No. 47) in 2004, stipulating the relocated production and operation entities are
responsible for remedying and restoring use functions of soils subject to residual
pollutants during the relocation process. This document represents a milestone in
promoting the management of contaminated sites in China. Issued in 2014, the
Technical Guidelines for Site Environmental Investigation (HJ 25.1–2014),
Technical Guidelines for Site Environmental Monitoring (HJ 25.2–2014),
Technical Guidelines for Risk Assessment of Contaminated Sites (HJ 25.3–2014),
and Guidelines on Health Risk Assessment for Groundwater Pollution (Trial) also
provide technical guidance and support for groundwater environmental investigations and risk assessments.
Generally speaking, China's risk assessment system for contaminated sites
remains immature and needs further improvement according to national
circumstances.
1.3 Problems and Trends
Currently, the investigation and assessment of groundwater contamination sites
meets with the following problems in China:
(1) Large number, wide range and diversity of groundwater contaminations
sites, making investigation and assessment difficult
In recent years, urban sewage discharge without proper treatment has sharply
increased amid rapid urban expansion. Due to investment shortage and inappropriate pipe network construction and maintenance, sewage seeps through
pipes and some penetrates into groundwater bodies. Without complete separation from rainwater, sewage overflows with rainwater during the flood season,
causing groundwater pollution. Surface sewage leads directly to aquifer contamination and cross-contamination as groundwater facilities and activities do
not integrate sound waterstop measures.
Some industrial enterprises also threaten the safety of groundwater environment. Groundwater contamination incidents often take place as a result of
leakage in chromium slag and manganese slag heaps where industrial solid
waste has not been effectively utilized or treated. In the petrochemical industry,
exploration, mining and production activities significantly affect groundwater
quality, while groundwater contamination associated with gas station leakage
becomes increasingly prominent. Groundwater is also prone to pollution from
industrial wastewater discharge and dump of industrial enterprises through
seepage wells, seepage pits and crevices.
Fertilizers, pesticides and sewage irrigation also pose a threat to groundwater
safety in the relevant areas because some soil pollutants are easily leached. In
China, fertilizers and pesticides applied per unit of farmland are 2.8 times and 3
times of the world average, and a large number of fertilizers and pesticides
contaminate groundwater through soil infiltration. In some areas, long-term
1.2 Research Progress at Home and Abroad
7
responsible for remedying and restoring use functions of soils subject to residual
pollutants during the relocation process. This document represents a milestone in
promoting the management of contaminated sites in China. Issued in 2014, the
Technical Guidelines for Site Environmental Investigation (HJ 25.1–2014),
Technical Guidelines for Site Environmental Monitoring (HJ 25.2–2014),
Technical Guidelines for Risk Assessment of Contaminated Sites (HJ 25.3–2014),
and Guidelines on Health Risk Assessment for Groundwater Pollution (Trial) also
provide technical guidance and support for groundwater environmental investigations and risk assessments.
Generally speaking, China's risk assessment system for contaminated sites
remains immature and needs further improvement according to national
circumstances.
1.3 Problems and Trends
Currently, the investigation and assessment of groundwater contamination sites
meets with the following problems in China:
(1) Large number, wide range and diversity of groundwater contaminations
sites, making investigation and assessment difficult
In recent years, urban sewage discharge without proper treatment has sharply
increased amid rapid urban expansion. Due to investment shortage and inappropriate pipe network construction and maintenance, sewage seeps through
pipes and some penetrates into groundwater bodies. Without complete separation from rainwater, sewage overflows with rainwater during the flood season,
causing groundwater pollution. Surface sewage leads directly to aquifer contamination and cross-contamination as groundwater facilities and activities do
not integrate sound waterstop measures.
Some industrial enterprises also threaten the safety of groundwater environment. Groundwater contamination incidents often take place as a result of
leakage in chromium slag and manganese slag heaps where industrial solid
waste has not been effectively utilized or treated. In the petrochemical industry,
exploration, mining and production activities significantly affect groundwater
quality, while groundwater contamination associated with gas station leakage
becomes increasingly prominent. Groundwater is also prone to pollution from
industrial wastewater discharge and dump of industrial enterprises through
seepage wells, seepage pits and crevices.
Fertilizers, pesticides and sewage irrigation also pose a threat to groundwater
safety in the relevant areas because some soil pollutants are easily leached. In
China, fertilizers and pesticides applied per unit of farmland are 2.8 times and 3
times of the world average, and a large number of fertilizers and pesticides
contaminate groundwater through soil infiltration. In some areas, long-term
1.2 Research Progress at Home and Abroad
7