Journal profile · WATER RESOURCES
Journal of Groundwater Science and Engineering
ISSN 2305-7068 · eISSN 2097-7476 · Groundwater Science and Engineering Limited · China
Journal of Groundwater Science and Engineering: CAS Zone 3 · Earth Sciences (2025 upgraded edition); impact factor 1.9 (journal website); diamond open access (no APC); no APC; review about 60 days (submission to final decision, publisher); 30 articles in 2025; indexed in ESCI and Scopus.
Scope
Aims, scope and focus
Journal of Groundwater Science and Engineering is published by Groundwater Science and Engineering Limited and is in Zone 3 of Earth Sciences in the CAS Journal Ranking (2025 upgraded edition). By OpenAlex counts of its recent articles, its largest topics are Groundwater and Isotope Geochemistry, Groundwater and Watershed Analysis and Groundwater flow and contamination studies, together about 30.3% of its articles. (generated from OpenAlex topic counts and CAS ranking data)
Journal of Groundwater Science and Engineering aims to be an innovative, high-impact and authoritative academic journal for scientists, researchers, engineers, and practitioners aross hydrogeology, environmental geology, engineering geology, geothermics, ecology and environment. The journal publishes original research papers, comprehensive reviews and reports with a large amount of latest sample data. It mainly reports research fronts, hotspots and emerging topics, as well as the traditional topics referring to new methodology, technology, applications and theoretical research. Papers published involve various aspects of research concerning groundwater, such as: hydrology, environment, ecology, atmospheric sciences, soil science, geochemistry, geophysics, geomorphology, geobiology, tectonics, urban geology, civil and environmental engineering, hydro-engineering, geological disaster, water technology, geothermy, numerical modeling, innovative instrumentation, remote sensing, data and information sciences, and other relevant fields.
From the journal's Aims & Scope
Research area (LetPub): WATER RESOURCES
Editor-in-chief YUAN Dao-xianPublisher website
Editorial board by country: 73 in mainland China (about 75%); most named Mainland China 73, United States 4, South Africa 3, United Kingdom 2, Japan 2 (97 members with a country) Editorial board ↗Publisher website ·
Main research topics OpenAlex counts of recent articles; shares are approximate
- Groundwater and Isotope GeochemistryEarth and Planetary Sciences13%
- Groundwater and Watershed AnalysisEnvironmental Science8.8%
- Groundwater flow and contamination studiesEnvironmental Science8.5%
- Hydrology and Watershed Management StudiesEnvironmental Science8.1%
- Geoscience and Mining TechnologyEngineering6.3%
- Karst Systems and HydrogeologyEarth and Planetary Sciences5.5%
- Water Quality and Pollution AssessmentEnvironmental Science4.5%
- Hydrocarbon exploration and reservoir analysisEngineering3.7%
Rankings & indexing
CAS ranking and database indexing
CAS Journal Ranking
CAS Journal Ranking, upgraded edition (March 2025)Earth Sciences Zone 3
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Earth Sciences | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Water Resources | Zone 3 |
Top journal: noReview journal: no
CAS Xinrui Journal Ranking (March 2026)Earth Sciences Zone 3
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Earth Sciences | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Water Resources | Zone 3 |
Top journal: noReview journal: not marked
CAS Journal Ranking, previous upgraded edition (December 2023)Earth Sciences Zone 4
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Earth Sciences | Zone 4 |
| Minor | Water Resources | Zone 4 |
Top journal: noReview journal: no
Database indexing
ESCIScopusDOAJLetPub
International journal early-warning lists: not listed in any editionLetPub
Indexing the journal's website claims
CASGeoRefPublisher website
Other: EBSCO, ProQuest, CNKI, CABI, AJ
As the journal's website lists them, not checked against each database; for Web of Science editions the records above apply.
Editions, and major and minor categories, are shown separately and never merged into one zone; check which edition your institution uses before you submit or report.
Metrics
Impact metrics and publication volume
Impact
- Impact factor (publisher)
- 1.9Publisher website ·
- CiteScore 2026-06
- 3.7LetPub ·
- CiteScore (publisher)
- 3.7Publisher website ·
- SJR 2026-06
- 0.5LetPub ·
- SNIP 2026-06
- 0.61LetPub ·
- h-index
- 15OpenAlex ·
- i10-index
- 34OpenAlex ·
- 2-year mean citedness
- 3.89OpenAlex ·
- Self-citation rate
- 10.5%LetPub ·
- Share of gold OA articles
- 92.63%LetPub ·
Volume
- Articles per year
- 31LetPub ·
Articles by year OpenAlex count · 409 in total · the current year is incomplete
| Year | Articles | Open access | Citations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 19 | 19 | 11 |
| 2025 | 30 | 30 | 95 |
| 2024 | 34 | 34 | 217 |
| 2023 | 33 | 33 | 231 |
Sources count differently and were observed at different times, so each source's own value is kept; "publisher" marks figures from the journal's website.
Review & acceptance
Review time and acceptance
Publisher-reported review time from the journal's website
60 dayssubmission to final decision · community reports about 28 weeks
The publisher's own definition applies; dates from this journal's articles in the last 24 months are not available yet, so the publisher's figure is used.
Figures by source
- Average review time (community reports)
- about 28 weeksLetPub ·
- Submission to first decision
- 3 daysPublisher website ·
- Submission to final decision
- 60 daysPublisher website ·
- Submission to publication (journal-reported)
- about 28 weeksDOAJ ·
- Peer review
- Double anonymous peer reviewDOAJ
Community reports come from authors' own submissions (confidence 0.5) and are not a promise from the journal; for publisher figures, the journal's own definitions apply.
Fees & open access
APC and open-access policy
Diamond open access (no APC)DOAJ
Every article is open access and authors pay no article processing charge.
| Source | APC | Fee waiver | License | Observed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DOAJ | No APC | No | CC BY-NC-ND | |
| LetPub | No APC | No | — |
The journal's website is authoritative for fees; sources were observed at different times and each keeps its own value, without averaging.
Submission
Article types and submission policies (journal website)
What to prepare10 items from the author guidelines
- Abstract
- ≤ 250 words
- Keywords
- ≥ 3
- Manuscript length
- ≤ 4,000 words
- Reference style
- Author–date
- Templates
- Word
- First submission
- Free format: the journal's layout is not required
- Suggested reviewers
- Optional, 3
- Highlights
- Required
- Graphical abstract
- Optional
- Cover letter
- Required
Article types accepted2
- research/review article1. Research/Review ArticleLength not stated
- short communication2. Short communicationLength not stated
Policy excerpts from the journal's websitePublication ethics, License & copyright
- Publication ethics
Multiple submission and plagiarism policy Model summary
One paper for multiple submission is strictly forbidden. Once such case discovered, any other manuscript submitted to the journal by the said author will be rejected in two years. Any plagiarized paper will be rejected. Once discovered, the author will be listed on the blacklist.
Source ↗Publisher website ·- License & copyright
Copyright transfer policy Model summary
Once the manuscript is accepted and published, the copyright of the article will be transferred to the Editorial Office of “Journal of Groundwater Science and Engineering”.
Source ↗Publisher website ·
Excerpts are quoted from the journal's website; "model summary" lines are written by Workers AI and checked against the text. The journal's website is authoritative.
Profile
Publication details and official links
- Publisher
- Groundwater Science and Engineering Limited
- Country or region
- China
- Language
- English
- ISSN
- 2305-7068
- Electronic ISSN
- 2097-7476
- Official links
- Journal homepage ↗LetPub
- Submission system ↗Publisher website
- Author guidelines ↗LetPub
- Aims & Scope ↗LetPub
- APC information ↗DOAJ
- Open access statement ↗DOAJ
- License & copyright ↗DOAJ
- Peer review process ↗LetPub
- Editorial board ↗LetPub
- Plagiarism policy ↗DOAJ
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about Journal of Groundwater Science and Engineering
What CAS zone is Journal of Groundwater Science and Engineering in?
In the 2025 upgraded edition of the CAS Journal Ranking, Journal of Groundwater Science and Engineering is in Zone 3 of Earth Sciences, and in Zone 3 of the minor category Water Resources. In the 2026 Xinrui edition it is in Zone 3 of Earth Sciences. Zones from different editions, and from major and minor categories, are not interchangeable.
What is the impact factor of Journal of Groundwater Science and Engineering?
The journal's website gives an impact factor of 1.9; this is the journal's own figure, as LetPub lists none for it; CiteScore 3.7, h-index 15.
How long does peer review take at Journal of Groundwater Science and Engineering?
The publisher reports about 60 days (submission to final decision); authors report an average review time of about 28 weeks. Article statistics cover accepted papers only, publisher figures follow the journal's own definitions, and community reports come from authors' own submissions; none is a promise from the journal.
What are the manuscript requirements of Journal of Groundwater Science and Engineering?
According to the journal's author guidelines: Abstract: ≤ 250 words; Keywords: ≥ 3; Manuscript length: ≤ 4,000 words; Reference style: Author–date; Templates: Word; First submission: Free format: the journal's layout is not required; Suggested reviewers: Optional, 3; Highlights: Required; Graphical abstract: Optional; Cover letter: Required. A model extracted these from the author guidelines and each was checked against the text; check the latest version on the journal's website before submitting.
Where are the editorial board members of Journal of Groundwater Science and Engineering based?
Of the 97 board members whose country the journal's board page names, 73 (about 75%) are in mainland China; the countries named most often are Mainland China (73), United States (4) and South Africa (3). Counted from the institutions listed on the board page; for reference only.
Which databases index Journal of Groundwater Science and Engineering?
According to LetPub and DOAJ records, Journal of Groundwater Science and Engineering is indexed in ESCI, Scopus and DOAJ. The journal's website also lists CAS and GeoRef; that list has not been checked against each database.
Is Journal of Groundwater Science and Engineering open access, and what is the APC?
Journal of Groundwater Science and Engineering is a diamond open-access journal (no APC). It charges no article processing charge.
Sources and updates
The facts on this page come from LetPub, OpenAlex, Publisher website, DOAJ; every figure is tagged with its source and the date it was observed, and conflicting values are kept per source. LetPub source page: view ↗ (archived 2026-08-26). Last updated: .