Groundwater irrigation and management in northern China: status, trends, and challenges

This study uses panel data from the North China Water Resources Survey in 2004 and 2016 to update the status of groundwater. In the past two decades, groundwater irrigation has spread to more villages, but declining groundwater tables and deterioration in water quality have become more serious. Some policy measures (well-drilling permits, water quotas, water resources fees) have been implemented in an increasing number of villages, but they still only reached a small fraction of villages. Some of the responses by farmers to these challenges have accelerated groundwater extraction. Policy efforts are needed to improve the effectiveness of policy implementation and enhance sustainable groundwater use.