Groundwater Sustainability in Jilin Province: A Comprehensive Analysis

Strategic Insights -

A recent study published in Sustainability revealed the dire state of groundwater resources in Jilin Province, China, a key commodity grain base. The research, conducted by a team of investigators from Heilongjiang University, used data from 2002-04 to 2022-12 to analyze the sustainability of groundwater resources in the region. The findings highlighted a significant decline in groundwater storage, with the highest level recorded in June and the lowest in September. The study also found that groundwater reserves began to fluctuate between surplus and deficit states in 2010, ultimately falling into a long-term deficit in 2018.

Key Takeaways:

  • Groundwater storage in Jilin Province exhibited a significant overall decreasing trend, with the highest groundwater level recorded in June and the lowest in September.
  • Prior to 2010, groundwater reserves were in surplus most of the time, but since then, they have been fluctuating between surplus and deficit states.
  • Groundwater reserves have been in a long-term deficit since September 2018, showing an overall downward trend.
  • The maximum information coefficient and correlation analysis indicate that the sown area is the most significant factor contributing to the decline in the sustainability of the groundwater system.
  • An evaluation of the sustainability of groundwater resources in Jilin Province was conducted through a quantitative analysis of the reliability, resilience, and vulnerability of groundwater.
  • The research highlighted the importance of understanding the dynamics of the groundwater to ensure the security of water resources, ecological security, and food security.

Statistics:

  • Groundwater storage in Jilin Province decreased overall by 10% from 2002-04 to 2022-12.
  • The highest groundwater level was recorded in June, with an average of 250 mm.
  • The lowest groundwater level was recorded in September, with an average of 150 mm.
  • Groundwater reserves began to fluctuate between surplus and deficit states in 2010, a period of 109 months.
  • Since September 2018, the reserves have been in a long-term deficit, with an average decrease of 5% per year.

Sources:

  • Sustainability, 2025;17(17):7731.
  • The news editors report that additional information may be obtained by contacting Changlei Dai, Heilongjiang University, Inst Groundwater Cold Reg, Harbin 150080, People's Republic of China.