Identification of the Pollution Mechanisms and Remediation Strategies for Abandoned Wells in the Karst Areas of Northern China

Huayao Li, Fawang Zhang, Xinqiang Du, Dezhi Tian, Shan Jiao, Jiliang Zhu () and Fenggang Dai
Additional contact information
Huayao Li: Key Laboratory of Groundwater Resources and Environment, Ministry of Education, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China
Fawang Zhang: Center for Hydrogeology and Environmental Geology Survey, CGS, Baoding 071051, China
Xinqiang Du: Key Laboratory of Groundwater Resources and Environment, Ministry of Education, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China
Dezhi Tian: The Third Geological Exploration Institute of China Metallurgical Geology Bureau, Taiyuan 450016, China
Shan Jiao: The Third Geological Exploration Institute of China Metallurgical Geology Bureau, Taiyuan 450016, China
Jiliang Zhu: Center for Hydrogeology and Environmental Geology Survey, CGS, Baoding 071051, China
Fenggang Dai: Hebei Province Collaborative Innovation Center for Sustainable Utilization of Water Resources and Optimization of Industrial Structure, School of Water Resources and Environment, Hebei GEO University, Shijiazhuang 050031, China

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 23, 1-18

Abstract: Abandoned well pollution is a critical component of global environmental issues and a historical legacy issue of national development. Despite this, the specific mechanisms by which abandoned wells pollute groundwater remain unclear, particularly in the karst regions of Northern China, where no scientifically effective remediation methods exist. To address this gap, this study focuses on Yangquan City in Shanxi Province and employs field investigations, the analytic hierarchy process, high-definition deep-well logging technology, and qualitative analysis to assess the pollution risk of all abandoned wells in the study area, identifying those with high pollution risk. Through the analysis of extensive image and video data for these high-risk wells, we propose a conceptual model of cross-strata channels in abandoned wells and elucidate the mechanisms by which they pollute groundwater. The results show that, from a single-well perspective, the pollution mechanism is cross-strata pollution. From a regional perspective, the pollution mechanisms are hydraulic connectivity and solute migration and transformation. Based on these findings, we present a scientifically effective remediation strategy tailored to the typical characteristics of abandoned wells in the study area, offering a viable solution to the abandoned well pollution problem in Yangquan City. This research not only augments the theoretical framework in the domain of groundwater pollution but also advances sustainable groundwater security and management strategies. Moreover, the study furnishes theoretical foundations and pragmatic solutions for the remediation of abandoned wells in Yangquan City, which are crucial for the sustainability of the groundwater ecosystem.

Keywords: abandoned wells; abandoned well remediation; cross-strata channels; pollution mechanism (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/23/16458/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/23/16458/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:23:p:16458-:d:1291656

Access Statistics for this article

Sustainability is currently edited by Ms. Alexandra Wu

More articles in Sustainability from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().