Surface water quality for irrigation and industrial purposes: a comparison between the south and north sides of the Wei River Plain (northwest China)

Abstract

Surface water is extensively used for irrigation and industrial purposes in the Wei River Plain. However, the surface water shows different characteristics in the southern and northern zones of the Wei River Plain. This study aims to investigate the differences in surface water quality between the southern and northern zones of the Wei River Plain and their influencing factors. To ascertain the hydrochemistry and its governing factors, graphical methods, ion plots, and multivariate statistical analyses were employed. The quality of the irrigation water was assessed using various irrigation water quality indices. In addition, water foaming, corrosion, scaling, and incrustation risks were determined to evaluate water quality for industrial uses. The spatial distribution of water quality was done using GIS models. This research revealed that the concentrations of EC, TH, TDS, HCO₃^-, Na⁺, Mg²⁺, SO₄^2- and Cl^- on the north side of the plain were twice as high as those on the south side. On both sides of the Wei River Plain, water‒rock interactions, ion exchange, and considerable evaporation were observed. Gypsum, halite, calcite, and dolomite all dissolve to produce significant anions and cations in the water, according to ion correlation analysis. However, additional sources of contaminants led to higher concentrations in the surface water on the north side than on the south side. Surface water in the south of the Wei River Plain has superior quality to that in the north, according to the overall findings of irrigation water and industrial water quality assessments. The findings of this study will boost better water resource management policies for the plain.

Keywords: Industrial water quality; Irrigation water; Surface water; Wei River Plain.