Concentrations of elements from fly ash (forty-three) or leachate (fifteen) were detected, they were divided into six groups according to their changes of concentration with time. The study demonstrated that element concentration of B, Ba, Pb, Sb and Zn in monitoring wells followed different trend when time increased. Obeying some proportional relation, element concentration of B, Pb, Sb and Zn (except Ba) in monitoring wells showed the similar change when flow velocity was changed. In addition, the concentration of elements (B, Ba, Pb, Sb and Zn) in monitoring wells with different initial quality of fly ash was examined and there is a remarkable positive correlation between them. The capacity of element transformation decreased as follows: Pb > Ba > Sb > B > Zn. What's more, elements can also be divided into two groups (Ba, Pb, Sb, Zn or B) based on different changes of concentration in shallow or deep groundwater. Elements have significant dynamic change trends in simulating region. The highest element concentrations (or lowest) of fly ash appeared downstream. There are abundant evidences to show elements from fly ash pollute groundwater due to the migration. (c) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.