Scheme of groundwater use in Hetao irrigation district in Inner Mongolia

Groundwater table is shallow in Hetao irrigation district, and groundwater exploitation may decrease water demand from Yellow River to ensure water supply in lower reaches. In the paper, some principles about groundwater utilization were discussed, and concentrated exploitation was suggested, groundwater recharge was calculated under groundwater exploitation, the relationship among water form Yellow River, groundwater abstract and groundwater table was analyzed. It is therefore recommended that 1 100～1 500 m³/hm² of annual groundwater abstract is suitable under the condition of "three-recharge to sustain one-exploitation". Groundwater utilization will lessen water resource shortage, which is significant for sustainable development of water resources in Hetao irrigation district.