Groundwater with an inherently high iron concentration is widely distributed in the quaternary system of sand and gravel aquifers in Harbin City. This study reveals that the groundwater quality in the region has changed with human activities in the last 20 years. The groundwater quality analysis was conducted, and the relation between the iron concentration and exploitation intensity, PH value of precipitation water, fertilizer use on farm land and the discharge of sewage were investigated, by using the recorded data of groundwater table and hydrochemistry over the last 20 years from 80 wells. The results show that there is a positively strong correlation between iron concentration in the groundwater and human activities. Variations in the dynamic curve of the iron concentration also reflect the above stated phenomenon. On the other hand, the study shows that the spatial distribution of iron concentration is related with the groundwater drawdown funnels. However, the formation of the drawdown funnel was noted to precede the occurrence of high iron concentration area.