Groundwater resources in Xiong'an New Area and its exploitation potential

Groundwater resources have played an important role in the national social and economic development, especially in the northern region where surface water resources are relatively scarce. It is very important for security guarantee of water supply to understand hydrogeology, dynamic characteristics of groundwater, and exploitation potential of groundwater resources in a certain area. The Xiong'an New Area was selected as pilot area to analyze and summarize the regional hydrogeology and dynamic characteristics of groundwater based on hydrogeological survey and groundwater monitoring in recent years as well as the previous achievements. Aiming at recovering groundwater depression cones as the sustainable exploitation strategy of groundwater, different scenarios were put forward, including current condition, river recharge, water-saving from agricultural and industrial water consumption, and decrease or prohibition of groundwater pumping. Using groundwater numerical simulation technology, the prediction results of different scenarios after 30 years were comprehensively analyzed, and the sustainable exploitation and utilization scheme of groundwater in plain area of Baiyangdian Watershed was put forward. The results show that the hydrogeology is relatively simple in Xiong'an New Area with normal water-bearing capacity in shallow aquifers and good in deep aquifers. The groundwater level has been declining for many years, and getting stable or rising up in the past one or two years. The quality of groundwater is good and stable both in shallow and deep aquifers. According the assessment, the exploitation potential of groundwater in Xiong'an New Area is about 1.80×10⁸ m³/a, with 1.50×10⁸ m³/a in shallow aquifers and 0.30×10⁸ m³/a in deep aquifers.