Articles | Volume 30, issue 3
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-30-693-2026
© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-30-693-2026
© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
05 Feb 2026
Research article |
| 05 Feb 2026
| 05 Feb 2026
Evaluating Long-Term Effectiveness of Managed Aquifer Recharge for Groundwater Recovery and Nitrate Mitigation in an Overexploited Aquifer System
Yuguang Zhu
State Key Laboratory of Soil Pollution Control and Safety, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
MEE Key Laboratory of Integrated Surface Water – Groundwater Pollution Control, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
Zhilin Guo
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
State Key Laboratory of Soil Pollution Control and Safety, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
MEE Key Laboratory of Integrated Surface Water – Groundwater Pollution Control, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
Sichen Wan
State Key Laboratory of Soil Pollution Control and Safety, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
MEE Key Laboratory of Integrated Surface Water – Groundwater Pollution Control, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
Kewei Chen
MEE Key Laboratory of Integrated Surface Water – Groundwater Pollution Control, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
Yushan Wang
Center for Hydrogeology and Environmental Geology Survey, China Geological Survey, Baoding, China
Zhenzhong Zeng
State Key Laboratory of Soil Pollution Control and Safety, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
MEE Key Laboratory of Integrated Surface Water – Groundwater Pollution Control, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
Huizhong Shen
State Key Laboratory of Soil Pollution Control and Safety, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
MEE Key Laboratory of Integrated Surface Water – Groundwater Pollution Control, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
Jianhuai Ye
State Key Laboratory of Soil Pollution Control and Safety, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
MEE Key Laboratory of Integrated Surface Water – Groundwater Pollution Control, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
Chunmiao Zheng
School of the Environment and Sustainable Engineering, Eastern Institute of Technology, Ningbo, China
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Short summary
Long-term overuse of groundwater has lowered water levels and increased pollution in parts of northern China. We studied whether adding river water back into the ground can restore groundwater and reduce nitrate pollution. Using computer simulations based on field data, we found that recharge can significantly raise water levels and lower nitrate levels, mainly by dilution rather than natural removal processes.
Long-term overuse of groundwater has lowered water levels and increased pollution in parts of...
