Using major ions and stable isotopes to characterize recharge regime of a fault-influenced aquifer in Beiyishui River Watershed, North China Plain

SummaryA thorough understanding of recharge is usually a prerequisite for effective groundwater management. The recharge regime remains unrevealed in the piedmont plain of the North China Plain, where is considered as the main recharge zone of the Quaternary aquifer. To characterize the recharge regime, a case study is presented in the piedmont plain of the Beiyishui River Watershed. The piedmont plain consists of proluvial fan and alluvial fan/plain, and groundwater quality in the two parts is distinct. Total dissolved solids and isotopic compositions are higher in the groundwater of proluvial fan than the groundwater of the alluvial fan/plain. Local precipitation only recharges the groundwater in the proluvial fan. Fracture water ascending along a buried normal fault and lateral inflow from the proluvial fan feed the unconfined aquifer in the alluvial fan/plain. The runoff of the Beiyishui River seeps in the streambed of upper reaches and then overflows seasonally in middle reach. The recharge from middle reach to the aquifer is negligible. In addition, the fracture water originates from precipitation in the mountainous area with an average elevation about 500 m and discharges to the overlaying aquifer. The contribution of fracture water to the aquifer was estimated to be 77.9% in the alluvial fan/plain area. Due to the mixture in the aquifer, major ions leached from soil of the proluvial fan are diluted and the hydrochemical pattern is changed from Ca·Mg–HCO3·SO4 to Ca·Mg–HCO3. It is considered that fracture water is the major recharge source of the unconfined aquifer and the variation of precipitation in mountainous area would primarily affect the recharge. This paper also shows the hydrological efficiency of buried normal fault as preferential flow.

► The buried normal fault acts as a conduit for upward flow.
► Fracture water and lateral inflow feed the alluvial aquifer in piedmont plain.
► Fracture water originates from montane precipitation with an elevation of 500 m.
► The fractional contribution of the fracture water was estimated to be 77.9%.