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Impact of Anthropogenic Pressures on the Groundwater Quality and Sustainability

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A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Sustainable Water Management".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2026 | Viewed by 2643

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Editors

Dr. Ana Moldovan

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Guest Editor

Research Institute for Analytical Instrumentation Subsidiary of National Institute of Research and Development for Optoelectronics INOE 2000, 67 Donath, 400293 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Interests: water pollution; groundwater; surface water; groundwater assessment; soil pollution; pollution index; karst

Dr. Erika Andrea Levei

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Guest Editor

Research Institute for Analytical Instrumentation Subsidiary, National Institute of Research and Development for Optoelectronics, Donath 67, 400293 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Interests: water chemistry; water pollution with potentially toxic elements; risk assessment; pollution assessment; analytical chemistry
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Groundwater is a valuable but highly vulnerable natural resource worldwide and, in the context of water scarcity, the degradation of groundwater quality and its depletion could lead to disastrous consequences, especially in vulnerable areas. Overexploitation and pollution are the main anthropogenic pressures affecting the groundwater quality and quantity, therefore the identification and mitigation of these pressures is of utmost importance for the sustainable management of groundwater resources.

This Special Issue aims to collect papers that explore the impact of anthropogenic pressures on groundwater quality and quantity to foster the development of sustainable groundwater management approaches.

In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcomed on research topics including (but are not limited to):

Chemical and microbiological contamination of groundwater;
Hydrogeochemistry of groundwater;
Sustainable management of groundwater;
Anthropogenic pressures;
Human health risks following groundwater consumption;
Groundwater modeling.

We look forward to receiving your contributions to this Special Issue.

Dr. Ana Moldovan
Dr. Erika Andrea Levei
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

groundwater quality
anthropogenic pressures
sustainable management
pollution indices
hydrogeochemistry
human health risk
modeling

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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25 pages, 5919 KB

Open AccessArticle

Groundwater Springs in Young Glacial Areas and Their Role in Sustainable Environmental Development (Case Study—North Poland)

by Izabela Chlost, Stanisław Chmiel, Roman Cieśliński, Joanna Fac-Beneda, Ivan Kirvel and Alicja Olszewska

Sustainability 2026, 18(11), 5245; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18115245 - 22 May 2026

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Abstract

This article presents the results of a field study conducted in 2022 on groundwater outflows located at the edge of the Kashubian Lake District and the Reda-Łeba Proglacial Stream Valley in northern Poland. The recharge of numerous springs was found to occur from the first aquifer, locally supported by a deeper aquifer connected to the first one near the bowl of Lubowidzkie Lake. Groundwater drainage occurs by gravity. It is relatively abundant for young glacial areas and averages 82 dm³·s⁻¹, making the springs capable of acting as a drinking water reservoir. This assessment is based on major ions and nutrients only; microbiological and trace-organic/metal analyses are required before any drinking-water designation. Spring water is important in the lake’s supply, accounting for 18.0% of the total inflow to the basin. The hydrochemical characteristics of these waters keep the lake in ecological balance. The waters from the springs are characterized by little variation in chemical composition, with the Ca-HCO₃ hydrochemical type. They represent young infiltration waters associated with direct recharge from precipitation (the average age of the water is 60 years). Currently, low nitrate and chloride suggest limited agricultural and urban influence, but phosphate levels and observed human activities warrant caution. Forest management is gradually developing in its catchment, which may result in a reduction of the spring yield and a deterioration of their quality in the future. This may result in a disturbance of the hydrological balance of structures hydraulically connected to spring recharge and to groundwater inflow (river, lake). Although the springs studied are local hydrological phenomena, their functioning and the need for protection are closely linked to global challenges in the field of sustainable development. This primarily concerns the protection of groundwater-dependent ecosystems and, more broadly, water security and increased resilience to climate change. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Impact of Anthropogenic Pressures on the Groundwater Quality and Sustainability)

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23 pages, 7455 KB

Open AccessArticle

Source Apportionment and Health Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals in Groundwater in the Core Area of Central-South Hunan: A Combined APCS-MLR/PMF and Monte Carlo Approach

by Shuya Li, Huan Shuai, Hong Yu, Yongqian Liu, Yingli Jing, Yizhi Kong, Yaqian Liu and Di Wu

Sustainability 2026, 18(3), 1225; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18031225 - 26 Jan 2026

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 771

Abstract

Groundwater, a critical resource for regional water security and public health, faces escalating threats from heavy metal contamination—a pressing environmental challenge worldwide. This study focuses on the central-south Hunan region of China, a mineral-rich, densely populated area characterized predominantly by non-point-source pollution, aiming to systematically unravel the spatial patterns, source contributions, and associated health risks of heavy metals in local groundwater. Based on 717 spring and well water samples collected in 2024, we determined pH and seven heavy metals (As, Cd, Pb, Zn, Fe, Mn, and Tl). By integrating hydrogeological zoning, lithology, topography, and river networks, the study area was divided into 11 assessment units, clearly revealing the spatial heterogeneity of heavy metals. The results demonstrate that exceedances of Cd, Pb, and Zn were sporadic and point-source-influenced, whereas As, Fe, Mn, and Tl showed regional exceedance patterns (e.g., Mn exceeded the standard in 9.76% of samples), identifying them as priority control elements. The spatial distribution of heavy metals was governed the synergistic effects of lithology, water–rock interactions, and hydrological structure, showing a distinct “acidic in the northeast, alkaline in the southwest” pH gradient. Combined application of the APCS-MLR and PMF models resolved five principal pollution sources: an acid-reducing-environment-driven release source (contributing 76.1% of Fe and 58.3% of Pb); a geogenic–anthropogenic composite source (contributing 81.0% of Tl and 62.4% of Cd); a human-perturbation-triggered natural Mn release source (contributing 94.8% of Mn); an agricultural-activity-related input source (contributing 60.1% of Zn); and a primary geological source (contributing 89.9% of As). Monte Carlo simulation-based health risk assessment indicated that the average hazard index (HI) and total carcinogenic risk (TCR) for all heavy metals were below acceptable thresholds, suggesting generally manageable risk. However, As was the dominant contributor to both non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks, with its carcinogenic risk exceeding the threshold in up to 3.84% of the simulated adult exposures under extreme scenarios. Sensitivity analysis identified exposure duration (ED) as the most influential parameter governing risk outcomes. In conclusion, we recommend implementing spatially differentiated management strategies: prioritizing As control in red-bed and granite–metamorphic zones; enhancing Tl monitoring in the northern and northeastern granite-rich areas, particularly downstream of the Mishui River; and regulating land use in brick-factory-dense riparian zones to mitigate disturbance-induced Mn release—for instance, through the enforcement of setback requirements and targeted groundwater monitoring programs. This study provides a scientific foundation for the sustainable management and safety assurance of groundwater resources in regions with similar geological and anthropogenic settings. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Impact of Anthropogenic Pressures on the Groundwater Quality and Sustainability)

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Review

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23 pages, 2485 KB

Open AccessReview

A Review of the Application of Machine Learning Models in Groundwater Resources Management and Quality Assessment

by Qiyuan Liu, Kunjie Liang, Fu Xia, Zhichao Yun, Sheng Deng, Xu Han, Yu Yang and Yonghai Jiang

Sustainability 2026, 18(11), 5261; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18115261 - 23 May 2026

Viewed by 624

Abstract

Machine learning (ML) has evolved into an indispensable tool for uncovering hidden patterns and deducing correlations. Currently, ML is having a profound impact on the field of groundwater resources and environment research by enhancing predictive accuracy and optimizing management strategies. In this study, we conducted a bibliometric review using CiteSpace and a global-scale analysis of ML methods applied to groundwater resources and quality based on 1326 records. The findings suggest that ML applications in groundwater resources and water environment research are still in their infancy compared with other environmental science fields. This paper then provides a systematic summary of the specific applications of machine learning methodologies within groundwater research, focusing primarily on the prediction of groundwater levels and water quality, along with the extraction of feature importance. Furthermore, a comparison was made of the pros and cons of several prevalent ML techniques used in groundwater level and water quality studies, with an emphasis on the significance of aligning data with models during the application of ML. Finally, the challenges encountered by ML tools in groundwater research were addressed, along with opportunities for the future. The significant potential of employing ML methodologies in groundwater is proposed to make the invisible visible. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Impact of Anthropogenic Pressures on the Groundwater Quality and Sustainability)

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