Abstract: In order to understand the characteristics of Xiaoling strong leakage zone and the impacts of Xiaoling urban village renovation project on the strong leakage zone, we investigated into the topographic geology and vegetation coverage of Xiaoling strong leakage zone via field test, remote sensing, interpretation and electrical prospecting. We also calculated the groundwater leakage recharge before and after the project construction. The east terrain of Xiaoling strong leakage zone is higher than the west. The Quaternary overburden layer is thin, ranging between 0 and 2.5 meters. Under the Quaternary lays the bedrock interface with strong groundwater recharge capacity. Vegetation coverage in the strong leakage zone is mostly at mid-level and mid-low level, occupying 65.82% of the total catchment area. According to average annual rainfall, the annual groundwater recharge of Dianzi-Erxian catchment is 95.13×10⁴ m³/a under fully natural conditions, and 85.92×10⁴ m³/a under the condition of current exploitation and utilization. In current condition, the groundwater recharge is reduced by 9.21×10⁴ m³/a, which accounts for 9.68% of that under natural condition. After the construction of Xiaoling urban village renovation project, the hardening area decreased by 0.026 km², and the groundwater recharge increased by 0.62×10⁴ m³/a in the project area, which indicates that the project is conducive to the increase of groundwater recharge in the spring recharge area. The research results are of practical value and significance for the protection of Jinan spring area and the protection and sustainable utilization of Jinan groundwater resources.

Key words: Jinan Spring, Xiaoling strong leakage zone, groundwater, vegetation coverage, groundwater leakage recharge