Core Points - The article discusses the severe groundwater over-extraction issue in Hengshui City, Hebei Province, where agricultural water usage accounts for 77% of total water consumption [1] - A significant turnaround has been achieved in groundwater management, with the area of severely over-extracted deep groundwater in Hengshui being completely eliminated, and groundwater levels expected to rise by 6.3 meters by the second half of 2024 [1] Group 1: Groundwater Management - Hengshui has implemented strict management measures by designating areas as either no-extraction zones or limited-extraction zones to control groundwater usage [4] - The city has established a hierarchical management mechanism where local government officials are responsible for monitoring groundwater extraction [4][5] - The introduction of technology, such as card-operated water extraction systems, has led to more efficient water usage and cost management for farmers [4][10] Group 2: Surface Water Supplementation - Hengshui has initiated ecological water replenishment projects, including the introduction of 15 to 20 million cubic meters of water from the Yellow River to maintain water levels in Hengshui Lake [6] - Since 2014, a total of 820 million cubic meters of external water has been supplied to Hengshui Lake through various channels [6] - The city has improved its irrigation infrastructure, increasing the area irrigated by surface water to 4.45 million acres in 2023, with plans to expand to 5.145 million acres in 2024 [8] Group 3: Water Conservation Initiatives - The city has adopted advanced irrigation technologies, such as smart micro-drip irrigation systems, which have reduced water usage by 50% and lowered costs for farmers [10] - A comprehensive water-saving management system has been established, including the implementation of a contract water-saving management model [12] - By 2024, Hengshui aims to reduce water consumption per unit of GDP by 18.5% compared to 2020 levels, and water usage per unit of industrial added value by 45.9% [13]

Core Viewpoint - The revival of the Nandao Spring in Taiyuan, Shanxi Province, is a significant ecological restoration achievement after years of environmental degradation caused by industrial activities and excessive groundwater extraction [1][4][6]. Group 1: Historical Context - The Nandao Spring, known as "the first spring of Sanjin," dried up in 1994 due to large-scale coal mining and industrial water extraction, leading to a continuous decline in groundwater levels [2][4]. - In the 1980s, the spring provided water for over 30,000 acres of farmland and local industries, but its water supply diminished due to environmental damage from mining activities [2][4]. Group 2: Restoration Efforts - From 2006 to 2014, Taiyuan undertook a large-scale consolidation of coal mines, reducing the number of mines from 275 to 53, which significantly decreased the water discharge from mining operations [4][5]. - The city implemented 15 concentrated water source replacement and ecological replenishment projects, reducing groundwater extraction from 451 million cubic meters 20 years ago to an expected 185 million cubic meters by 2024 [5][8]. - In 2023, the Nandao Spring naturally flowed for the first time in years, with a total of 133 days of flow, marking a new high in water levels [6][7]. Group 3: Future Plans - The local government aims to restore the ecological balance by controlling groundwater extraction and limiting high-water-consuming projects within the spring's protection area [7][8]. - Plans are in place to further reduce groundwater extraction by an additional 80 million cubic meters by 2025, aiming for a balance between groundwater extraction and replenishment [8].

Core Points - The revival of the Nandao Spring in Taiyuan, Shanxi, is a significant ecological restoration achievement after it had dried up in 1994 due to excessive mining and industrial water extraction [1][2][4] - The spring's water level has reached its highest point in over 30 years, with natural outflow occurring for the first time in May 2023, totaling 133 days of flow that year [6][7] Group 1: Historical Context - Nandao Spring, known as "the first spring of Sanjin," dried up in the 1990s due to large-scale coal mining and over-extraction of groundwater, leading to a significant decline in water levels [2][4] - The spring was historically vital for irrigation and industrial water supply, serving over 30,000 acres of farmland [2][4] Group 2: Restoration Efforts - Taiyuan implemented various ecological restoration measures, including closing down artificial water supply systems and allowing natural water flow to resume [4][6] - From 2006 to 2014, the city restructured coal mining operations, reducing the number of mines from 275 to 53, which significantly decreased water extraction [4][5] - The total groundwater extraction has decreased from 451 million cubic meters 20 years ago to a projected 185 million cubic meters by 2024 [5][8] Group 3: Future Plans - The city plans to continue ecological restoration efforts, including repairing irrigation channels to support local agriculture, particularly rice farming [7][8] - Shanxi province has revised regulations to protect groundwater resources, limiting new high-water-consuming projects and controlling groundwater extraction in spring protection areas [7][8]