Temporal trends in agricultural water use and the relationships to hydroclimatic factors in the High Plains aquifer region

The High Plains aquifer (HPA) is the primary water source for agricultural irrigation in the US Great Plains. The water levels in many locations of the aquifer have declined steadily over the past several decades because the rate of water withdrawals exceeds recharge, which has been a serious concern to the water resources management in the region. We evaluated temporal trends and variations in agricultural water use and hydroclimatic variables including precipitation, air temperature, reference evapotranspiration, runoff, groundwater level, and terrestrial water storage across the HPA region for different periods from 1985 to 2020 at the grid, county, or region scale. The results showed that water withdrawals decreased from 21.3 km³/year in 1985 to 18.2 km³/year in 2015, while irrigated croplands increased from 71,928 km² in 1985 to 78,464 km² in 2015 in the entire HPA. The hydroclimatic time-series showed wetting trends in most of the northern HPA, but drying and warming trends in the southern region from 1985 to 2020. The groundwater level time-series indicated flat trends in the north, but significant declining in the central and southern HPA. Trends in irrigation water withdrawals and irrigation area across the HPA were controlled by the advancement of irrigation systems and technologies and the management of sustainable water use, but also were affected by dynamical changes in the hydroclimatic conditions.     

Assessment of deep aquifer groundwater quality in a geographically unique climatic region of Southern Western Ghats,India using water quality indices

Water quality index (WQI) models are generally used in hydrochemical studies to simplify complex data into single values to reflect the overall quality. In this study, deep groundwater quality in the Chittur and Palakkad Taluks of the Bharathapuzha river basin of Kerala, India, was assessed by employing the WQI method developed by the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME). The assessment of overall water quality is indispensable due to the specific characteristics of the study area, such as geography, climate, over-drafting, and prevalent agricultural practices. Forty representative samples were collected from the study area for monsoon (MON) and pre-monsoon (PRM) seasons. The results showed a general increase of contents from MON to PRM. The major cations were spread in the order Ca²⁺>Na+>Mg²⁺>K⁺ and the anions HCO₃⁻>Cl⁻>CO₃²⁻ based on their relative abundance. Among various parameters analysed, alkalinity and bicarbonate levels during MON were comparatively high, which is indicative of carbonate weathering, and 90% of the samples failed to meet the World Health Organization (WHO, 2017)/Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS, 2012) drinking water guidelines. The CCME WQI analysis revealed that nearly 50% of the samples during each season represented good and excellent categories. The samples in the poor category comprised 10% in MON and 15% in PRM. The overall WQI exhibited 15% of poor category samples as well. The spatial depiction of CCME WQI classes helped to expose zones of degraded quality in the centre to eastward parts. The spatial and temporal variations of CCME WQI classes and different physicochemical attributes indicated the influence of common factors attributing to the deep groundwater quality. The study also revealed inland salinity at Kolluparamba and Peruvamba stations, where agricultural activities were rampant with poor surface water irrigation.     

Innovative applications of subgrade biogeochemical reactors: Three case studies

Subgrade biogeochemical reactors (SBGRs) are an in situ remediation technology shown to be effective in treating contaminant source areas and groundwater hot spots, while being sustainable and economical. This technology has been applied for over a decade to treat chlorinated volatile organic compound source areas where groundwater is shallow (e.g., less than approximately 30 feet below ground surface [ft bgs]). However, this article provides three case studies describing innovative SBGR configurations recently developed and tested that are outside of this norm, which enable use of this technology under more challenging site conditions or for treatment of alternative contaminant classes. The first SBGR case study addresses a site with groundwater deeper than 30 ft bgs and limited space for construction, where an SBGR column configuration reduced the maximum trichloroethene (TCE) groundwater concentration from 9,900 micrograms per liter (μg/L) to <1 μg/L (nondetect) within approximately 15 months. The second SBGR is a recirculating trench configuration that is supporting remediation of a 5.7‐acre TCE plume, which has significant surface footprint constraints due to the presence of endangered species habitat. The third SBGR was constructed with a new amendment mixture and reduced groundwater contaminant concentrations in a petroleum hydrocarbon source area by over 97% within approximately 1 year. Additionally, a summary is provided for new SBGR configurations that are planned for treatment of additional classes of contaminants (e.g., hexavalent chromium, 1,4‐dioxane, dissolved explosives constituents, etc.). A discussion is also provided describing research being conducted to further understand and optimize treatment mechanisms within SBGRs, including a recently developed sampling approach called the aquifer matrix probe.     

广西不同石漠化等级下SPAC水势梯度及其环境效应

以野外观测为基础,对广西不同石漠化等级(无石漠化、轻度石漠化、中度石漠化和重度石漠化)下土壤-植被-大气连续体(Soil-Plant-Atmosphere Continuum,简称SPAC)系统中的水势日变化、气象因子日变化过程进行了研究。结果表明:随着石漠化程度的增加,大气水势降低,大气水势对不同石漠化程度的反应敏感。岩溶区石漠化等级下植物和土壤水势较低,不同石漠化条件下的植物叶水势在-7.79±0.43~-2.68±0.11 Mpa之间,土壤水势在-4.00±0~-0.08±0.04 Mpa之间,重度石漠化等级下植物处于萎蔫状态。植物在正午受到的水分亏缺程度为:重度石漠化中度石漠化无石漠化轻度石漠化。无石漠化下植物叶片水势与大气温度呈正相关关系,与大气相对湿度呈负相关关系,轻度石漠化、中度石漠化和重度石漠化下植物叶片水势与大气温度呈负相关关系,与大气相对湿度呈正相关关系。水分在SPAC系统中运移,其能量消耗主要集中在叶片-大气的过程。叶-气水势差差值大小为:中度石漠化重度石漠化轻度石漠化无石漠化。随着石漠化程度的增加,SPAC水势梯度提高,各介质层水势差的增大,提高了水分循环和能量交换的强度。     

地下水中污染物的迁移传输及排泄通量研究

以辽宁某化工污染场地为研究对象,结合场地调查结果,应用地下水模型系统软件(GMS)中的MODFLOW和RT3D模型,建立了地下水中污染物的数值模型,探讨其迁移传输及排泄通量。根据模拟结果,地下水中苯、二氯苯和三氯苯的污染羽约在20年后达到动态平衡,污染羽不再随时间变化,污染物的自然衰减速率与污染源释放速率达到平衡。排泄通量估算表明:地下水向河流排泄的量在20年时达到稳定,地下水中苯、二氯苯和三氯苯向河流的排泄通量分别为每天180 g、6 100 g和5.5 g。由于污染物会导致污染生态环境和健康风险,建议从控制污染源、实施污染源区修复和切断迁移传输途径等多种措施控制风险。     

Efficient dechlorination of chlorinated solvent pollutants under UV irradiation by using the synthesized TiO2 nano-sheets in aqueous phase

Titanium dioxide(TiO2), which is the widely used photo-catalyst, has been synthesized by simple hydrothermal solution containing tetrabutyl titanate and hydrofluoric acid. The synthesized product has been applied to photo-degradation in aqueous phase of chlorinated solvents, namely tetrachloroethene(PCE), trichloroethene(TCE) and 1,1,1-trichloroethane(TCA). The photo-degradation results revealed that the degradation of these harmful chemicals was better in UV/synthesized TiO2 system compared to UV/commercial P25 system and UV only system. The photo-catalytic efficiency of the synthesized TiO2 was 1.4, 1.8 and 3.0 folds higher compared to the commercial P25 for TCA, TCE and PCE degradation, respectively. Moreover, using nitrobenzene(NB) as a probe of hydroxyl radical(.OH), the degradation rate was better over UV/synthesized TiO2, suggesting the high concentration of.OH generated in UV/synthesized TiO2system. In addition,.OH concentration was confirmed by the strong peak displayed in EPR analysis over UV/synthesized TiO2system. The characterization result using XRD and TEM showed that the synthesized TiO2 was in anatase form and consisted of well-defined sheet-shaped structures having a rectangular outline with a thickness of 4 nm, side length of 50 nm and width of 33 nm and a surface 90.3 m2/g. XPS analysis revealed that ≡Ti-F bond was formed on the surface of the synthesized TiO2. The above results on both photocatalytic activity and the surface analysis demonstrated the good applicability of the synthesized TiO2 nano-sheets for the remediation of chlorinated solvent contaminated groundwater.     

Arsenic removal from groundwater by acclimated sludge under autohydrogenotrophic conditions

Arsenic in the environment is attracting increasing attention due to its chronic health effects. Although arsenite(As(III)) is generally more mobile and more toxic than arsenate(As(V)), reducing As(V) to As(III) may still be a means for decontamination, because As(III) can be removed from solution by precipitation with sulfide or by adsorption or complexation with other metal sulfides. The performance of As(V) bio-reduction under autohydrogenotrophic conditions was investigated with batch experiments. The results showed that As(V) reduction was a biochemical process while both acclimated sludge and hydrogen were essential. Most of the reduced arsenic remained in a soluble form, although 20% was removed with no addition of sulfate, while 82% was removed when sulfate was reduced to sulfide. The results demonstrated that the reduced arsenic was re-sequestered in the precipitates, probably as arsenic sulfides. Kinetic analysis showed that pseudo first-order kinetics described the bio-reduction process better than pseudo second-order. In particular, the influences of pH and temperature on As(V) reduction by acclimated sludge under autohydrogenotrophic conditions and total soluble As removal were examined. The reduction process was highly sensitive to both pH and temperature, with the optimum ranges of pH 6.5–7.0 and 30–40°C respectively. Furthermore, Arrhenius modeling results for the temperature effect indicated that the As(V) reduction trend was systematic. Total soluble As removal was consistent with the trend of As(V) reduction.     

改性氢氧化镁制备及其去除地下水中Cr3+性能研究

氢氧化镁作为一种可缓慢释放OH-的碱,能使多数重金属离子转换为沉淀,而且不会引起太大的pH变化.但氢氧化镁难溶于水,在含水层中的迁移能力很差.若要用于地下水重金属污染修复,需要对氢氧化镁进行改性.因此,本文利用表面活性剂对氢氧化镁粉末进行改性,合成了氢氧化镁胶体,并对改性氢氧化镁的稳定性、粒度及其对Cr3+的稳定化效果进行了分析.结果表明,复配表面活性剂改性的氢氧化镁悬浮液稳定性好,粒径小,0.6~8.4μm的颗粒占82.41%.利用改性氢氧化镁对Cr3+污染地下水进行处理,其对Cr3+的去除机理主要为沉淀反应,氢氧化镁和Cr3+反应的质量比约为1.333∶1,氢氧化镁和初始Cr3+浓度对Cr3+的去除效果都有较大的影响.     

多级强化地下水修复技术对NH_4~+-N的去除机制

为解决地下水污染修复技术中PT(抽出处理)和PRB(渗透性反应墙)存在的一些不足,搭建了MET(多级强化地下水修复技术)小试装置,以NH4+-N为目标污染物,研究MET对地下水中NH4+-N的去除效果及机制.结果表明,在进水水力负荷为14.68 m3/(m2·d)、ρ(NH4+-N)为25.0 mg/L的条件下,装置连续运行45 d,NH4+-N去除率呈先降后升、平稳后再下降的趋势,平均值达90%以上.出水ρ(NH4+-N)平均值为2.0 mg/L,其中,硝化作用和微生物同化作用使ρ(NH4+-N)平均下降13.9和5.2mg/L,分别占进水ρ(NH4+-N)的54%和20%;植物作用、基质永久吸附作用和挥发作用分别使ρ(NH4+-N)下降2.9、0.7和0.7mg/L,占进水ρ(NH4+-N)的12%、3%和3%.综上,MET对地下水中NH4+-N的去除率可达90%,实现了高效去除NH4+-N的目标.     

贵州喀斯特地区土壤细菌群落结构特征及变化

为探明贵州喀斯特不同植被演替群落下的土壤细菌群落结构及变化特征,本文利用高通量测序技术对5个主要植被演替群落(稀灌草丛、藤刺灌丛、灌木林、乔灌过渡林、乔木林)的根际(竹叶椒)、非根际土壤细菌群落结构及环境因子进行了分析研究。结果表明:贵州喀斯特高原土壤细菌类群主要为变形菌门(Proteobacteria)、酸杆菌门(Acidobacteria)、疣微菌门(Verrucomicrobia)、放线菌门(Actinobacteria)、厚壁菌门(Firmicutes)、拟杆菌门(Bacteroidetes)和浮霉菌门(Planctomycetes),其相对丰富度分别为43.35%、12.97%、7.53%、7.12%、6.19%、5.35%、5.05%,未分类类群占7.36%。样品中检测到了较低丰度的广古菌门和泉古菌门。随植被群落演替,根际土壤中变形菌门、厚壁菌门和浮霉菌门丰度逐渐增加;非根际土壤中酸杆菌门和疣微菌门丰度随植被演替逐渐减小。贵州喀斯特高原土壤细菌的影响因子大小为土壤有机碳、土壤总氮、含水量、电导率等,其中土壤有机碳和土壤总氮有显著性影响。