South-to-North Water Diversion stabilizing Beijing’s groundwater levels

Di Long (), Wenting Yang, Bridget R. Scanlon, Jianshi Zhao, Dagen Liu, Peter Burek, Yun Pan, Liangzhi You and Yoshihide Wada
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Di Long: Tsinghua University
Wenting Yang: Tsinghua University
Bridget R. Scanlon: The University of Texas at Austin
Jianshi Zhao: Tsinghua University
Dagen Liu: Beijing Water Authority
Peter Burek: International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis
Yun Pan: Capital Normal University
Yoshihide Wada: International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis

Nature Communications, 2020, vol. 11, issue 1, 1-10

Abstract: Abstract Groundwater (GW) overexploitation is a critical issue in North China with large GW level declines resulting in urban water scarcity, unsustainable agricultural production, and adverse ecological impacts. One approach to addressing GW depletion was to transport water from the humid south. However, impacts of water diversion on GW remained largely unknown. Here, we show impacts of the central South-to-North Water Diversion on GW storage recovery in Beijing within the context of climate variability and other policies. Water diverted to Beijing reduces cumulative GW depletion by ~3.6 km3, accounting for 40% of total GW storage recovery during 2006–2018. Increased precipitation contributes similar volumes to GW storage recovery of ~2.7 km3 (30%) along with policies on reduced irrigation (~2.8 km3, 30%). This recovery is projected to continue in the coming decade. Engineering approaches, such as water diversions, will increasingly be required to move towards sustainable water management.

Date: 2020
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-17428-6

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