Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Overexploitation status of groundwater and induced geological hazards in China

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Natural Hazards Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

During the process of urbanization and industrialization, groundwater has been extensively overexploited, with the direct result of continuously decreasing groundwater level, followed by the appearance of large scale of depression cones, which is furthermore followed by land subsidence, seawater intrusion, and increasing difficulties in subsequent groundwater exploitation. This paper makes an analysis on the geological disasters caused by overexploitation of groundwater. The consumption and overexploitation status of groundwater in representative regions in China is discussed first, with the distribution and development of depression cones elaborated the next. And the problems of land subsidence, seawater intrusion, and increasing difficulties caused by overexploitation of groundwater are analyzed at last. Results show that overexploitation of groundwater is positively related to economic development. Moreover, geological disasters such as land subsidence and seawater intrusion caused by long term of overexploitation also aggregate, posing threats, and losses to people’s lives and production. According to the analysis, the fundamental resolution for overexploitation of groundwater as well as consequential geological damages is to properly control city size and to utilize groundwater rationally and efficiently.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bi SH (2003) Current situation of overdrawn area of groundwater and counter measures of control in all over the country. Groundwater 25(2):72–74 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen Y (2011) Optimization and adjustment of monitoring network on Leizhou Peninsula groundwater. Guangdong Water Resour Hydropower 7:55–58 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Gao ZX, Gong YP (1999) Definition and classification of over mining of groundwater resources. J Hohai Univ 27(6):61–63 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Gong SL (2009) Change of groundwater seepage field and its influence on development of land subsidence in Shanghai. J Water Resour Water Eng 20(3):1–6 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Guo ZR, Huang YP (2003) Comprehensive study on seawater intrusion. Hydrology 23(3):10–15 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Hao GZ, Gao J, Chen Y (2009) Environment and geology problems caused by over-exploitation. Inner Mong Water Resour 1:38–39 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • He QC, Ye XB, Li ZM, Liu WB, Li C, Fang H, Chen G, Hu C (2009) Investigation and monitoring of ground subsidence in North China Plain. Hydrogeol Eng Geol 1:2–3 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Huang L, Guo ZR (2008) Mechanism of sea water intrusion in China’s coastal areas and its prevention countermeasures. Chin J Geol Hazard Control 19(2):118–123 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Jiang D, Wang JH, Chen PP (1999) City environmental crisis and solutions to underwater over-deploit. Environ Prot 4:43–44 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Lin ZD (2004) Analysis of development of groundwater in China. Hydrology 24(1):18–21 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu DJ (2004) The situation and analysis of salinity intrusion in coastal areas, China. J Geol Hazards Environ Preserv 15(1):31–36 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu BH, Chen BJ, Gong JZ, Ma XL, Peng JH, Zhang XD (2008) Cause analysis of groundwater funnel in Langfang of Hebei Province. Arid Meteorol 26(2):53–56 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Miao XT, Zhu XX, Lu ML, Chen FC, Huangfu AF (2007) Groundwater exploration from the confined aquiferous and land subsidence control of Suxichang area. Chin J Geol Hazard Control 18(2):132–139 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Miao Q, Chen GQ, Liu WQ, Xu XY, Su Q, Yu HJ (2013) Disaster evolution and genesis of seawater intrusion in the Laizhou Bay. Coast Eng 32(2):69–78 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Ministry of Land and Resources of the People’s Republic of China (2008) Hydrological bulletin of groundwater in major cities and regions, China. (in Chinese)

  • Ministry of Land and Resources of the People’s Republic of China (2009) Hydrological bulletin of groundwater in major cities and regions, China. (in Chinese)

  • Ministry of Land and Resources of the People’s Republic of China (2010) Hydrological bulletin of groundwater in major cities and regions, China. (in Chinese)

  • Ministry of Land and Resources of the People’s Republic of China (2011) Hydrological bulletin of groundwater in major cities and regions, China. (in Chinese)

  • Ministry of Land and Resources of the People’s Republic of China (2012) Hydrological bulletin of groundwater in major cities and regions, China. (in Chinese)

  • Ren ZY (2005) Groundwater Resources Study in Beijing Plain Area. Master Thesis of Jilin University, Changchun, China. (in Chinese)

  • State Oceanic Administration of the People’s Republic of China (2007) Bulletin of Marine Environmental Quality in China. (in Chinese)

  • The Ministry of Water Resources of the People’s Republic of China (2005) Bulletin of North China Plain groundwater. (in Chinese)

  • The Ministry of Water Resources of the People’s Republic of China (2006) Bulletin of North China Plain groundwater. (in Chinese)

  • The Ministry of Water Resources of the People’s Republic of China (2007) Bulletin of North China Plain groundwater. (in Chinese)

  • The Ministry of Water Resources of the People’s Republic of China (2007) Bulletin of China Water Resources. (in Chinese)

  • The Ministry of Water Resources of the People’s Republic of China (2008) Bulletin of North China Plain groundwater. (in Chinese)

  • The Ministry of Water Resources of the People’s Republic of China (2008) Bulletin of China Water Resources. (in Chinese)

  • The Ministry of Water Resources of the People’s Republic of China (2009) Bulletin of North China Plain groundwater. (in Chinese)

  • The Ministry of Water Resources of the People’s Republic of China (2009) Bulletin of China Water Resources. (in Chinese)

  • The Ministry of Water Resources of the People’s Republic of China (2010) Bulletin of China Water Resources. (in Chinese)

  • The Ministry of Water Resources of the People’s Republic of China (2011) Bulletin of China Water Resources. (in Chinese)

  • Tian H, Guo XD, Du JZ, Zhang MG (2011) Analysis on the depression cone of groundwater in Daqing City, Heilongjiang Province. Geol Resour 20(5):339–342 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Tian H, Liu Q, Zhao HQ, Zhang MG (2012) Elementary analysis on status of groundwater cone of depression in Qiqihar City. Ground Water 34(6):44–46 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang YP (2004) Study on land subsidence caused by overexploiting groundwater in Beijing. Site Investig Sci Technol 5:46–49 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang XY, Liang JJ, Wang CM, Han SP, Zang YZ (2008) Effect on geological environment by over exploitation of deep groundwater. J Eng Geol 16(S):151 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Wei JS, Xu J, Lu Y, Yi CR (2012) Analysis on land subsidence funnel in Wangqingtuo area of Tianjin. Ground Water 34(5):49–51 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Wu WH (2005) An analysis of the status of water resources in China. Manag Geol Sci Technol 22:71–74 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Xue YQ (2012) Discussion on groundwater overexploitation and ground settlement. Ground Water 6:1–5 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Yang LZ, Liu CH, Liu ZY (2010) Identification of threshold value of land subsidence caused by exploiting deep groundwater in Dezhou. J Water Resour Water Eng 21(5):55–60 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang ZY (2007) Analysis on present situation and development trend of groundwater descent funnel in Cangzhou City. Ground Water 29(1):50–53 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhao HL (2007) Analysis of depression cone and groundwater in Dezhou City. Anhui Agric Sci Bull 13(19):99–100 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhou NQ, Zhao S (2013) Urbanization process and induced environmental geological hazards in China. Nat Hazards 67:797–810

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhou JW, Li JF, Zhou AG, Wen TZ, Chen HN (2005) The genesis and regularity of land subsidence in Jining urban area. J Hunan Univer Sci Technol 20(1):6–9 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Engineering and Technology, China University of Geosciences, Beijing, 100083, China

    F. Huang, G. H. Wang, Y. Y. Yang & C. B. Wang

Authors
  1. F. Huang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. G. H. Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Y. Y. Yang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. C. B. Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to F. Huang.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Huang, F., Wang, G.H., Yang, Y.Y. et al. Overexploitation status of groundwater and induced geological hazards in China. Nat Hazards 73, 727–741 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-014-1102-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-014-1102-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation