North China's Groundwater Levels Steadily Rising: Wang Daoxi

Groundwater levels in North China have been steadily increasing in recent years according to authorities.

North China's Groundwater Levels Steadily Rising: Wang Daoxi

Groundwater levels in North China have been steadily increasing in recent years according to authorities.

Vice Minister Wang Daoxi stated at a press conference that between 2018 and 2022, the average depth of shallow groundwater in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region increased by 2.25 metres, while that of the deep groundwater increased by 6.72 metres.

He further stated that China has recently increased water efficiency in agriculture and strengthened water conservation measures. It has also strictly regulated the growth of industries that use large amounts of water and reduced its capacity for producing such goods.

“Aquatic biodiversity increased during this time, and the water quality of North China’s rivers and lakes improved,” said Wang.

As the state of the water shortage in north China has not significantly improved, vice minister of the water resources Wang Daoxi urged unceasing efforts to address groundwater over extraction.

The water table, below which the ground is saturated with water, can be lowered, which is the most severe effect of excessive groundwater pumping. Water must be pumped from a well that extends below the water table in order to be extracted from the ground.

If groundwater levels drop too low, the well owner may need to drill a new well, deepen the existing well, or at the very least try to lower the pump. Additionally, the rate at which the well can produce water may decrease as water levels drop.

Contrary to popular belief, groundwater and the surface water interact more frequently than most people realise. The water that flows in rivers comes in part, and frequently in large part, from groundwater seeping into the streambed.

In the majority of the physiographic and climatic settings, groundwater feeds streams. The amount of groundwater inflow into streams varies depending on the geography, geology, and climate of a given area.