Chemical Characteristics and Water Quality Assessment of Groundwater in Wusheng Section of Jialing River

Yuan Du, Ping He (), Liangshuai Wei, Ling Huang and Ming He
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Yuan Du: Institute of Exploration Technology, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Chengdu 611734, China
Ping He: Institute of Exploration Technology, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Chengdu 611734, China
Liangshuai Wei: Institute of Exploration Technology, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Chengdu 611734, China
Ling Huang: Institute of Exploration Technology, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Chengdu 611734, China
Ming He: Institute of Exploration Technology, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Chengdu 611734, China

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 10, 1-15

Abstract: As an important ecological barrier in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River, the Jialing River Basin has complex and sensitive hydrochemical evolutionary mechanisms due to its geological structures and human activities. This study focuses on the groundwater in the Wusheng section of the Jialing River Basin, combining field investigations and Entropy-Weighted Water Quality Index (EWQI) calculations to analyze its hydrochemical characteristics and influencing factors and conduct a water quality assessment. The results show that this regional water body has a pH of 7.05–8.36, presenting weakly alkaline and low-mineralization characteristics, with differences in hydrochemical components between groundwater and surface water. The ions are predominantly controlled by rock weathering, with reactions such as halite and gypsum dissolution occurring during groundwater runoff. Groundwater in the tectonic influence zone exhibits abnormal chemical compositions due to lateral recharge from different strata along fracture channels and long-distance runoff reactions with the surrounding rocks. EWQI values for groundwater range from 6.07 to 104.02, with an average value of 37.46, generally exhibiting a trend of increasing EWQI values near the Jialing Riverbank. In this area, 96.15% of groundwater meets excellent or good quality standards and is suitable for direct drinking. The influence of the intensity of different indicators on groundwater quality decreases in the order of Ca 2+ > Cl − > Mg 2+ > SO 4 2− > HCO 3 − > NO 3 − . Water quality is primarily influenced by the primary geological background, while agricultural practices may also lead to its deterioration.

Keywords: Jialing River Basin; groundwater hydrochemistry; water quality evolution; water–rock interaction; Entropy-Weighted Water Quality Index (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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