Daily and seasonal stem radial activity of Populus euphratica and its association with hydroclimatic factors in the lower reaches of China’s Heihe River basin

The Vado Carranza dump, located in the Mexicali Valley, Baja California, northwest Mexico, was operated for more than 15 years receiving about 30 tons/day of solid wastes. The disposed wastes were periodically burned in open air. The presence of a shallow aquifer in the area makes the groundwater vulnerable to contamination processes. The purpose of this study was the evaluation of heavy metals content (Cu, Cd, Ni, Pb and Zn) in soil and groundwater in the vicinity of this dump. The results indicate high content of metals in soil, mainly at a superficial level, with the highest concentrations in the areas where burning of wastes occurred. Elevated concentrations of cadmium and copper were detected in groundwater with the highest concentrations occurring in monitoring wells located in the north side of the dump, downward of groundwater flow. Although the high content of metals in soil can be attributed to the burning of waste, other sources of pollution could be the agricultural irrigation in the vicinity of the dump. The program PHREEQC was used to model the geochemical evolution of groundwater. Results suggest that evaporation of the contaminated waters circulating below the landfill is one of the key processes that explain the increased concentration of contaminants in groundwater and its seasonal variations. As groundwater flows away from the dump, evaporation can concentrate the chemicals making the water more toxic. These results are important because they illustrate processes that are likely to occur in landfills located in other desert areas of the world.     

Application of electrical resistivity method in estimating geohydraulic properties of a sandy hydrolithofacies: a case study of Ajali Sandstone in Ninth Mile,Enugu State,Nigeria

Geoelectric investigation using vertical electrical sounding (VES) (Schlumberger electrode configuration) was carried out in 14 locations at Ninth Mile area, southeastern Nigeria to determine the variations and interrelationship of some geoelectric and geohydraulic parameters of a sandstone hydrolithofacies. The measured resistivity data were interpreted using manual and computer software packages, which gave the resistivity, depth, and thickness for each layer within the maximum current electrodes separation. The aquifer resistivity values range from 86.56 to 4753.0 Ωm with 1669.40 Ωm average value. The values of water resistivity from borehole locations close to the sounding points range from 79.49 to 454 .55 Ωm and averaging about 264.7 Ωm. Porosity values of the sandy aquifer range from 30.19 to 34.20%. Fractional porosity values range from 0.3019 to 0.3292, while the tortuosity values vary between 2.91 and 22.85. The geohydraulic parameters estimated vary across the study area. Formation factor ranges from 0.28 to 15.29, hydraulic conductivity ranges from 1.21 to 66.54 m/day which, however, influences the natural flow of water in the aquifer while tortuosity values range from 2.91 to 23.27. The contour maps clearly show the variation of these parameters in the subsurface and the plots show their relationship and high correlation coefficients with one another. The results of this study have revealed the geological characteristics of the subsurface aquifer, established the influence on the amount of groundwater, and proposed a strategy for the management and exploitation of groundwater resources in the area and other aquiferous formations.     

Assessment of spatial distribution of contaminants and their levels in soil and water resources of Calabar,Nigeria using geophysical and geological data

The contamination levels of soils and water resources in Calabar, Nigeria have been investigated using resistivity (vertical electrical sounding and electrical resistivity tomography), geochemical analyses of soil and water resources and textural analysis. Sixty randomly sited VES sites were investigated in two seasons while ERT investigations were performed along four profiles. The geochemical investigations were spread across seasons in order to track seasonal changes in physico-chemical parameters: hydrogen ion concentration (pH), electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, chloride ion (Cl^?), nitrate ion (\( {\text{NO}}_{ 3}^{ - } \)), bicarbonate (\( {\text{HCO}}_{ 3}^{ - } \)), sulphate ion (\( {\text{SO}}_{ 4}^{2 - } \)), calcium ion (Ca²⁺), sodium ion (Na⁺), potassium ion (K⁺) and magnesium ion (Mg²⁺). Additionally, concentrations of ammonium, aluminium and nitrite ions in soils were determined. Results show that ionic concentrations in the sand-dominated soils and water are within permissible limits and baseline standards. The resistivities follow known trends in the area. However, at the central waste disposal site, a localised thin (< 5 m), low resistivity (< 15 Ωm) anomaly suspected to be due to contamination by leachates was observed. Comparatively, the contaminated area is also characterised by marginal increase in ionic concentrations. Strong attenuation capacities of overlying and adjoining clay/lateritic sediments and optimal design of the waste dump site probably reduced the spread of contaminants. The contaminated zone need to be closely monitored so that it does not extend to the aquifers. Hence, all strategies presently being used in managing wastes in Calabar should be sustained.     

Groundwater occurrence and aquifer vulnerability assessment of Magodo Area,Lagos, Southwestern Nigeria

A combination of vertical electrical soundings (VES), 2D electrical resistivity imaging (ERI) surveys and borehole logs were conducted at Magodo, Government Reserve Area (GRA) Phase 1, Isheri, Southwestern Nigeria, with the aim of delineating the different aquifers present and assessing the groundwater safety in the area. The Schlumberger electrode array was adopted for the VES and dipole-dipole array was used for the 2D imaging. The maximum current electrode spread (AB) was 800 m and the 2D traverse range between 280 and 350 m in the east-west direction. The thickness of impermeable layer overlying the confined aquifer was used for the vulnerability ratings of the study area. Five lithological units were delineated: the topsoil, clayey sand, unconsolidated sand which is the first aquifer, a clay stratum and the sand layer that constitutes the confined aquifer horizon. The topsoil thickness varies from 0.6 to 2.6 m, while its resistivity values vary between 55.4 and 510.6 Ω/m. The clayey sand layers have resistivity values ranging from 104.2 to 143.9 Ω/m with thickness varying between 0.6 and 14.7 m. The resistivity values of the upper sandy layer range from 120.7 to 2195.2 Ω/m and thickness varies from 3.3 to 94.0 m. The resistivity of the clay layer varies from 11.3 to 96.1 Ω/m and the thickness ranges from 29.6 to 76.1 m. The resistivity value of the confined aquifer ranges between 223 and 1197.4 Ω/m. The longitudinal conductance (0.0017–0.02 mhos) assessment of the topsoil shows that the topsoil within the study area has poor overburden protective capacity, and the compacted impermeable clay layer shows that the underlying confined aquifer is well protected from contamination and can be utilized as a source of portable groundwater in the study area. This study therefore enabled the delineation of shallow aquifers, the variation of their thicknesses and presented a basis for safety assessment of groundwater potential zones in the study area.     

Environmental impact and vulnerability of the surface and ground water system from municipal solid waste disposal site: Koshe, Addis Ababa

Geo-environmental assessment and geophysical investigations were carried out over the only functional municipal solid waste disposal site of the city of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, known locally as Koshe. The accumulated wastes from Koshe have impact on the surrounding human and physical environment since the disposal site was not designed. The study deserves emphasis because the city of Addis Ababa currently obtains a considerable portion of its domestic water supply from a well field developed not much farther from and along a groundwater flow direction in relation to the waste disposal site. It was found out that the leachates from the site contain high concentration of biological oxygen demand, chemical oxygen demand, chloride and sulphate besides high concentration of cobalt, nickel and zinc in the surrounding soils. The geophysical results have mapped weak zones and near-vertical discontinuities that could potentially be conduits for the leachate from the wastes into the deep groundwater system. Further, a zone of potential leachate migration from the landfill was identified from the electrical models; the location of this zone is consistent with the predicted direction of groundwater flow across the site. The results further suggested that the open dump site tends to cause increasing amount of pollution on the surrounding soil, surface and ground waters. Furthermore, it was observed that the Koshe waste disposal site has grown beyond its capacity and the poor management of the open dump landfill has reduced the aesthetic value of the surrounding environments. The need to change/relocate the existing waste disposal site to a more suitable and technologically appropriate site is emphasized.     

Hydrogeophysical investigation for groundwater potential of Ishara/Ode-Remo geological transition zone,southwestern Nigeria

Geological transition zones are noted to be problematic in groundwater potential and development, due to their erratic and complex nature as well as characteristic of the subsurface lithologies. There were several occurrences of reported borehole failures and dry wells in these zones in Nigeria as a result of very scanty information that could serve as database for studying its groundwater potential. This study was therefore designed to generate hydrogeophysical data that could serve as baseline information on the groundwater potential in the study. In addition, to also delineate various subsurface lithologies present. Electrical resistivity survey for geophysical investigation was carried out using vertical electrical sounding (VES) technique. A total of 150 VES stations were purposively probed using Schlumberger electrode array. The interpreted data were used to produce geoelectric subsurface lithologies and to draw the geological section across the entire area. Various subsurface lithologies with their resistivities (Ωm) were delineated for basement complex (BC), transition zone (TZ), and sedimentary terrain (ST). In BC were topsoil, weathered zone, and fresh bedrock and in TZ were topsoil, sandy, laterite/clay, dry sand, sandstone, and fresh bedrock delineated while in the ST, topsoil, lateritic and sandy clay, dry sand, and the sandstone were delineated. In conclusion, the groundwater potential of the study area is largely been affected by the topography and the nature/composition of the Abeokuta Group that underlie the sedimentary part of the study area and the presence of thick laterite/clay unit of the basement complex portion of the study area.     

Assessment of groundwater contamination from a hazardous dump site in Ranipet, Tamil Nadu, India

Tanneries located in an industrial development area of Ranipet (India) manufactured chromate chemicals during 1976?C1996. A large quantity of associated hazardous solid wastes has been stacked about 5-m high above ground level, spread over 3.5?ha inside one of the factory premises. The study area receives an average annual rainfall of 1,100?mm. The granitic formation in the northern part of Palar River catchment has high infiltration rates and has resulted in fast migration of the contamination to the water table. Chromium levels in the groundwater were found up to 275?mg/l. The available hydrogeological, geophysical and groundwater quality data bases have been used to construct a groundwater flow and mass transport model for assessing the groundwater contamination and it has been calibrated for the next 30?years. The migration has been found to be very slow, with a groundwater velocity of 10?m/year. This is the first field-scale study of its kind in this industrial area. The findings are of relevance to addressing the groundwater pollution due to indiscriminate disposal practices of hazardous waste in areas located on the phreatic aquifer. Further, it has been reported that the untreated effluent discharge adjacent to the chromium dump site is most influential in the migration of contaminants.     

A 70-year groundwater recharge record from sandy loess in northwestern China and its climatic implications

The processes and rates of groundwater recharge in arid and semiarid environments are highly related to local climate parameters, particularly precipitation. The chloride profile of an unsaturated zone in an arid and semiarid region can be used to infer the recharge history and past changes in climate, by extension. In this study, a 17-m chloride profile was collected from the sandy loess in the northwestern Chinese Loess Plateau, which also lies in the transition zone between desert and loess. A 71-year groundwater recharge history was reconstructed using the chloride mass balance method with an annual Cl^? input of 0.84 g/m²/year. The reconstructed history revealed a long-term decline in recharge with multiple shorter-term oscillations. Five recharge stages between 1938–1946, 1947–1955, 1956–1975, 1976–2000, and 2001–2008 AD were identified, where the lowest average recharge value was 25.1 mm/a in 1976–2000 AD and the highest was 71.7 mm/a in 1947–1955 AD. Climate conditions during these five periods were also inferred based on the reconstructed recharge rates with the knowledge that high recharge corresponds to more humid climates. The climate over the past 71 years generally became drier in the study area, despite some fluctuations. The reconstructed recharge rates, calculated from 1/Cl^? in the profile, exhibited the same variability as annual precipitation measured in the region, both in long- and short-term oscillations over the period from 1955 to 2008. The chloride concentration variations in the profile, indicating changes in recharge flux, also well correlated with annual precipitation anomalies in the region to the east of 100°E in China for the whole study period. These comparisons verified that it is feasible to study not only groundwater recharge, but also past climate change using a chloride profile from the sandy loess area. The results suggested that unsaturated zones of sandy loess may be valuable archives for reconstructing recharge history and regional paleoclimate changes in the region.     

Delimiting a saline water zone in Quaternary fluvial–alluvial deposits using transient electromagnetic: a case study in Punata,Bolivia

The semiarid Punata alluvial fan is located in the central part of Bolivia. The main activity of this region is the extensive agriculture, and groundwater is the main water supply. Local villagers who use groundwater reported that in some places groundwater has a salty taste. In order to investigate the origin of this problem, several TEM soundings were performed in the study area, and they were complemented with ERT surveys. The results show top layers with resistivity values ranging from 30 to 200 Ωm and a bottom layer with resistivity values ranging from 1 to 20 Ωm, which might be interpreted as the main aquifer and a layer with high clay content, respectively. Between the top and bottom layer, a transition zone with saline water has been identified, with resistivity values ranging from 0.1 to 1 Ωm. The origin of this closed-basin brine might be a product of the evaporation of paleolakes during the lower Pliocene, where saline clays were deposited. This study demonstrated the effectiveness of TEM sounding for mapping very low resistivity zones such as saline water.     

Integrated geoelectrical resistivity and hydrogeochemical methods for delineating and mapping heavy metal zone in aquifer system

A novel study on using geoelectrical resistivity, soil property, and hydrogeochemical analysis methods for delineating and mapping of heavy metal in aquifer system is presented in this paper. A total of 47 surveys of geoelectrical resistivity with Wenner configuration were conducted to determine the subsurface and the groundwater characteristics. The groundwater sample from 53 existing wells and 2 new wells has been analyzed to derive their water chemical content. The chemical analysis was done on the soil sample obtained from new two wells and from selected locations. The water and soil chemical analysis results from the new two wells were used as calibration in resistivity interpretation. The occurrence of heavy metal in aquifer system was expected to detect using the geoelectrical resistivity survey for the whole study area. The result of groundwater analysis shows that the groundwater sample contains a relatively low concentration of Fe (<?0.3 mg/L) elongating from the south up to the middle region. While in the middle and the northwestern, Fe concentration is relatively high (around 12 mg/L). Chemical analysis of soil sample shows that in the lower resistivity zone (<?18 Ωm), Al and Fe concentrations are comparatively high with an average of 68,000 and 40,000 mg/kg, respectively. Starting from the middle to the northwestern zone, the resistivity value appears to be low. It is definitely caused by higher Al and Fe concentration within the soil, and it is supported also by lower total anion content in the groundwater. While the resistivity value of more than 40 Ωm in aquifers is obtained in the zone which Fe concentration is relatively lower in the soil but not present in the groundwater. Correlation Fe concentration in the soil and Fe concentration in the groundwater sample shows the trend of positively linear; however, the Al concentration in soil has no correlation with Al content in groundwater. Finally, the probability of high heavy metal zone in the aquifer system is easily delineated by the distribution of geoelectrical resistivity presented in depth slice shapes which extend from the Boundary Range Composite Batholith in the north to the northwest.     

An aquifer vulnerability assessment of the Benin Formation aquifer,Calabar, southeastern Nigeria,using DRASTIC and GIS approach

An aquifer vulnerability of the Benin Formation aquifer (Calabar, southern Nigeria) has been assessed using a combination of DRASTIC index and GIS technology. The assessment was necessitated by the fact that uncontrolled disposal of domestic, industrial and agricultural wastes have caused groundwater contamination. Therefore, prevention of contamination, monitoring and management of the aquifer was urgently required to increase the efficient use of the current water supplies. The DRASTIC method uses seven parameters (depth to groundwater table, net recharge, aquifer media, soil media, topography, influence of vadose zone and hydraulic conductivity), which were used to produce vulnerability maps. The drastic vulnerability index ranged between 124 and 170. The vulnerability map shows that the aquifer is highly vulnerable in southeastern parts of the area covering about 22 %. The medium vulnerability area covers about 56.8 % of Calabar extending from the southwest to northern parts. 21.2 % of the area covering the central and northern parts the area lies within the low vulnerability zone. The present industrial and activities are located in the eastern and western parts, which falls within the low-medium vulnerability areas. Documented nitrate concentration in hand-dug wells and boreholes are in agreement with vulnerability zones. Sensitivity analysis was performed to evaluate the sensitivity of each parameter between map layers such that subjectivity can be reduced to an extent and new weights computed for each DRASTIC parameter. As management options sensitive areas, especially in the southern parts of Calabar area, should be protected from future development.     

Assessment of groundwater occurrence in Olomoro,Nigeria using borehole logging and electrical resistivity methods

The objective of this study was to assess the subsurface strata and groundwater situation of Olomoro, Nigeria using borehole logging and electrical resistivity techniques. The borehole logging consisting of resistivity and spontaneous potential logs were conducted by using the Johnson Keck logger on a drilled well in the study area. The electrical resistivity survey involving 17 vertical electrical soundings (VES) with a maximum current electrode spacing of 100 to 150 m was conducted using the Schlumberger electrode configuration. Analysis of the well cuttings revealed that the lithology of the subsurface consist of topsoil, clay, very fine sand, medium grain sand, coarse sand and very coarse sand. Results of the downhole logging also revealed that the mean electrical conductivity and the total dissolved solid of the groundwater was obtained as 390 μS/cm and 245 mg/cm³ respectively. These values are within the acceptable limit set by the Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON) for drinking water. The result of the vertical electrical sounding interpreted using the computer iterative modeling revealed the presence of four to five geoelectric layers which showed a close correlation with result from the lithology and downhole logging. Results further showed that the resistivity of the subsurface aquifer ranged between 1584 and 5420 Ωm while the aquifer depths varied between 27.8 and 39.3 m. Groundwater development of the area is suggested using the depth and resistivity maps provided in this study.     

Determination of the aquifers geometry in arid zones by using geoelectrical method

Water resources in the Algerian South are rare and difficult to reach because they are often too deep. This is the case of Guerrara which is characterized by an annual precipitation average of less than 60 mm. The water supply is warranted from groundwater, frequently too deep and badly known. The main purpose of the present study is to determine the geometry of aquifer from geophysical data. Fourteen vertical electrical soundings covering the total surface area were carried out by using an arrangement of electrodes called “Schlumberger array.” The length of the selected transmission line (AB) was 1,000 m, which allowed a vertical investigation reaching up to 160 m of depth. The analysis of the results shows that the prospected zone is characterized by the succession of layers with different electrical resistivities. A sandstone aquifer characterized by resistivities near 100 Ω m overcoming a limestone aquifer stronger with values that exceed 1,000 Ω m, separated by a conductive layer of clay with average resistivity of 15 Ω m. Distribution map of sandstones thickness shows the structural variations of this horizon allowing an estimation of its hydraulic potential.     

Ground penetrating radar and 2D electric resistivity studies for tracing hydrocarbon leakage site,close to Abha City: a case study

This work presents the application of the ground-penetrating radar (GPR) method and electric resistivity tomography (ERT) technique in outlining a zone of contamination due to the light non-aqueous phase liquid (LNAPL) plume underground in the area of an impacted fuel station, close to Abha City. The GPR has been performed using SIR3000 unit with the 100 and 400 MHz antennas. The main objective of the GPR survey was to evaluate the lateral extension of contamination. The complex GPR signature of the plume was well characterized. Low reflectivity zone corresponds to hydrocarbon vapor phase in the vadose zone. Enhanced reflections are associated with free and residual products in the fractured saturated zone directly above the water table. An electric resistivity tomography (ERT) survey was performed on four profiles within the site to investigate the vertical and horizontal extent of the contamination plume and to define the bottom of the landfill. The 2D electric profiles show the presence of low-resistivity (4O to 37 Ω m) anomalies that refers to the presence of accumulated hydrocarbons. From the interpretation of the GPR and ERT profile, it was possible to locate the top and bottom of the contamination plume of the waste disposal site. The radar signal penetrated deep enough and enabled the identification of a second reflector at approximately 10-m deep, interpreted as the hard basement surface which causes the strong amplitude reflection in the GPR profile. The results of GPR and ERT showed good agreement.     

Fate of individual sewage disposal system wastewater within regolith in mountainous terrain

In order to improve understanding of the fate of septic tank or individual sewage disposal system (ISDS) effluent in regolith overlying fractured-rock aquifers, effluent from an ISDS in such a setting was tracked via geophysical, hydrological, and geochemical methods. Under typical precipitation conditions, the effluent entered the fractured bedrock within 5 m of the boundary of the constructed infiltration area. During a period of unusually high spring recharge, the plume migrated between 50 and 100 m within the regolith before infiltrating the fractured bedrock. The chemical signature of the effluent is similar to that required to account for the decline in water quality, suggesting a causative relationship (as estimated from mass-balance models of the surface-water chemistry near the mouth of the basin). The elevated salt content of the effluent during periods of high natural recharge to the infiltration area correlates with elevated salt concentrations in surface and groundwater at the basin scale, suggesting that some of the effluent salt load may be stored in the unsaturated zone during dry periods and flushed during periods of elevated natural recharge.     

A numerical comparison of enhancing horizontal resolution (EHR) technique utilizing 2D resistivity imaging

The effectiveness of inversion apparent resistivity data to determine accurately the true resistivity distribution over 2D structures has been investigated using a common inversion scheme based on smoothness-constrained nonlinear least-squares optimization with enhancing horizontal resolution (EHR) technique by numerical simulation. The theoretical model generates in RES2DMOD software at specific distance and depth using Wenner, Wenner–Schlumberger, and pole–dipole arrays were inverted. The inversion model was compared with the original 2D model in RES2DINV software. The study model includes horizontal layering, vertical resolution, and horizontal two layers with different resistivity. Also, the response to variations in data density of these arrays was investigated. The study shows the best array suitable to be used in the survey was chosen for real data acquisition at the actual site. Subsequently, the results from borehole were used to verify the results of 2D resistivity imaging method with and without EHR technique. Saturated zone (0–40 Ω-m) was found scattered at the depth of 10–20 m. The borehole is located at 63 m at 2D resistivity imaging survey which shows at depth 10–20 m is sandy silt. Highly weathered sandstone was found at 6 m depth with resistivity value of 800 Ω-m and SPT N value of 20. The bedrock was found at 27 m depth with resistivity value of 3,000 Ω-m and SPT N value of 50. The application of 2D resistivity imaging with EHR technique indicate the ability of the proposed approach in terms of density, depth, and resistivity value of anomalous and layer in a computationally and numerically efficient manner and to exhibit good performance in the data inversion.     

Impact of pit-toilet leachate on groundwater chemistry and role of vadose zone in removal of nitrate and E. coli pollutants in Kolar District, Karnataka, India

Assessment of chemistry of groundwater infiltrated by pit-toilet leachate and contaminant removal by vadose zone form the focus of this study. The study area is Mulbagal Town in Karnataka State, India. Groundwater level measurements and estimation of unsaturated permeability indicated that the leachate recharged the groundwater inside the town at the rate of 1 m/day. The average nitrate concentration of groundwater inside the town (148 mg/L) was three times larger than the permissible limit (45 mg/L), while the average nitrate concentration of groundwater outside the town (30 mg/L) was below the permissible limit. The groundwater inside the town exhibited E. coli contamination, while groundwater outside the town was free of pathogen contamination. Infiltration of alkalis (Na⁺, K⁺) and strong acids (Cl^?, SO₄ ^2?) caused the mixed Ca–Mg–Cl type (60 %) and Na–Cl type (28 %) facies to predominate groundwater inside the town, while, Ca–HCO₃ (35 %), mixed Ca–Mg–Cl type (35 %) and mixed Ca–Na–HCO₃ type (28 %) facies predominated groundwater outside/periphery of town. Reductions in E. coli and nitrate concentrations with vadose zone thickness indicated its participation in contaminant removal. A 4-m thickness of unsaturated sand + soft, disintegrated weathered rock deposit facilitates the removal of 1 log of E. coli pathogen. The anoxic conditions prevailing in the deeper layers of the vadose zone (>19 m thickness) favor denitrification resulting in lower nitrate concentrations (28–96 mg/L) in deeper water tables (located at depths of ?29 to ?39 m).     

Metal enrichment in the groundwater of the arid environment in South Africa

This paper presents the enrichment tendency and spatial distribution of metals in the groundwater which is pumped out from the granitic aquifers in South Africa. Groundwater is the sole source of water supply for the local community in the study area (Namaqualand), and hence, it was necessary to understand the controlling geochemical processes and interrelationship of metals in the groundwater. The geochemical association of metals has been assessed based on the geostatistical methods. The results show that geochemical processes such as oxidation, leaching, and evaporation besides water–rock interaction are very important in controlling metal enrichment in the groundwater from highly mineralized rocks. The metal enrichment index for selected toxic metals in groundwater increases in the order of Cd > U > Cr > Pb. The observed enrichment trend could be considered as a result of mineralization of basement rocks which is facilitated by active geochemical process in the arid environment. The lack of aquifer flushing due to negligible recharge helps the metals to concentrate at shallow groundwater zones supported by severe evaporation process.     

Influences of the unsaturated,saturated, and riparian zones on the transport of nitrate near the Merced River,California, USA

Transport and transformation of nitrate was evaluated along a 1-km groundwater transect from an almond orchard to the Merced River, California, USA, within an irrigated agricultural setting. As indicated by measurements of pore-water nitrate and modeling using the root zone water quality model, about 63% of the applied nitrogen was transported through a 6.5-m unsaturated zone. Transport times from recharge locations to the edge of a riparian zone ranged from approximately 6 months to greater than 100 years. This allowed for partial denitrification in horizons having mildly reducing conditions, and essentially no denitrification in horizons with oxidizing conditions. Transport times across a 50–100-m-wide riparian zone of less than a year to over 6 years and more strongly reducing conditions resulted in greater rates of denitrification. Isotopic measurements and concentrations of excess N₂ in water were indicative of denitrification with the highest rates below the Merced River. Discharge of water and nitrate into the river was dependent on gradients driven by irrigation or river stage. The results suggest that the assimilative capacity for nitrate of the groundwater system, and particularly the riverbed, is limiting the nitrate load to the Merced River in the study area.