Nitrate pollution from agriculture in different hydrogeological zones of the regional groundwater flow system in the North China Plain

Abstract

A survey of the quality of groundwater across a broad area of the North China Plain, undertaken in 1998 to 2000, indicates that nitrate pollution is a serious problem affecting the drinking water for a vast population. The use of nitrogen (N)-fertilizer in agriculture has greatly increased over the past 20 years to meet the food needs of the rapidly expanding population. During the study, 295 water samples were collected from wells and springs to determine the water chemistry and the extent of nitrate pollution. High concentrations of nitrate, especially in a recharge area along the western side, but also in the vicinity of Beijing and locally in other parts of the plain, pose a serious problem for the drinking water supply. In places, the nitrate concentration exceeds the maximum for safe drinking water of 45 mg/L. The intense use of N-fertilizer and the widespread use of untreated groundwater for crop irrigation contribute greatly to the problem, but no doubt the disposal of industrial and municipal waste into streams and infiltrating the aquifer also contribute to the problem; however, the lack of data prevents evaluation of those sources. In the recharge area, nitrate is found at depths of as much as 50 m. Near Beijing, relatively high concentrations of nitrate occur at depths of as much as 80 m. In the discharge area, in the vicinity of the Yellow River, high concentrations of nitrate occur at depths of <8 m.ResumØ Une campagne d'Øvaluation de la qualitØ de l'eau souterraine entreprise entre 1998 et 2000 à travers une vaste Øtendue de la plaine du nord en Chine indique que la pollution par les nitrates est un probl me sØrieux qui affecte la qualitØ de l'eau souterraine pour une abondante population. L'utilisation de fertilisants azotØs pour l'agriculture a augmentØ considØrablement durant les 20 derni res annØes afin de rencontrer les besoins alimentaires d'une population à forte croissance. Lors de cette Øtude, 295 Øchantillons d'eau ont ØtØ prØlevØs dans des puits et sources naturelles afin de dØterminer la composition chimique de l'eau souterraine ainsi que l'Øtendue de la pollution par les nitrates. Des concentrations ØlevØes de nitrates, en particulier dans une zone de recharge le long de la limite ouest de la plaine, mais aussi dans la rØgion de Beijing et sporadiquement dans la plaine, posent de sØrieux probl mes à la consommation de l'eau souterraine. A certains endroits, la concentration en nitrates exc de la valeur maximale acceptØe pour la consommation qui est de 45 mg NO 3 /L. L'utilisation intensive de fertilisants azotØs ainsi que l'utilisation rØ-pandue d'eau souterraine non traitØe pour l'irrigation contribuent pour beaucoup au probl me, mais il ne fait pas de doute que le rejet des dØchets municipaux et industriels dans les rivi res et aquif res y est aussi pour quelque chose. Par contre, le manque de donnØs ne permet pas d'Øvaluer la contribution de chacune de ces sources. Dans la zone de recharge, les nitrates se retrouvent à des profondeurs allant jusqu'à 50 m. Pr s de Beijing, ...

Changes in nitrogen budget and potential risk to the environment over 20years (1990–2010) in the agroecosystems of the Haihe Basin, China

“…A survey of the NO 3 -N concentrations of shallow groundwater in the North China Plain indicated that approximately 21.5% of the total surface area of the plain had NO 3 -N levels above 10 mg/L (Li et al, 2001). Groundwater NO 3 -N increased significantly as the N fertilization rate increased (Zhao et al, 2007), and the overuse of N fertilizer was the principal factor affecting groundwater nitrate pollution (Chen et al, 2005).…”

“…Due to agricultural development and the overuse of N fertilizer, water shortages and water pollution have become very serious problems in the Haihe Basin, which has been one of the most polluted regions in China (Chen et al, 2005;Liu et al, 2010;Wu et al, 2011). A survey of groundwater nitrate-N concentrations in the Haihe Basin showed that approximately 45% of 600 groundwater samples exceeded 11.3 mg NO 3 -N/L (50 mg NO 3 − N/L), the World Health Organization's and Europe's limit for nitrate in drinking water.…”

Budget and Fate of Phosphorus and Trace Metals in a Heavily Loaded Shallow Reservoir (Shahe, Beijing City)

“…The contamination of surface water with nutrients as well as trace metals and organic xenobiotics has increased in China in the past 30-40 years as a consequence of rapid urbanization, economic growth, intensification of agricultural productivity, and water scarcity [1,2]. Drinking water production requires increasingly laborious and expensive techniques, and surface water ecosystems are under great threat with respect to biodiversity and ambient quality [3][4][5].…”

Field scale interaction and nutrient exchange between surface water and shallow groundwater in the Baiyang Lake region, North China Plain

“…Current enhancements in the productivity of the NCP have been driven by two major management changes: the expanded use of inorganic fertilizer since the 1970s, and the increase in irrigation (Li et al, 2011) that enables the harvest of two crops per year. However, the growth in production is taking a toll on the environment, and recent studies report overexploitation of local water resources with observed groundwater (GW) level declines of up to 1 m per year , as well as elevated nitrate concentrations in groundwaters exceeding 11.3 mg NO 3 -N/L (50 mg NO 3 /L), which is the World Health Organization's drinking water standard (Chen et al, 2005;Ju et al, 2006;Zhang et al, 1996).…”