Land-use and groundwater use in Hebei Plain, China

Rapid groundwater drawdown has become the biggest threat to social-economic sustainability in the Hebei Plain. To determine the cause of the groundwater decline and develop a practical plan for long-term groundwater use, watertable fluctuation data were collected over a period of 20 years. Adopting a simplified water balance model, the average Infiltration coefficient of precipitation and specific yield in the Hebei Plain from 1985 - 1995 were simulated and the groundwater level decline by water-use sectors and crops was calculated Analysis showed that agricultural water use was the main reason for groundwater drawdown. Winter wheat was the most water-consuming crop, causing a significant decline of the water table. It is suggested that planting strategies should be adjusted and water-saving agricultural practices be carried out, to achieve sustainable groundwater use in the Hebei Plain