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Characterization of drinking groundwater quality and assessment of human health risk in Xin'an spring basin, a typical mining and karst area of the northern China

Understanding the impact of natural processes and anthropogenic activities on geochemical evolution is vital for groundwater protection and utilization. This research was devoted to identifying the water quality status and the main controlling factors of the hydrochemical evolution of karst groundwater by combining hydrogeochemical indicators with multi-isotope analysis techniques in the Heilongdong Spring Basin, North China. The results showed that the karst groundwater in the area was of meteoric origin, and the dissolution of carbonate minerals was dominant in water–rock interactions. Meanwhile, the positive and negative cation exchange occurred in the process. The main hydrochemical types of karst groundwater were HCO3-Ca·Mg and HCO3-Ca in the recharge area, while the predominant hydrochemical types were the HCO3·SO4-Ca·Mg and HCO3·SO4-Ca in the runoff and discharge area. Under the influence of coal mining and other factors, the average concentrations of major ions kept rising in the runoff area where coal mines were distributed, and the SO42− concentrations of the karst groundwater changed the most in the study area. In addition, sewage from agricultural production and domestic sources had also negatively impacted the quality of regional groundwater in the runoff and discharge area, as evidenced by the increasing NO3− and Cl− contents in the Quaternary sediment groundwater, Permian bedrock groundwater and a small portion of karst groundwater. These results were helpful to explain the mechanism of gradual hydrogeochemical changes and provided a scientific basis for the effective management and utilization of karst groundwater.