Primary Automatic Monitoring Results of Epikarst Water in Southwest China

Jiang Zhongcheng, Liu Zaihua, Pei Jianguo, Zhang Cheng, He Shiyi
Institute of Karst Geology, CAGS, Guilin

As one of important drinking water resources of local people in the karst mountain areas, Epikarst water has been an important and new aspect of geological survey in Southwest China. Automatic monitor of Epikarst water is a very effective method to understand dynamic change of quantity and quality of karst water. So far the water table, temperature and conductivity have been monitored in several epikarst springs in different environments. The data show that the epikarst water in rock desertification environments is quite different from the forests. For example, in rock desertification areas in Liupangshui, Guizhou, the water cycle time in epikarst zone is short, and the hydrologic dynamic state of epikarst spring is unstable and in correspondence with rainfall, and no water flow in dry season. But the epikarst springs in forest environments, such as in Nongla, Guangxi, have a stable hydrologic dynamic state and a permanent water flow. Therefore, rehabilitation of forest in karst mountain areas in south China is very important to improve adjustment function of epikarst zone to karst water. Another important finding from the automatic monitoring results is that, the conductivity of epikarst water increases gradually in short time after storm, which is different from traditional explanation.