemistry and Groundwater Pollution in Songnen Plain in Northeastern China

by Ruihui Chen, Linmei Liu, Yi Li, Yuanzheng Zhai, Haiyang Chen, Bin Hu, Qianru Zhang and Yanguo Teng

Sustainability 2022, 14(11), 6527; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14116527 - 26 May 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1480

Abstract

Agricultural production may cause groundwater pollution. This study investigated the characteristics of shallow groundwater pollution in a typical black land agricultural production area in Northeastern China and the geochemical behavior of major pollutants. A total of 27 and 23 shallow groundwater samples were [...] Read more.

Agricultural production may cause groundwater pollution. This study investigated the characteristics of shallow groundwater pollution in a typical black land agricultural production area in Northeastern China and the geochemical behavior of major pollutants. A total of 27 and 23 shallow groundwater samples were collected for measuring on-site parameters and major components in 2000 and 2014, respectively. The improved integrated approach was used to assess groundwater contamination. The results showed that the groundwater was slightly polluted by agricultural activities. The average concentrations of major ions of shallow groundwater were found to be in the following order: Ca²⁺ > Na⁺ > Mg²⁺ > K⁺ for cations and HCO₃⁻ > SO₄²⁻ > Cl⁻ > NO₃⁻ for anions. Percentages of 7.4% and 34.8% of the total groundwater sample in 2000 and 2014, respectively, indicated that the shallow groundwater quality has gradually worsened in the past few decades. The concentration of NO₃⁻ was a major factor that influenced the observed groundwater quality changes. Scientific and effective fertilization of rice cultivation is an effective way to avoid groundwater pollution, and the improved groundwater quality evaluation methods can further improve the standard of groundwater resource management effectively. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Assessment and Management of Groundwater Resources)

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Review

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26 pages, 1228 KiB

Open AccessReview

Review on Biogeochemical Characteristics of Typical Antibiotics in Groundwater in China

by Wenyu Xiao, Xiaobing Zhao, Yanguo Teng, Jin Wu and Tianyi Zhang

Sustainability 2023, 15(8), 6985; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15086985 - 21 Apr 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2727

Abstract

The problem of antibiotic contamination in the environment has attracted much attention in recent years. However, studies on antibiotic contamination in groundwater have only emerged in the last 15 years. In this study, we systematically reviewed the detection methods, distribution characteristics, risk, fate, [...] Read more.

The problem of antibiotic contamination in the environment has attracted much attention in recent years. However, studies on antibiotic contamination in groundwater have only emerged in the last 15 years. In this study, we systematically reviewed the detection methods, distribution characteristics, risk, fate, and sources of antibiotics in groundwater in China, listed the concentrations of the main antibiotic types, and obtained the maximum concentrations by comparing the literature published in the last 10 years. The results show that 65 antibiotics were detected in groundwater in China, with sulfonamides and quinolones receiving the most attention. Antibiotic concentrations are influenced by hydrogeological conditions and seasonal variations, and the ecological risk in most areas is low to medium risk, which is relatively manageable. The highest concentrations found in most of the literatures were in the range of 10–1000 ng/L, but the maximum concentration can reach 47,444.5 ng/L, which requires extra attention. In addition, this study makes recommendations for improving groundwater monitoring surveys and protection measures to prevent the antibiotic contamination of groundwater more effectively. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Assessment and Management of Groundwater Resources)

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14 pages, 1859 KiB

Open AccessReview

Biogeochemistry of Iron Enrichment in Groundwater: An Indicator of Environmental Pollution and Its Management

by Xuelian Xia, Yanguo Teng and Yuanzheng Zhai

Sustainability 2022, 14(12), 7059; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14127059 - 09 Jun 2022

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2914

Abstract

Iron (Fe) is one of the most biochemically active and widely distributed elements and one of the most important elements for biota and human activities. Fe plays important roles in biological and chemical processes. Fe redox reactions in groundwater have been attracting increasing [...] Read more.

Iron (Fe) is one of the most biochemically active and widely distributed elements and one of the most important elements for biota and human activities. Fe plays important roles in biological and chemical processes. Fe redox reactions in groundwater have been attracting increasing attention in the geochemistry and biogeochemistry fields. This study reviews recent research into Fe redox reactions and biogeochemical Fe enrichment processes, including reduction, biotic and abiotic oxidation, adsorption, and precipitation in groundwater. Fe biogeochemistry in groundwater and the water-bearing medium (aquifer) often involves transformation between Fe(II) and Fe(III) caused by the biochemical conditions of the groundwater system. Human activities and anthropogenic pollutants strongly affect these conditions. Generally speaking, acidification, anoxia and warming of groundwater environments, as well as the inputs of reducing pollutants, are beneficial to the migration of Fe into groundwater (Fe(III)→Fe(II)); conversely, it is beneficial to the migration of it into the media (Fe(II)→Fe(III)). This study describes recent progress and breakthroughs and assesses the biogeochemistry of Fe enrichment in groundwater, factors controlling Fe reactivity, and Fe biogeochemistry effects on the environment. This study also describes the implications of Fe biogeochemistry for managing Fe in groundwater, including the importance of Fe in groundwater monitoring and evaluation, and early groundwater pollution warnings. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Assessment and Management of Groundwater Resources)

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