Hydrogeochemical Characteristics, Water Quality, and Human Health Risks of Groundwater in Wulian, North China

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Dear authors, thank you for submitting the manuscript to the journal of Water. Its topic is very interesting. However, the current version of the paper suffers from a number of weaknesses related to the empirical strategy used. I have the following comments/questions for the authors:

Abstract

·         The abstract could be more specific. I suggest the authors should organize the abstract as well as main text in four sections, namely: scope, objectives, methods, results, conclusions. Also, abstract section should be completed with the results of the study.

·         The abstract section needs a lot of improvement in scientific writing. There are many sentences which are not properly presented.

·         Add important results in the abstract section.

·         The authors ought to re-write the abstract so that it briefly presents the problem at hand, objectives of the study, methods used to achieve the objectives in logical order. Also, abstract section should be completed with the results of the study.

Introduction

·         The introduction of the manuscript was poorly written. Try to highlight the regional or national significance of this study.

·         In introduction chapter please focus on problem generally, on the basis of examples in the whole World, not your study area.

·         Add some facts and figures of groundwater quality around the globe in your introduction.

·         Add some recent article to make your introduction more attractive and strong. I propose to add this survey method in the overview section of the introduction section, based on the latest literature. Please replace old citations (if it is possible) or add citations of newest literature.

https://doi.org/10.3390/w14030483

https://doi.org/10.3390/w14071131

Materials and methods

Study area

·         Describe all the features of the study area in brief including climate, topography, geology, and hydrogeology?

·         Would you please give more information about the groundwater aquifer (e.g., max depth, average precipitation and evaporation)?

Sample collection and measurements

·         Please give detailed information on instruments for groundwater measurements (e.g., accuracy, manufacturer).

·         Sampling locations were selected carefully within groundwater aquifer to have a good representation of the spatial variability of quality indicators across-section of water quality monitoring. What criteria where analyzed to select this locations?

Data sources and quality assurance

·         What criteria where analyzed to select this locations?

·         Please provide detailed detection methods and quality control results?

·         Please support your methods by providing appropriate references or give the guidelines used to analyze the water quality parameters.

·         Please support your methods by providing appropriate references or give the guidelines used and equations.

·         How did you do quality control (QC) and quality assurance (QA) on the obtained data to validate the conclusions?

Water quality analysis

·         Please support your methods by providing appropriate references or give the guidelines used to calculate the water quality indices and equations.

Results and Discussion

·         Please change this section from "Results" to "Results and Discussion"

·         You should think how transformational the research is likely to be should be made so that the outcome of the work will have an impact on the community/society facing given sustainability related challenges?

·         Write the practical applications of your work in a separate section, before the conclusions and provide your good perspectives.

·         What long-term impacts will it have on environmental protection and the wider public or the field following the completion of the research?

·         Line 373. Please delete the title of this section "Discussion"

Conclusion

·         Concise the text in conclusion and add future work in order to recommend your work. Shorten the length of each and every paragraph by adding only relevant and major findings in your study. 

Please respond to all of those comments in the revised manuscript by pointing out precisely and concisely on which page and in which line you have incorporated your response one by one.

Comments for author File: Comments.docx

Author Response

Response to Reviewers

Dear Editor,

We appreciate you and the reviewers for your precious time in reviewing our paper and providing valuable comments. It was your valuable and insightful comments that led to possible improvements in the current version. The authors have carefully considered the comments and tried our best to address every one of them. We hope the manuscript after careful revisions meet your high standards. The authors welcome further constructive comments if any. Below we provide the point-by-point responses. All modifications in the manuscript have been highlighted in red.

Sincerely

Abstract

Comment1: The abstract could be more specific. I suggest the authors should organize the abstract as well as main text in four sections, namely: scope, objectives, methods, results, conclusions. Also, abstract section should be completed with the results of the study.

Reply1: Thanks for your valuable comments. I have reedited the abstract according to your suggestions, and reedited it according to the scope, objectives, methods, results and conclusions. (Pg1, Ln13-32；Pg2, Ln1-4)

Comment2: The abstract section needs a lot of improvement in scientific writing. There are many sentences which are not properly presented.

Reply2: Thanks for your valuable comments. I have reedited the abstract according to your suggestions. (Pg1, Ln13-32；Pg2, Ln1-4)

Comment3: Add important results in the abstract section.

Reply3: Thanks for your valuable comments. I have reedited the abstract according to your suggestions. (Pg1, Ln13-32；Pg2, Ln1-4)

Comment4: The authors ought to re-write the abstract so that it briefly presents the problem at hand, objectives of the study, methods used to achieve the objectives in logical order. Also, abstract section should be completed with the results of the study.

Reply4: Thanks for your valuable comments. I have reedited the abstract according to your suggestions. Identify research objectives and highlight research results. (Pg1, Ln13-32；Pg2, Ln1-4)

Introduction

Comment5: The introduction of the manuscript was poorly written. Try to highlight the regional or national significance of this study.

Reply5：Thank you for your valuable comments. I carefully revised the content of the introduction as a whole and increased the regional significance of this study. (Pg2, Ln17-19)

Comment6: In introduction chapter please focus on problem generally, on the basis of examples in the whole World, not your study area.

Reply6：Thank you for your valuable comments. I carefully revised the whole content of the introduction and added research and analysis on the existing pollution problems in the world. (Pg2, Ln11-14)

Comment7: Add some facts and figures of groundwater quality around the globe in your introduction.

Reply7：Thank you for your valuable comments. I carefully revised the content of the introduction as a whole, and increased the understanding of global water quality, while increasing the data and facts of global water quality. (Pg2, Ln14-17)

Comment8: Add some recent article to make your introduction more attractive and strong. I propose to add this survey method in the overview section of the introduction section, based on the latest literature. Please replace old citations (if it is possible) or add citations of newest literature.

https://doi.org/10.3390/w14030483

https://doi.org/10.3390/w14071131

Reply8：Thank you for your valuable comments. I am grateful for the quality citations you provided. In the introduction, I cited two articles, which gave new support to the research on groundwater pollution. (Pg2, Ln13; Pg2, Ln19(Reference4 and Reference18))

Materials and methods

Study area

Comment9: Describe all the features of the study area in brief including climate, topography, geology, and hydrogeology?

Reply9: Thank you for your valuable comments. I have added all the features of the study area, including climate, topography, geology and hydrogeology, into the paper. The description is divided into three paragraphs. (Pg5, Ln5-8; Pg5, Ln10-15; Pg6, Ln1-11; Pg7, Ln1-22;)

Comment10: Would you please give more information about the groundwater aquifer (e.g., max depth, average precipitation and evaporation)?

Reply10: Thank you for your valuable comments. I have added the description of the groundwater aquifer information in the study area to the article, which is divided into three groundwater types. The aquifer information of three groundwater types is described respectively. (Pg7, Ln5-7; Pg7, Ln8-10; Pg7, Ln12-13)

Sample collection and measurements

Comment11: Please give detailed information on instruments for groundwater measurements (e.g., accuracy, manufacturer).

Reply11: Thank you for your valuable comments. I have supplemented the model accuracy and manufacturer of the instrument used in the article. (Pg8, Ln25-31)

Comment12: Sampling locations were selected carefully within groundwater aquifer to have a good representation of the spatial variability of quality indicators across-section of water quality monitoring. What criteria where analyzed to select this locations?

Reply12: Thank you for your valuable comments. I have added the sampling locations of different types of groundwater in the article and attached the sampling depth. In the case of uniform sampling, I have added the sampling locations of different types of groundwater in the article and attached the sampling depth. In the case of uniform sampling, Groundwater samples shall be taken for use according to DZ/T0133-94 standard of "Procedures for Dynamic Monitoring of Groundwater". (Pg8, Ln3-12)

Data sources and quality assurance

Comment13: What criteria where analyzed to select this locations?

Reply13：Thank you for your valuable comments. In the case of uniform sampling, Employing uniform sampling, groundwater samples were collected according to the DZ/T0133-94 standard of the "Procedures for Dynamic Monitoring of Groundwater". (Pg8, Ln3-5)

Comment14: Please provide detailed detection methods and quality control results?

Reply14: Thank you for your valuable comments. I have updated the methods and water quality control results. (Pg9, Ln3-13)

Comment15: Please support your methods by providing appropriate references or give the guidelines used to analyze the water quality parameters.

Reply15：Thank you for your valuable comments. I have supplemented the test methods and applied water quality method references. (References in red on page 9, page 10)

Comment16: Please support your methods by providing appropriate references or give the guidelines used and equations.

Reply16：Thank you for your valuable comments. I have provided relevant literature for reference on the methods adopted in the article. (Pg9, Ln3-13(References:18,23,24,26,29,33-35))

Comment17: How did you do quality control (QC) and quality assurance (QA) on the obtained data to validate the conclusions?

Reply17：Thank you for your valuable comments. I have supplemented the data on the hydrochemical composition of groundwater. (Pg8, Ln31-34)

Water quality analysis

Comment18: Please support your methods by providing appropriate references or give the guidelines used to calculate the water quality indices and equations.

Reply18：Thank you for your valuable comments. I have supplemented the test methods and applied water quality method references. (References in red on page 9, page 10)

Results and Discussion

Comment19: Please change this section from "Results" to "Results and Discussion"

Reply19：Thank you for your valuable comments. I have changed the result to result and discussion according to your suggestion. (Pg12, Ln20)

Comment20: You should think how transformational the research is likely to be should be made so that the outcome of the work will have an impact on the community/society facing given sustainability related challenges?

Reply20：Thank you for your valuable comments. This study is a new work in this research area. The prevention and exploitation of groundwater pollution in the research area can promote the development and progress of the local main economy - agricultural economy, and promote the sustainable development of water resources and economy in the research area. (Pg26, Ln14-17; Pg27, Ln3-12)

Comment21: Write the practical applications of your work in a separate section, before the conclusions and provide your good perspectives.

Reply21：Thank you for your valuable comments. I have already added the practical significance of the study and expounded my personal views before concluding. (Pg 27, Ln3-12.)

Comment22: What long-term impacts will it have on environmental protection and the wider public or the field following the completion of the research?

Reply22：Thank you for your valuable comments. The study has been added to the practical significance of environmental protection. (Pg 27, Ln12-18)

Comment23: Line 373. Please delete the title of this section "Discussion"

Reply23：Thank you for your valuable comments. "Discussion" has been deleted according to your comments.

Conclusion

Comment24: Concise the text in conclusion and add future work in order to recommend your work. Shorten the length of each and every paragraph by adding only relevant and major findings in your study.

Reply24：Thank you for your valuable comments. I have rewritten the conclusion, made it more concise and to the point, and made plans for the following work. (Pg27, Ln21-26; Pg28, Ln1-18)

 

Please respond to all of those comments in the revised manuscript by pointing out precisely and concisely on which page and in which line you have incorporated your response one by one.

Reply: Thank you for your guidance. I have revised the paper point by point according to the requirements of each comment. Please check it,Thank for your kindness.

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 2 Report

Please see the attachment.

Comments for author File: Comments.docx

Author Response

Response to Reviewers

Dear Editor,

We appreciate you and the reviewers for your precious time in reviewing our paper and providing valuable comments. It was your valuable and insightful comments that led to possible improvements in the current version. The authors have carefully considered the comments and tried our best to address every one of them. We hope the manuscript after careful revisions meet your high standards. The authors welcome further constructive comments if any. Below we provide the point-by-point responses. All modifications in the manuscript have been highlighted in red.

Sincerely

Comment1. In lines 9-10, please write the correspondence.

Reply1. Thanks for your valuable comments. I supplement the corresponding author's emails and phone calls. “email：[email protected]; Tel.: 13792900575”(Pg1,Ln10-11)

Comment2. Lines 11-15 are too long and complex. Separate and rewrite.

Reply2. Thanks for your valuable comments. After careful study of the review comments, the sentence structure of the article has been completely re-edited. The “abstract” section has been rewritten. (Pg1, Ln13-32; Pg2, Ln1-4)

Comment3. Lines 16-19 and 19-23 are too long and complex. Rewrite.

Reply3. Thanks for your valuable comments. After careful study of the review comments, the sentence structure of the article has been completely re-edited. The “abstract” section has been rewritten. (Pg1, Ln13-32; Pg2, Ln1-4)

Comment4. Lines 39-44 are too long and complex. Rewrite.

Reply4. Thanks for your valuable comments. After careful study of the review comments, the sentence structure of the article has been completely re-edited. The “introduction” section has been rewritten. (Pg2, Ln8-20)

Comment5. Rewrite lines 55-57, 57-61, 61-65.

Reply5. Thanks for your valuable comments. After careful study of the review comments, the sentence structure of the article has been completely re-edited. The “introduction” section has been rewritten. (Pg2, Ln8-20)

Comment6. Describe some previous similar work published earlier in the introduction.

Reply6. Thanks for your valuable comments. However, there are few researches in this research area before, so only similar researches near the research area will be supplemented. (Pg4, Ln3-8)

Comment7. Reduce the unnecessary references from introduction.

Reply7. Thanks for your valuable comments. I have modified the references in the introduction, deleted some unnecessary references and changed the overall reference. (Pg29-34)

Comment8. In line 84, check the temperature.

Reply8. Thanks for your valuable comments. I have checked the temperature in the area and described it with appropriate expressions. (Pg5, Ln7-8)

Comment9. Rewrite lines 89-90 and 94-96.

Reply9. Thanks for your valuable comments. After careful study of the review comments, the sentence structure of the article has been completely re-edited. The “Materials and methods” section has been rewritten.  (Pg5, Ln10-15; Pg5, Ln18-20)

Comment10. Cite the related reference in line 98-101.

Reply10. Thanks for your valuable comments. In our preliminary work, we collected data and investigated the study area. According to the hydrogeological survey report, I prepared the actual geological conditions of the article. Now I have provided reference reports on the sources of regional geology and hydrogeological conditions according to your opinions. (Pg5, Ln29; Pg6, Ln1-2)

Comment11. Describe the images in Figure 1. Please put the longitude and latitude of the study area.

Reply11. Thanks for your valuable comments. I have included the description of the research area and the latitude and longitude of the research area in the paper. (Pg5, Ln3-5; Pg6, Ln13-14)

Comment12. Rewrite lines 116-118

Reply12. Thanks for your valuable comments. After careful study of the review comments, the sentence structure of the article has been completely re-edited. The “Materials and methods” section has been rewritten. (Pg7, Ln10-13)

Comment13. Rewrite lines 121-124 and put the corresponding reference.

Reply13. Thanks for your valuable comments. After careful study of the review comments, the sentence structure of the article has been completely re-edited. The “Materials and methods” section has been rewritten. (Pg7, Ln16-22)

Comment14. In line 132, please mention the name of the stabilizer used in the study.

Reply14. Thanks for your valuable comments. I have supplemented the HgCl₂ stabilizer with nitrate ions which may produce redox reactions during transportation. (Pg8, Ln18)

Comment15. Rewrite lines 133-136.

Reply15. Thanks for your valuable comments. I have modified the sentence expression of Lines 133-136 to simplify the sentence structure. (Pg8, Ln20-24)

Comment16. In line 142, use the similar reference system.

Reply16. Thanks for your valuable comments. I am very sorry that my mistake caused you trouble in the review process. Now I have corrected my mistake. (Pg8, Ln36)

Comment17. Please rewrite section 2.3.1.

Reply17. Thanks for your valuable comments. I have rewritten the whole content in accordance with the requirements of the journal, and attached relevant literature references. (Pg9, Ln3-13)

Comment18. Rewrite equation 3 with proper subscript.

Reply18. Thanks for your valuable comments. I have corrected the subscript of the formula. (Pg9, Ln35)

Comment19. Rewrite line 227.

Reply19. Thanks for your valuable comments. After context analysis, it was found that the position of line 227 did not conform to language logic, so it was deleted.

Comment20. Some words and data are now visual in figure 2.

Reply20. Thanks for your valuable comments. After reformatting, the words and data are now clearly visible. (Pg12-13)

Comment21. Rewrite line 259.

Reply21. Thanks for your valuable comments. I have modified the rationality. (Pg17, Ln18-20)

Comment22. Rewrite lines 268-271.

Reply22. Thanks for your valuable comments. I have modified the sentences according to the language logic and shortened the sentence structure. (Pg14, Ln4-9)

Comment23. Rewrite lines 319-324.

Reply23. Thanks for your valuable comments. I have modified the sentences according to the language logic and shortened the sentence structure. (Pg16, Ln7-15)

Comment24. Rewrite lines 341-343.

Reply24. Thanks for your valuable comments. I have modified the sentences according to the language logic and shortened the sentence structure. (Pg17, Ln2-5)

Comment25. Rewrite lines 379-386.

Reply25. Thanks for your valuable comments. I have modified the sentences according to the language logic and shortened the sentence structure. (Pg18 Ln11-22)

Comment26. Combine lines 433-435.

Reply26. Thanks for your valuable comments. I reorganized the sentence. (Pg21 Ln6-9)

Comment27. Table 2 and 3 will be difficult for the reader. Please make major boundaries in the table. 27.  

Reply27. Thanks for your valuable comments. After careful consideration, I have merged tables 2 and 3. (Pg24-26)

Comment28. Rewrite lines 536-540.

Reply28. Thanks for your valuable comments. I have organized and written the conclusion part again, and modified the sentence according to the language logic and shortened the sentence structure. (Pg27 Ln20-26; Pg28 Ln1-4)

Comment29. Conclude the second paragraph (line 546 to 555) according to the results and discussion.

Reply29. Thanks for your valuable comments. I have organized and written the conclusion part again, and modified the sentence according to the language logic and shortened the sentence structure. (Pg28 Ln5-17)

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Round 2

Reviewer 1 Report

Dear authors, thank you for submitting the manuscript to the journal of Water. Its topic is very interesting. However, I have the following comments for the authors:

Abstract

Abstract can end with some implications of the findings in a broader context. For example, what can others learn from your investigation? How can they apply your findings to their own plain/aquifer?

Keywords

Line 5. Please change the keywords to be different the title of the manuscript.

Materials and Methods

Study Area

Line 13. Please add the longitude and latitude on Figure 1.

Sample collection and measurements

Line 39. Eq. 1. Denominator should be divided by 2.

Results and Discussion

Line 10. Please add the longitude and latitude on Figure 5.

References

Please re-write the references according to the journal style

Comments for author File: Comments.docx

Author Response

Response to Reviewers

Dear Editor,

We appreciate you and the reviewers for your precious time in reviewing our paper and providing valuable comments. It was your valuable and insightful comments that led to possible improvements in the current version. The authors have carefully considered the comments and tried our best to address every one of them. We hope the manuscript after careful revisions meet your high standards. The authors welcome further constructive comments if any. Below we provide the point-by-point responses. All modifications in the manuscript have been highlighted in red.

Sincerely

Comment1. Abstract can end with some implications of the findings in a broader context. For example, what can others learn from your investigation? How can they apply your findings to their own plain/aquifer?

Reply1：Thank you for your valuable comments. These research methods have important reference value to the research of groundwater pollution status. I have already added to the article. (Pg2, Ln3-5)

Comment2. Line 5. Please change the keywords to be different the title of the manuscript.

Reply2：Thank you for your valuable comments. I have rewritten the keywords. (Pg2, Ln6-7)

Comment3. Line 13. Please add the longitude and latitude on Figure

Reply3：Thank you for your valuable comments. I have described the latitude and longitude of the article in Figure 1 in the article. Facilitate readers to locate the study area. (Pg5, Ln3-5)

Comment4. Line 39. Eq. 1. Denominator should be divided by 2.

Reply4：Thank you for your valuable comments. I have consulted relevant literature and checked the formula, and no changes have been made to the formula.

Comment5. Line 10. Please add the longitude and latitude on Figure

Reply5：Thank you for your valuable comments. I have described the latitude and longitude of the article in Figure 5 in the article. Facilitate readers to locate the study area. (Pg5, Ln3-5)

Comment6. Please re-write the references according to the journal style

Reply6：Thank you for your valuable comments. I have rewritten the references in the journal style. (Pg29-37）

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

The manuscript is now much improved. The authors have done a great job responding to comments throughout the article. Thank you for all your efforts. The entire paper needs to revise by a native English speaker or professional. I recommend accepting this article for publication after the following revision. I expressed some remarks below to improve the final version.

1.      Please rewrite lines 15-20 into separate sentences.

2.      Still, many unnecessary references exist in the introduction (in the first paragraph). So please use only original references.

3.      In Figure 1, please put the longitude and latitude of the study area. You can find it on google Maps as well.

4.      In Figure 8, rearrange the y = -x dotted curve.

5.       The conclusion part still needs revision. Just conclude according to the journal's instruction about the article (Do not discuss). Keep lines 11-18 by rewriting these two sentences.

Author Response

Response to Reviewers

Dear Editor,

We appreciate you and the reviewers for your precious time in reviewing our paper and providing valuable comments. It was your valuable and insightful comments that led to possible improvements in the current version. The authors have carefully considered the comments and tried our best to address every one of them. We hope the manuscript after careful revisions meet your high standards. The authors welcome further constructive comments if any. Below we provide the point-by-point responses. All modifications in the manuscript have been highlighted in red.

Sincerely

Comment1. Please rewrite lines 15-20 into separate sentences.

Reply1. Thank you for your valuable comments. I have rewritten the sentence. (Pg1, Ln15-20)

Comment2. Still, many unnecessary references exist in the introduction (in the first paragraph). So please use only original references.

Reply2. Thank you for your valuable comments. I have replaced the inappropriate reference in the first paragraph. （References 2 and 5）

Comment3. In Figure 1, please put the longitude and latitude of the study area. You can find it on google Maps as well.

Reply3：Thank you for your valuable comments. I have described the latitude and longitude of the article in Figure 1 in the article. Facilitate readers to locate the study area. (Pg5, Ln3-5)

Comment4. In Figure 8, rearrange the y = -x dotted curve.

Reply4：Thank you for your valuable comments. I have modified the drawing.

Comment5. The conclusion part still needs revision. Just conclude according to the journal's instruction about the article (Do not discuss). Keep lines 11-18 by rewriting these two sentences.

Reply5. Thank you for your valuable comments. I have rephrased the two sentences of the conclusion. (Pg28, Ln11-16)

 

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf