Influence of south-to-north water diversion on major cones of depression in North China Plain

The developments of cones of depression in the North China Plain (NCP) were studied to determine the possible impact of the proposed South-to-North Water Diversion Project (SNWDP) on groundwater levels. In the past five decades, the exploitation of groundwater in the NCP has been excessive. Numerous hydrological and hydrogeological problems were caused by the gradual decline of the water table in the NCP. In order to protect groundwater resources and alleviate hydrogeological problems, the SNWDP was proposed to progressively solve the shortage of water resources in northern China. In this paper, the development of cones of depression was studied to determine the possible impact of the hydrological engineering, the SNWDP. In the study, a numerical model for regional groundwater flow was created using MODFLOW. The results showed that the SNWDP is beneficial for groundwater recovery in the NCP. The area of cones of depression will be reduced to varying degrees. Some immense groundwater cones will gradually shrink. However, it will take a long time to recover groundwater environment in the NCP.