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Environmental tracers CFCs, (18)O, (2)H and tritium were used to determine the natural groundwater recharge and the impact of irrigation activity on the groundwater system in the semi-arid Zhangye Basin of China. Groundwaters in the irrigated areas have been identified as mixtures containing fractions recharged in different periods of time. The CFC and (3)H data show that the oldest fraction in the groundwater was recharged before 1950, whereas the younger fractions were recharged in different periods of time since 1950. Stable isotope ((18)O, (2)H), CFC and electrical conductivity data show that most of the samples can be regarded as binary mixtures with the river/irrigation water presents the younger fraction and the regional groundwater presents the older fraction. Binary mixing model is used to estimate the age and fraction of the younger component. Most of the younger fraction was recharged after 1980s. in response to the increasing irrigation activities. Compared to local precipitation surface water plays a major role in recharging the aquifer in the irrigated area. The irrigation activity had more impact on the aquifer under thin unsaturated zone (<10 m), due to short travel times and high amounts of recharge, whereas it had less impact on the aquifer under thick unsaturated zone (tens of meters). CFCs are useful in identifying regions of different impact of irrigation return flow. The positive correlation between nitrate and CFC data show that contaminants are transported to the saturated zone by irrigation water. This study shows that in this semi-arid basin due to strong evaporation of infiltrating surface water and regional groundwater, delta(18)O and EC values, in contrast to CFCs, do not show simple relationship with NO; concentration in groundwater. Combined with a proper mixing model, however, they can provide evidences that the CFCs found in groundwater were introduced by infiltrating irrigation return flow and, therefore, reveal that human activities can produce a much localized water circulation and influence groundwater vulnerability. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.