Groundwater as a sustainable source of income and wealth creation

Asia, and in particular the Mekong Delta region, is under increasing water use pressure. Food production and quality is one element of these growing pressures, as is water management. The authors have first-hand knowledge and experience in groundwater use and management in rural Thailand. Through the adoption of a micro-management, demand-driven approach, with its ultimate objective of sustainability and the betterment of the quality of human life, the Mekong delta and other similar rural areas in Asia offer considerable opportunity for more optimal sustainable exploitation of groundwater. This water source should be prioritized for village usage, which if properly allocated and managed, will lift a significant human population from poverty, into a more sustainable existence. This readily available, reliable groundwater resource exists and has both the capacity for abundant storage as well as the potential for commercial and household supply. The focus has been on understanding the distribution of the delta’s relatively shallow, well sustained, and consistently recharged groundwater resource, and its potential symbiotic linkage to low-volume household demand. Water has been employed in a variety of ways from improving quality of life and sanitation to generating income through the cultivation of cash crops and other similar productive uses. The fundamental aims of the initial model and subsequent trials have been to harness this robust water source and deliver otherwise unattainable income to households. As the following, more detailed study of rural Thailand demonstrates, the benefits of such an approach deliver sustainable enhancements to the quality of constituents’ lives, are environmentally sensitive and sustainable, and harmonize with governmental efforts to alleviate poverty through the enablement of income generation from groundwater utilization.     

国际科学界跨世纪的重大研究主题——国际全球变化研究实施十年进展与现状

全球变化研究是国际科学界跨世纪的重大研究主题。国际全球变化研究从其组织、计划制定与实施已逐渐形成了一套有机的完整的框架体系，整体推动着全球变化研究的深入开展。文章从国际全球变化的组织框架、计划体系和主要研究环节等主要方面概述了国际全球变化研究实施十年后的进展与现状，特别是分析概括了全球变化研究的主要环节——观测研究、过程研究、预测研究、数据与信息管理研究、影响（后果）分析研究、对策研究与政策评估研究，简明概述了其研究现状与进展     

Urban and rural groundwater use in Zhengzhou, China: challenges in joint management

Groundwater plays an important role in the total water supply of much of China, particularly in the north. It has contributed substantially to both agricultural growth and urban and industrial expansion. However, overexploitation and poor management have contributed to infamous groundwater depletion problems and less publicized groundwater quality deterioration. One of the key challenges for China will be how to make groundwater use sustainable while still meeting increased food needs as well as the industrial and domestic demands of a rapidly urbanizing society. Zhengzhou City, one of China’s test cities for building a “water saving society” highlights both the difficulties and potential solutions to northern China’s joint rural and urban groundwater challenges. Based on secondary data and a primary survey of groundwater management in the region, this report provides an overview of Zhengzhou’s groundwater development and use as well as the ongoing institutional and policy reform processes within the water sector. The results highlight how a deepening of ongoing reforms, which simultaneously consider groundwater as an integral rural and urban issue and a fundamental economic and social asset, may improve groundwater outcomes, not only in Zhengzhou but in China, as the country’s economy and demography continue to change.     

关中盆地水资源可持续开发利用对策研究--以渭南市为例

以关中盆地东部的渭南市为例，概述了水资源的分布特征及其开发利用现状。认为水资源开发利用中存在水资源浪费严重，重复利用率低；行政区块限制，水资源调配不够；不合理开采地下水，出现负环境效应；地下水人工调控力度不够，不能有效的促进生态环境良性循环；对地下水资源的研究、规划和管理滞后等五个方面的主要问题。针对存在的主要问题，提出了六项水资源可持续开发利用对策，包括节水对策、开源对策、改水对策、调水对策、增补对策以及管理对策。     

Climate change and groundwater resources in Lao PDR

The national economy of Lao PDR is highly dependent on water resources. Consequently, the sustainable management of groundwater and successful adaptations to future climate change are major concerns. Climate projections for Lao PDR predict increased rainfall and hot weather, with more intense rainfall events and more frequent and severe droughts and floods. Under climate change, reductions in the amount and quality of groundwater are two critical problems. Reductions of the groundwater level will restrict the access of local people to groundwater resources, thereby posing a threat to food security and livelihoods. Lao PDR suffers from a limited number of human resources with the requisite skills to perform groundwater investigations and provide sustainable management. For the successful implementation of groundwater management plans, limitations associated with funding and technology should be resolved via support from the government and international cooperation. Advanced action plans for capacity building and training courses should be established to strengthen administrative and individual capacities. Technical measures, such as groundwater monitoring, aquifer characterizations, and water treatment systems, should be implemented to manage future climate change and water resource security.     

Evaluation of the water resources carrying capacity of Shandong peninsula,China

Research on the carrying capacity and security of water resources is vital for its contribution to implementing sustainable development goals. The limitation of water resources is one of the most important factors that influence the sustainable utilization of resources. Studying the carrying capacity of water resources will not only facilitate monitoring and forecast of national resources and environmental carrying capacity, but also be valuable for building ecological civilization. According to the principles of evaluation system, the carrying capacity of water resources on Shandong peninsula is explored. A comprehensive evaluation model of the carrying capacity of water resources is constructed based on the carrying capacity of water resources index and the composite of water resources index. The results show that the capacity of water resources on Shandong peninsula is generally consistent with overexploitation, and that the development and utilization of water resources has reached a considerable scale under existing economic and technological conditions. The carrying capacity of water resources in this region is relatively small, and the contradiction between supply and demand of water resources is alarming. Relative countermeasures are put forward, to improve the water resources carrying capacity and to provide a basis for future sustainable development and utilization of water resources in this region.     

Groundwater status and associated issues in the Mekong-Lancang River Basin: International collaborations to achieve sustainable groundwater resources

Groundwater is an important and readily available source of fresh water in the Mekong-Lancang River Basin. With a rapid population growth and increasing human activities, an increasing number of countries in the Mekong-Lancang River Basin are experiencing depleted and degraded groundwater supplies. In transboundary river basins, such as the Mekong-Lancang River, prioritizing the use of the shared aquifer by one riparian government may affect the opportunities of other riparian governments and lead to potential water conflicts between neighboring countries. To promote the sharing of strategies and information for the sustainable and equitable use of water resources of the shared basin, international collaborative workshops on groundwater resources have been organized for all Mekong-Lancang River countries. These workshops provide an opportunity to communicate and discuss nationally sensitive issues on groundwater by the associated countries, with topics covering multiple aspects of groundwater, such as the groundwater status in the basin, quality issues, water use conflicts, hydrological information gaps, management policies and capacity building for successful water resource management. Consensus has been reached by all countries on the importance of catchment-based groundwater management and the need for close communication among the countries. Strategies for managing transboundary aquifer issues must foster international collaboration based on the regional network, influence national networks and enhance the capacity to building maps and monitoring systems based on associated databases. The sustainability of water resources cannot be achieved without the integrated involvement and contributions by multiple countries and various stakeholders. Therefore, collaborative workshops provide a great opportunity to further our understanding of the hydrologic processes of the Mekong River Basin, share the benefits of the aquifer and provide a strategy and vision for sustainable water resource management in the Mekong-Lancang River countries.     

地下水库拓展中原沿黄经济带水资源承载能力研究

水资源承载能力制约和决定了经济社会可持续发展,拓展提高水资源承载能力,能为经济社会可持续发展提供更大的水资源支撑空间。黄河两岸的浅层地下水含水层,具备相当大的蓄储调蓄功能,形成了巨大的地下水库。计算结果显示,在原有水资源总量不增加的情况下,运用地下水库调蓄黄河水和大气降水,使得中原沿黄经济带2020年75%、90%年型的缺水率从11.4%、21.7%下降为0.5%和2.1%。采用地下水库调蓄很大程度上减少了中原沿黄经济带水资源开发利用的缺水率,使该地区的水资源承载能力大大提高。     

Assessment of groundwater potential of Gandhinagar region,Gujarat

With burgeoning population, the groundwater demands of any area increased by many fold and therefore, it is essential to assess the groundwater potential to choose suitable sites for further groundwater development. Present study determines the groundwater potential of different parts of Gandhinagar region located at Gandhinagar district, Gujarat, India. Here, excluding city dwellers, all villagers are mostly dependent on groundwater for drinking and domestic purposes. With increasing population, there is a rise in daily human consumption and hence reduction in groundwater quantity.Various types of industries of Gandhinagar such as textile industries, food processing industries, ceramic industries etc. also require groundwater. Industrial discharges deteriorate the water quality of this region. Therefore, water level monitoring and quality assessment of groundwater in regular intervals is essential. The groundwater potential zoning is an indicator, which gives the overall idea about the groundwater condition. Overlay analysis in GIS using multiple criteria such as WQI, hydraulic conductivity, groundwater velocity, and depth to piezometric surface discloses that there are five groundwater potential zones in Gandhinagar region. This study reveals that majority of the study area is covered with medium potential zone. Different management plans such as treated surface water supply, reduction in tubewell operation time, development of rooftop rainwater harvesting system and artificial recharge system etc. are recommended for different potential zones for sustainable development of groundwater of Gandhinagar region.     

黑龙港地区农业—水资源—环境系统分析

通过现状农业—水资源—环境系统分析与诊断发现,黑龙港地区农业结构失调,背离资源条件发展农业,超采地下水,已使该区面临水资源不能永续利用、环境不断恶化的威胁;认为①立足水资源条件发展农业,是建立协调优化的农业—水资源—环境系统,实现农业可持续发展的必要前提;②采用综合措施有效利用土壤水,科学灌溉微咸水,合理开发利用地下水和地表水,是提高水资源对农业贡献的关键;③加强综合科技投入和农村市场经济建设,发展集约化农业,是在有限水资源条件下提高农业生产效率的重要保证;④提高全社会对可持续发展的认识,进行相应的能力建设,是实现黑龙港地区农业—水资源—环境协调可持续发展的社会基础。     

Asian Transboundary Aquifers Inventory and Mapping

Transboundary aquifer (TBA) is an aquifer system that exists in more than one state. As an important component of the groundwater system, proper management and rational utilization in trans-boundary aquifers are significantly important for promoting sustainable development and good-neighbor relationships. The Transboundary Aquifers will not implicate by the country’s political boundary as it follows the natural boundary lines. Within the frame work of the UNESCO''s International Hydrological Programme (IHP-VI & VII) activities for the International Shared Aquifer Resource Management (ISARM), the inventory on TBA in Asia both preliminary and detail has accomplished. Those TBAs are classified in to two types: regional and local grade. A of Asian Transboundary Aquifers Map has advanced. The updated map provides the situation of the regional TBAs identify as the actual shape. Countries with the TBAs should strengthen cooperation for coordination and joint management of groundwater resources in order to achieve sustainable use     

Evaluation of groundwater potential and eco-geological environment quality in Sanjiang Plain of Heilongjiang Province

Sanjiang Plain of Heilongjiang Province has become an important commodity grain base in our country after the construction of more than a century. Groundwater is the main water source for industrial and agricultural production and daily life in the area. With the large-scale development and construction in this area, there are a series of ecological and environmental geological problems, such as the reduction of groundwater resources, which seriously restricts the sustainable development of local agriculture and society as well as economy. Based on the characteristics of three-dimensional flowof groundwater in Sanjiang Plain, this paper adopts the simulation software Visual MODFLOW to evaluate groundwater exploitation potential. The results show that overall there is a certain exploitation potential of Sanjiang Plain groundwater but it is unevenly distributed, and overdraft phenomenon exists in seven farms such as Baoquanling and Chuangye. Based on analytic hierarchy process, the evaluation result of eco-geological environment quality in Sanjiang Plain shows that 94.5% of the region features good geological environment quality, medium stability and medium bearing capacity. The study can provide geological evidence for optimal allocation of water resources, land planning and regulation, and the high and stable yield of the commodity grain base in Sanjiang Plain.     

浅谈环境保护中的不平衡性

保护人类生存的环境是可持续发展的一个必要条件,人口与环境之间的矛盾日益突出,当今矛盾双方力量的不平衡性主要表现在温室效应、臭氧层破坏和物种灭绝方面。地学哲学工作者面临一次机遇和挑战。     

东北地区地下水资源可持续利用的主要问题和对策浅析

在概述东北地区自然地理和水文地质条件的基础上，从地下水供需矛盾、地下水超采及其环境效应、地下水污染等方面阐述了影响地下水资源可持续利用的主要问题，并从社会发展、科学技术、开采历史、水资源管理、立法与执法等5个层面进行了分析。针对东北地区国民经济发展对水资源的需求、目前存在的影响地下水资源可持续利用的主要问题，提出了不同地区的地下水资源勘查开发、节约用水、地下水理论研究等地下水资源的可持续利用对策，对区域宏观水资源管理具有参考价值。     

生态水文学与生态水文地质学

在分析生态水文学学科发展过程的基础上，对生态水文地质学的研究对象、内容和方法进行了讨论。生态水文地质学是生态学与水文地质学交叉渗透后形成的学科，是地下水资源可持续利用的理论基础。当前中国生态水文地质学研究的主要任务是生态状况的定量描述、水文地质条件与生态状况的关系、多重界面水分转换机制及其生态效应、含水层中地下水各种物理化学过程的生态效应和气候变化对地下水的影响及其生态响应等问题。生态水文地质学必将在中国实施可持续发展战略的过程中发挥巨大的作用。     

可持续发展理论与《中国21世纪议程》

可持续发展与２１世纪议程是当代全球十分关注的两个新概念。我国政府已将可持续发展作为现代化建设中的一个重大战略决策，将《中国２１世纪议程》作为制定国民经济和社会发展计划的指导性文件。文章从国际可持续发展面面观和我国学者对可持续发展理论的理解与探讨等几个层次上剖析了可持续发展的内涵，并结合全球第一个国家级２１世纪议程──《中国２１世纪议程》的制定与实施，阐明了《中国２１世纪议程》的主要内容、特点及其与可持续发展的联系，为地学工作者理解我国这一重大战略和贯彻实施《中国２１世纪议程》提供了导向性信息。     

辽宁省阜新地区地下水水质特征及污染防治措施

地下水水质特征和污染程度直接反映地下水环境质量的好坏。由于受工业“三废”、地表水体以及矿山固体废弃物排放等因素的影响,阜新地区地下水水质受到严重的污染,部分地下水化学指标已超出国家饮用水标准。文章综合分析该地区水文地质概况及水质特征,其中包括自然环境下地下水化学特征和人为环境下地下水化学特征,初步探讨了影响地下水污染的主要因素,并提出地下水污染的防治措施和对策,对该地区地下水资源合理开发、保护和可持续利用具有重要意义。     

Evaluation on water resources carrying capacity of Changchun-Jilin Region

Based on such principles as sustainable development and ecological cycle, this paper evaluates the water resources carrying capacity (WCC) of Changchun-Jilin region using a population-economy-water resources correlation evaluation model built on the basis of WCC evaluation method as elaborated in the methodology of Functional Zoning of Population Development. Results show that the annual WCC of Changchun-Jilin region is able to support the population there, as a basic balance is struck between population and water resources. The incorporation of WCC into overall urban planning is one of the building blocks for sustainable city development with an advisable size.     

Groundwater quality assessment for domestic and agricultural purposes in Yan’an City,northwest China: implications to sustainable groundwater quality management on the Loess Plateau

Groundwater is critical for the sustainable development of the Loess Plateau, while groundwater quality is generally poor in this area due to natural factors and anthropogenic pollution. This study was carried out to investigate the suitability of groundwater for domestic and agricultural purposes in Yan’an City on the Chinese Loess Plateau and to assess its implications to sustainable groundwater management on the plateau. The index levels were compared with the threshold values established by the national and the WHO drinking water guidelines, and the suitability of groundwater for irrigation purposes was assessed using multiple agricultural water quality indicators. An entropy-weighted Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to an Ideal Solution (entropy-weighted TOPSIS) was adopted for overall groundwater quality assessment. The results indicate that the study area is characterized by saline, hard, and slightly alkaline groundwater, mainly of the HCO₃–Ca·Mg type, accompanied by some minor SO₄·Cl–Ca·Mg type. The dissolution of carbonates and gypsum and the leaching of soluble salts are important natural processes influencing the groundwater ion chemistry. The parameters TH, TDS, and SO₄^2? are major indices, while Fe, Mn, F^?, and NH₄⁺ are minor contaminants affecting groundwater quality. The overall groundwater quality is generally acceptable for irrigation, and most of the water is suitable for drinking. Rainwater harvesting, water quality improvement programs, regular water quality monitoring, and multidisciplinary water research programs are suggested as measures for sustainable groundwater management on the Loess Plateau.     

基于GMS的靖边县古山坑地下水源利用量研究

陕西榆林近年经济增速名列全省前列,但水资源匮乏严重制约着经济再上新台阶,选择黄土高原腹地的靖边县榆林炼油厂古山坑水源地作为研究对象,采用GMS技术,准确模拟集中开采下的地下水三维流形态,研究在工业生产规模扩大、地下水需求量增加的条件下,整个研究区地下水位的变化情况。研究表明在补给主要靠自然降水的干旱区,进行长时间、大流量取水,地下水位会持续下降,水资源呈负均衡状态,选择合理开采方案可降低风险,实现可持续发展。