A Demonstration of Karst Water in Central-Hebei Rift Basin as Water Supply Source

The deep marine karst water was demonstrated as a water supply source in this study. With full use of collected geological logging data and chemical component data of rock water extract in Central-Hebei rift basin, the chemical field, environmental isotope abundance field and seepage field characteristics of deep karst water in the basin were analyzed to demonstrate the feasibility as an alternative source of water supply. The analysis results showed that the total dissolved solids (TDS) and macro-component principal values of karst water were significantly lower than those of ocean water. TDS showed increase and CNa/CCl showed decrease as coordinates moved from north and west to south-east in the basin. The relative age of water showed increasing changes (from north and west to south-east in the basin) The component of rock water extract revealed the loss of soluble components and the leaching of carbonate rocks. It also indicated that karst water had evolved to be infiltrated water and the major supply sources came from contemporary carbonate rocks on exposed surfaces of the Taihang Mountains and Yanshan. The karst water was mainly composed of saline water with TDS ≤ 3g/L, followed by semi-saline water, accounting for 4/5 of the total basin area to form a considerable amount of resources. Particularly, the water with TDS <;2g/L on north and west basin boundaries in narrow annular distribution can be used as an alternative source of water supply. Therefore, drilling and investigation are recommended, aiming at the north and west basin boundary extensions to further confirm the available water supply and exploited horizons.