Pollution par les nitrates des nappes phréatiques sous environnement semi-urbain non assaini: example de la nappe de Yeumbeul, Sénégal

High nitrate concentrations, above the WHO guideline of 50 mg l⁻¹, were observed in samples of shallow wells reaching the Yeumbeul suburb (Senegal) area groundwater. This groundwater is exploited by 7000 houses and therefore there are health implications. Correlations between parameters such as nitrate content (NO₃⁻) in the groundwater and soil water, the distance between shallow wells and family latrines, and soil water chloride (Cl⁻) and colon bacillus content led to two possible sources of groundwater pollution: first, contamination by non impervious and shallow latrines; and second, the leaching of soil NO₃⁻ from waste organic matter carried in groundwater.     

Nitrate contamination of groundwater in an agroecosystem in Zhangye Oasis,Northwest China

In order to assess the extent of groundwater contamination by nitrate (NO₃ ⁻–N) and to provide information about the deterioration of the groundwater quality in Zhangye Oasis, Northwest China, a study was conducted in this area. The mean value of NO₃ ⁻–N concentrations in groundwater samples was 10.66 ± 0.19 mg l⁻¹. NO₃ ⁻–N concentrations exceeding 10 mg l⁻¹ (the threshold for drinking water set by the World Health Organization) were found in 32.4% of 71 wells, and were 13, 33.3, 52.4 and 50.0% in the groundwater samples from drinking wells, irrigation wells, hand-pumping wells and groundwater table observation wells, respectively. The result showed that the groundwater samples that had NO₃ ⁻–N concentrations exceeding the threshold for drinking water were mostly collected from a depth of less than 20 m. Groundwater NO₃ ⁻–N concentrations in areas used for the cultivation of vegetables, seed maize and intercropped maize were significantly higher than those in urban or paddy areas. NO₃ ⁻–N contamination of groundwater in areas with sandy soil was more severe than in those with loam soil.     

Groundwater nitrate contamination and risk assessment in an agricultural area,South Korea

The nitrate of groundwater in the Gimpo agricultural area, South Korea, was characterized by means of nitrate concentration, nitrogen-isotope analysis, and the risk assessment of nitrogen. The groundwaters belonging to Ca–(Cl + NO₃) and Na–(Cl + NO₃) types displayed a higher average NO₃ ⁻ concentration (79.4 mg/L), exceeding the Korean drinking water standard (<44.3 mg/L NO₃ ⁻). The relationship between δ¹⁸O–NO₃ ⁻ values and δ¹⁵N–NO₃ ⁻ values revealed that nearly all groundwater samples with δ¹⁵N–NO₃ ⁻ of +7.57 to +13.5‰ were affected by nitrate from manure/sewage as well as microbial nitrification and negligible denitrification. The risk assessment of nitrate for groundwater in the study area was carried out using the risk-based corrective action model since it was recognized that there is a necessity of a quantitative assessment of health hazard, as well as a simple estimation of nitrate concentration. All the groundwaters of higher nitrate concentration than the Korean drinking water standard (<44.3 mg/L NO₃ ⁻) belonged to the domain of the hazard index <1, indicating no health hazard by nitrate in groundwater in the study area. Further, the human exposure to the nitrate-contaminated soil was below the critical limit of non-carcinogenic risk.     

Environmental impact of an urban landfill on a coastal aquifer (El Jadida, Morocco)

The El Jadida landfill is one among many uncontrolled dumping sites in Morocco with no bottom liner. About 150 tons/day of solid wastes from mixed urban and industrial origins are placed directly on the ground. At the site of this landfill, the groundwaters circulate deeply (10–15 m) in the Cenomanian rock (calcareous–marl), which is characterised by an important permeability from cracks. The soil is sand–clay characterized by a weak coefficient of retention.The phreatic water ascends to the bottom of three quarries, which are located within the landfill. These circumstances, along with the lack of a leachate collection system, worsen the risks for a potential deterioration of the aquifer.To evaluate groundwater pollution due to this urban landfill, piezometric level and geochemical analyses have been monitored since 1999 on 60 wells. The landfill leachate has been collected from the three quarries that are located within the landfill. The average results of geochemical analyses show an important polluant charge vehiculed by landfill leachate (chloride = 5680 mg l⁻¹, chemical oxygen demand = 1000 mg l⁻¹, iron = 23 000 μg l⁻¹). They show also an important qualitative degradation of the groundwater, especially in the parts situated in the down gradient area and in direct proximity to the landfill. In these polluted zones, we have observed the following values: higher than 4.5 mS cm⁻¹ in electric conductivity, 1620 and 1000 mg l⁻¹ respectively in chlorides and sulfate (), 15–25 μg l⁻¹ in cadmium, and 60–100 μg l⁻¹ in chromium. These concentrations widely exceed the standard values for potable water.Several determining factors in the evolution of groundwater contamination have been highlighted, such as (1) depth of the water table, (2) permeability of soil and unsaturated zone, (3) effective infiltration, (4) humidity and (5) absence of a system for leachate drainage. So, to reduce the pollution risks of the groundwater, it is necessary to set a system of collection, drainage and treatment of landfill leachates and to emplace an impermeable surface at the site of landfill, in order to limit the infiltration of leachate.     

Distribution of polycyclic musks in water and particulate matter of the Lippe River (Germany)

The occurrence and distribution of polycyclic musks in the Lippe River system (a tributary of the Rhine River, Germany) was investigated in order to observe the dynamic transport and partitioning of these compounds between aqueous and particulate phases after their discharge into the river by sewage effluents. 1,3,4,6,7,8-Hexahydro-4,6,6,7,8,8-hexamethylcyclopenta[g]-2-benzopyrane (HHCB), 7-acetyl-1,1,3,4,4,6-hexamethyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene (AHTN), 6-acetyl-1,1,2,3,3,5-hexamethylindane (AHMI) and 4-acetyl-1,1-dimethyl-6-tert.-butylindane (ADBI) concentrations were determined in 19 water and surface sediment samples which were taken from a longitudinal section of the river. HHCB and AHTN were present in each of the water samples at concentrations ranging from <10 to 180 ng l⁻¹ and <10 to 70 ng l⁻¹, respectively. The load of dissolved HHCB and AHTN was calculated on the basis of compound concentrations in water and the corresponding river runoff data and ranged from 3 to 293 g day⁻¹ and from 1 to 108 g day⁻¹, respectively. Increasing loads of HHCB and AHTN along the river reflect a high input of sewage effluents to the densely populated areas along the central part of the river. Decreasing loads at the lower reaches indicate that in the corresponding river sections the rate of removal of musks was higher than the rate of input. Degradation and/or adsorption to particulate matter are processes that might explain this phenomenon. Consequently, high concentrations of HHCB and AHTN were detected in surface sediments from the Lippe River (from 5 to 191 μg kg⁻¹ and from 2 to 1399 μg kg⁻¹, respectively). HHCB/AHTN ratios in sediment samples were lower (average 1.2) than in water samples (average 2.9), suggesting the preferential adsorption of AHTN to particulate matter.     

Geochemical characteristics of shallow groundwater in Datong basin, northwestern China

Located in semi-arid regions of northwestern China, Datong basin is a Quaternary sedimentary basin, where groundwater is the most important source for water supply. It is very important to study groundwater characteristics and hydrogeochemical processes for better management of the groundwater resource. We have identified five geochemical zones of shallow groundwater (between 5 and 80 m) at Datong: A. Leaching Zone (Zone I); B. Converging Zone (Zone II); C. Enriching Zone (Zone III); D. Reducing Zone (Zone IV); E. Oxidizing Zone (Zone V). In Zones I, II, and V and some parts of Zones III and IV, hydrolysis of albite/K-feldspar/chalcedony system and/or albite/K-feldspar/quartz system enhanced concentrations of Na⁺, K⁺, HCO₃⁻ and silicate. In Zone I, dissolution of carbonate and hydrolysis of feldspar generally controlled the groundwater chemistry. Infiltration of meteoric water promoted the formation of HCO₃⁻ in the water. In Zone II, the main geochemical processes influencing the groundwater chemistry were dissolutions of calcite and dolomite, ion exchange and evaporation. In Zones III and IV, in addition to ion exchange, evaporation and precipitation of calcite and dolomite, leaching of NaHCO₃ in saline–alkaline soils dominated the water quality. Zone IV was under anoxic condition, and reduction reactions led to the decrease of SO₄²⁻, NO₃⁻ and occurrence of H₂S, with the highest arsenic content (mean value of 366 μg/L), far exceeding Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL). Abnormal arsenic in the groundwater resulted in endemic disease of waterborne arsenic poisoning among local people. Zone V overlapped Zone I was intensively affected by coal mining activities. Sulfide minerals, such as pyrite, would have been oxidized when exposed to air due to coal mining, which directly added sulfate to groundwater and thus increased SO₄²⁻ concentration. Oxidization of sulfide minerals also decreased pH and promoted dissolutions of calcite and dolomite.     

Chemistry and sulfur isotope investigation of industrial wastewater contamination into groundwater aquifers, Piteå County, N. Sweden

The possible contamination of a groundwater system with industrial wastewater originating from a paper mill factory has been investigated in Piteå, N. Sweden. Six samples were collected from the wastewater in the waste dump and twelve samples from the adjacent groundwater were analyzed for chemistry and sulfur isotopes. The industrial wastewater is a saline water consisting mainly of Na–HCO₃–SO₄, having a high pH and showing δ³⁴S values between 7‰ and 9‰ affected by bacterial sulfate reduction. The groundwaters are relatively dilute, dominated by Na⁺, Ca²⁺ and HCO₃⁻, but with varying concentrations as exemplified by sulfate with concentrations varying between 3 and 69 mg L^− 1 while the δ³⁴S values range from − 0.5‰ to 14.3‰. The data suggest that the main S sources in the waters are the bedrock sulfides and/or atmospheric deposition, which, sometimes, are overlapped by bacterial sulfate reduction. Contamination from the waste dump does not occur.     

Hydrochemical and isotopic characteristics of groundwater in the Souss Upstream Basin, southwestern Morocco

Heterogeneous shallow Plio-Quaternary formations of the Souss Plain represent the most important aquifer in southern High Atlas Mountains in Morocco. The present work was conducted in the Souss Upstream Basin to identify the chemical characteristics and the origin of groundwater in an aquifer under semi-arid climate. Isotopic and hydrochemical compositions combined with geological and hydrogeological data were used for this purpose. The total dissolved solids vary from 239 to 997 mg l⁻¹, and the following groundwater types are recognized: Ca²⁺–Mg²⁺–HCO₃⁻, Ca²⁺–Mg²⁺–SO₄²⁻ and Ca²⁺–Mg²⁺–Cl⁻. The groundwater is saturated and slightly supersaturated with respect to carbonate minerals and undersaturated with respect to evaporite minerals, which means that the groundwater composition is largely controlled by the dissolution of carbonate rocks known in the basin. The isotopic contents of groundwaters ranged from −8‰ to −5.2‰ for δ¹⁸O, from −52‰ to −34‰ for δD, and from 0 to 5.5 TU for tritium. The hydrogen (δD) and oxygen (δ¹⁸O) isotope signatures reveal a significant infiltration before evaporation takes place, indicating a major recharge directly from fractures in the crystalline and limestone formations of Atlas Mountains (above 800 m a.s.l.) and infiltration of surface water in the alluvial cones at the border of the Atlas basins. The very low tritium values suggest that the groundwater recharge follows a long flow path and a mixing between old and modern water is shown. However, a slight evaporation effect is noted in the southern part of the basin close to the Anti-Atlas Mountains.     

Determining the genetic origin of nitrate contamination in aquifers of Northern Gujarat,India

Over the past decades, the Gujarat state of India experienced intensive agricultural and industrial activities, fertilizer consumption and abstraction of groundwater, which in turn has degraded the ground water quality. Protection of aquifers from nitrate pollution is a matter of prime concern for the planners and decision-makers. The present study assessed the spatial and temporal variation of groundwater nitrate levels in areas with different land use/land cover activities for both pre- and post-monsoon period. The pre-monsoon nitrate level (1.6–630.7 mg/L) in groundwater was observed to be higher as compared to the post-monsoon level (2.7–131.7 mg/L), possibly due to insufficient recharge and evaporation induced enrichment of agrichemical salts in groundwater. High HCO₃ ^? (200–1,000 mg/L) as well as SO₄ ^2?/Cl^? (0.111–0.992) in post-monsoon period provides a favourable environment for denitrification, and lower the NO₃ levels during the post-monsoon period. The K vs NO₃ scatter plot suggests a common source of these ions when the concentration is <5 mg/L, the relationships between different pollutants and nitrate also suggest that fertilizers and other sources, such as, animal waste, crop residue, septic tanks and effluents from different food processing units present in the area can be attributed to higher nitrate levels in the groundwater. Appropriate agronomic practices such as application of fertilizers based on calibrated soil tests and proper irrigation with respect to crop can minimize the requirement for inorganic fertilizers, which can bring down the cost of cultivation considerably, and also protect groundwater from further degradation.     

Nitrate pollution of groundwater in Toyserkan,western Iran

A total of 95 groundwater samples were collected from Toyserkan, western Iran to assess the chemical composition and nitrate (NO₃ ⁻) status of groundwater. The most prevalent water type is Ca–HCO₃ followed by water types Ca–Mg–HCO₃. In comparison with the World Health Organization (WHO) drinking water guideline of 50 mg l⁻¹ for NO₃ ⁻, a total of nine wells (9.5%) showed higher concentrations. In 36% of samples (34) NO₃ ⁻ concentration was low (<20 mg l⁻¹), and in 53.7% of samples (51), in the range of 20–50 mg l⁻¹. The samples were classified into four groups based on NO₃ ⁻ and chloride (Cl⁻) concentrations. Of the samples, 40% were classified as group 4 and were relatively high in Cl⁻ and NO₃ ⁻ (Cl⁻ > 47 mg l⁻¹, NO₃ ⁻ > 27 mg l⁻¹). The high correlation between NO₃ ⁻ and Cl⁻ (r = 0.86, p < 0.01) is consistent with a manure source, resulting from the practice of adding salt to animal feed. Pollution of groundwaters appeared to be affected by the application of inorganic fertilizer at greater than agronomic rates, Cl-salt inputs, and irrigation practice.     

Tracing the sources of nitrate in karstic groundwater in Zunyi,Southwest China: a combined nitrogen isotope and water chemistry approach

Nitrate (NO₃ ⁻) is major pollutant in groundwater worldwide. Karst aquifers are particularly vulnerable to nitrate contamination from anthropogenic sources due to the rapid movement of water in their conduit networks. In this study, the isotopic compositions (δ¹⁵N–NO₃ ⁻, δ¹⁵N–NH₄ ⁺) and chemical compositions(e.g., NO₃ ⁻, NH₄ ⁺, NO₂ ⁻, K⁺) were measured in groundwater in the Zunyi area of Southwest China during summer and winter to identify the primary sources of contamination and characterize the processes affecting nitrate in the groundwater. It was found that nitrate was the dominant species of nitrogen in most of the water samples. In addition, the δ¹⁵N–NO₃ ⁻ values of water samples collected in summer were lower than those collected in winter, suggesting that the groundwater received a significant contribution of NO₃ ⁻ from agricultural fertilizer during the summer. Furthermore, the spatial variation in the concentration of nitrate and the δ¹⁵N–NO₃ ⁻ value indicated that some of the urban groundwater was contaminated with pollution from point sources. In addition, the distribution of δ¹⁵N–NO₃ ⁻ values and the relationship between ions in the groundwater indicated that synthetic and organic fertilizers (cattle manure) were the two primary sources of nitrate in the study area, except in a few cases where the water had been contaminated by urban anthropogenic inputs. Finally, the temporal and spatial variation of the water chemistry and isotopic data indicated that denitrification has no significant effect on the nitrogen isotopic values in Zunyi groundwater.     

Hydrogeochemistry of arsenic and other inorganic constituents in groundwaters from La Pampa,Argentina

Groundwaters from Quaternary loess aquifers in northern La Pampa Province of central Argentina have significant quality problems due to high concentrations of potentially harmful elements such as As, F, NO₃-N, B, Mo, Se and U and high salinity. The extent of the problems is not well-defined, but is believed to cover large parts of the Argentine Chaco-Pampean Plain, over an area of perhaps 10⁶ km². Groundwaters from La Pampa have a very large range of chemical compositions and spatial variability is considerable over distances of a few km. Dissolved As spans over 4 orders of magnitude (<4–5300 μg l⁻¹) and concentrations of F have a range of 0.03–29 mg l⁻¹, B of 0.5–14 mg l^−l, V of 0.02–5.4 mg l⁻¹, NO₃–N of <0.2–140 mg l⁻¹, Mo of 2.7–990 μg l⁻¹ and U of 6.2–250 μg l⁻¹. Of the groundwaters investigated, 95% exceed 10 μg As l⁻¹ (the WHO guideline value) and 73% exceed 50 μg As l⁻¹ (the Argentine national standard). In addition, 83% exceed the WHO guideline value for F (1.5 mg l⁻¹), 99% for B (0.5 mg l⁻¹), 47% for NO₃-N (11.3 mg l⁻¹), 39% for Mo (70 μg l⁻¹), 32% for Se (10 μg l⁻¹) and 100% for U (2 μg l⁻¹). Total dissolved solids range between 730 and 11400 mg l⁻¹, the high values resulting mainly from evaporation under ambient semi-arid climatic conditions. The groundwaters are universally oxidising with high dissolved-O₂ concentrations. Groundwater pHs are neutral to alkaline (7.0–8.7). Arsenic is present in solution predominantly as As(V). Groundwater As correlates positively with pH, alkalinity (HCO₃), F and V. Weaker correlations are also observed with B, Mo, U and Be. Desorption of these elements from metal oxides, especially Fe and Mn oxides under the high-pH conditions is considered an important control on their mobilisation. Mutual competition between these elements for sorption sites on oxide minerals may also have enhanced their mobility. Weathering of primary silicate minerals and accessory minerals such as apatite in the loess and incorporated volcanic ash may also have contributed a proportion of the dissolved As and other trace elements. Concentrations of As and other anions and oxyanions appear to be particularly high in groundwaters close to low-lying depressions which act as localised groundwater-discharge zones. Concentrations up to 7500 μg l⁻¹ were found in saturated-zone porewaters extracted from a cored borehole adjacent to one such depression. Concentrations are also relatively high where groundwater is abstracted from close to the water table, presumably because this zone is a location of more active weathering reactions. The development of groundwaters with high pH and alkalinity results from silicate and carbonate reactions, facilitated by the arid climatic conditions. These factors, together with the young age of the loess sediments and slow groundwater flow have enabled the accumulation of the high concentrations of As and other elements in solution without significant opportunity for flushing of the aquifer to enable their removal.     

Correlation between nitrate concentration in groundwater and parameters affecting aquifer intrinsic vulnerability

This paper is the result of a study which was carried out in order to verify if the traditional methods to evaluate the intrinsic vulnerability or vulnerability related parameters, are able to clarify the problem of nitrate pollution in groundwater. In particular, the aim was to evaluate limitations and problems connected to aquifer vulnerability methods applied to nitrate contamination prevision in groundwater. The investigation was carried out by comparing NO₃ ⁻ concentrations, measured in March and November 2004 in the shallow aquifer, and the vulnerability classes, obtained by using GOD and TOT methods. Moreover, it deals with a comparison between NO₃ ⁻ concentrations and single parameters (depth to water table, land use and nitrogen input). The study area is the plain sector of Piemonte (Northern Italy), where an unconfined aquifer nitrate contamination exists. In this area the anthropogenic presence is remarkable and the input of N-fertilizers and zootechnical effluents to the soil cause a growing amount of nitrates in groundwater. This approach, used in a large area (about 10,000 km²) and in several monitoring wells (about 500), allowed to compare the efficiency of different vulnerability methods and to verify the importance of every parameter on the nitrate concentrations in the aquifer. Furthermore it allowed to obtain interesting correlations in different hydrogeological situations. Correlations between depth to water table, land use and nitrogen input to the soil with nitrate concentrations in groundwater show unclear situations: in fact these comparisons describe the phenomenon trend and highlight the maximum nitrate concentrations for each circumstance but often show wide ranges of possible nitrate concentrations. The same situation could be observed by comparing vulnerability indexes and nitrate concentrations in groundwater. These results suggest that neither single parameters nor vulnerability methods (GOD and TOT) are able to describe individually the complex phenomena affecting nitrate concentrations in soil, subsoil and groundwater. In particular, the traditional methods for vulnerability analysis do not analyze physical processes in aquifers, such as denitrification and nitrate dilution. According to a recent study in the shallow unconfined aquifer of the Piemonte plain, dilution can be considered as the main cause for nitrate attenuation in groundwater.     

Temporal variability of nitrate concentration in a schist aquifer and transfer to surface waters

Nitrate concentrations monitored for 2.5 a in the stream water and groundwater of a small catchment, 86.5% of which is devoted to intensive agriculture, show temporal variations with a maximum during winter (as much as 200 mg l⁻¹ in groundwater and 100 mg l⁻¹ in stream water) and a minimum at the end of summer/beginning of autumn. Variations were also observed in the stream water and shallow groundwater after rainfall. The processes involved to explain these variations, determined mainly from NO₃⁻ Cl⁻, SO₄²⁻, piezometric and streamflow data, are: (a) variability of the relative contributions to stream water and shallow groundwater by upward fluxes of deeper groundwater which, as demonstrated previously, is denitrified mainly as a result of reaction with pyrite. (b) Denitrification of shallow groundwater during summer with organic matter acting as the electron donor. (c) Dilution by rain water. Nitrate concentrations in both stream water and shallow groundwater depend on the amount of precipitation, with an increased contribution from deep denitrified groundwater during dry periods. The temporal variations in NO₃⁻ concentration observed several metres below the water table are related to the preferential and rapid movement of NO₃⁻-polluted water through fractures and large fissures, which has been estimated at 1 m day⁻¹. Nitrate pollution in the catchment, because of the interaction with pyrite, also increases the net chemical weathering rate to values exceeding the world average.     

Strontium isotope geochemistry of groundwater affected by human activities in Nandong underground river system, China

The Nandong Underground River System (NURS) is located in a typical karst area dominated by agriculture in SE Yunnan Province, China. Groundwater plays an important role in the social and economical development in the area. The effects of human activities (agriculture and sewage effluents) on the Sr isotope geochemistry were investigated in the NURS. Seventy-two representative groundwater samples, which were collected from different aquifers (calcite and dolomite), under varying land-use types, both in summer and winter, showed significant spatial differences and slight seasonal variations in Sr concentrations and ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios. Agricultural fertilizers and sewage effluents significantly modified the natural ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios signature of groundwater that was otherwise dominated by water-rock interaction. Three major sources of Sr could be distinguished by ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios and Sr concentrations in karst groundwater. Two sources of Sr are the Triassic calcite and dolomite aquifers, where waters have low Sr concentrations (0.1-0.2 mg/L) and low ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios (0.7075-0.7080 and 0.7080-0.7100, respectively); the third source is anthropogenic Sr from agricultural fertilizers and sewage effluents with waters affected having radiogenic ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios (0.7080-0.8352 for agricultural fertilizers and 0.7080-0.7200 for sewage effluents, respectively), with higher Sr concentrations (0.24-0.51 mg/L). Due to the overlapping ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios, it is difficult to distinguish the sources of Sr in groundwater samples contaminated by agricultural fertilizers or sewage effluents based only on their ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios. However, ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios do provide key information for natural and anthropogenic sources in karst groundwater.     

Sources of dissolved ions revealed by chemical and isotopic tracers in the Geum River,South Korea

Water samples were collected in the main channel of the Geum River, South Korea, and measured dissolved elemental concentrations and isotopic compositions of nitrate in order to identify the factors controlling water chemistry. Elemental concentrations significantly increased location-wise after the confluence from urban areas, indicating the changes in solute sources from chemical weathering to anthropogenic inputs such as manure, fertilizers, and sewage. In particular, the effect of sewage input is manifested in the concentrations of Cl^?, SO₄ ^2?, and Na⁺, while the NO₃ ^? concentration is influenced mainly by soil inputs with minor contributions from manure and fertilizer because both δ¹⁵N–NO₃ and δ¹⁸O–NO₃ indicate NO₃ ^? mostly consists of soil-derived nitrates in the upper reaches but manure/sewage nitrates in the lower reaches. The relative proportion of three factors, Cl^?, Ca²⁺+Mg²⁺, and NO₃ ^?, indicates that water chemistry in the upstream is controlled by the soil weathering but that in the downstream by the sewage. Seasonally, water chemistry during summer is dominated by the soil weathering due to the flushing effect but that during winter by the sewage. This study suggests that the relative proportion of three factors can be used for tracing natural and anthropogenic sources in water chemistry.     

Distribution of nitrate in groundwater affected by the presence of an aquitard at an agricultural area in Chiba, Japan

Geological and geographical parameters including land use, stratigraphic structure, groundwater quality, and N- and O-isotopic compositions of nitrate in groundwater were investigated to elucidate the mechanism of groundwater pollution by NO₃ ^? in the agricultural area of Katori, Chiba, Japan. An aquitard distributed in the western part of the study area has produced two unconfined aquifers. The average concentrations of NO₃ ^? and dissolved oxygen (DO) were high in the aquifer above the aquitard (7.5 and 7.6 mg/L, respectively) and in the aquifer of the eastern part of the study area that was not influenced by the aquitard (11.9 and 7.8 mg/L, respectively); however, the levels in the aquifer under the aquitard were relatively low (2.2 and 3.7 mg/L, respectively). The δ¹⁵N and δ¹⁸O values of NO₃ ^? generally increased exponentially in the groundwater that flowed into the aquifer under the aquitard as the concentration of NO₃ ^? decreased, although this decrease in NO₃ ^? also occasionally occurred without isotopic changes. These results indicated that the aquitard prevented the penetration of NO₃ ^?, DO, and gaseous O₂. Under the aquitard, denitrification and dilution with unpolluted water that entered from natural forested areas reduced the NO₃ ^? concentrations in the groundwater. The major sources of NO₃ ^? in groundwater in the study area were estimated to be NH₄-chemical fertilizer, livestock waste, and manure.     

Tracking sources of groundwater nitrate contamination using nitrogen and oxygen stable isotopes at Beijing area,China

The identification of sources and behavior of contaminants is important to control and manage groundwater quality of aquifer systems in urban areas. In this study, hydrogeochemistry of major constituents and stable isotope ratios of nitrate in groundwater were determined to identify contamination sources and transformation processes occurring in soils and deeper groundwater of Beijing with intense human activities. The nitrogen and oxygen isotopic compositions of nitrate in pore water extracts from groundwater samples indicate at least three potential sources of nitrate in groundwaters at Beijing. Stable isotope analyses from this study site, which has atmospheric, chemical fertilizer and human waste nitrate sources, provide a tool to distinguish nitrate sources in a confined aquifer where concentrations alone do not. These data indicate that the most common sources of high nitrate concentrations in groundwater at Beijing are wastewater and denitrification process occurred specially in the Central area. NO₃–N and cation and anion concentrations (Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺ Cl^? and SO ₄ ² ) showed strong correlations indicating that they originated from the same sources. This study demonstrates that a thorough evaluation of hydrodynamic and hydrochemical parameters with dual isotopes of NO₃ ^? constitutes an effective approach for identifying sources and transformation processes of NO₃ ^? in deeper groundwater systems.     

Effects of groundwater level fluctuation on its chemical composition in karst soils of Lithuania

Groundwater regime and mineralization process in moraine sandy loam and peat soils of the active sulphatic karst zone (karst processes develop in the Upper Devonian gypsum–dolomites) in Lithuania and the dependence of chemical compounds concentrations on water level fluctuations are reviewed. According to ion sum, groundwater mineralization in peat soil is 1.1–1.3 times higher than in loam soil. Based on this result, lower levels of groundwater predetermine a more intensive mineralization process. A stronger correlation was determined between groundwater levels and concentrations of chemical compounds (Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, SO₄ ²⁻ and HCO₃ ⁻) enhancing groundwater mineralization. In mineral soil (sandy loam) nitrate (NO₃)⁻ concentration is highly influenced by changing stages of groundwater level as well as by nearby sinkholes.     

Hydrology of a spring complex, studied by geochemical time-series data, Acquarossa, Switzerland

A case study of three springs in Switzerland is used to demonstrate the value of geochemical time-series data as a powerful tool to study the dynamics of groundwater systems. Values of repeatedly measured parameters revealed intermixings of two water types: (a) a 29°C water, circulating to a depth of 1100 m and containing approximately 700 mg/l Ca, 2000 mg/l SO₄, 700 mg/l HCO₃, 20 mg/l of Na and Cl, 6 mg/l Fe, at least 47 mg/l SiO₂, and with an isotopic composition of δD = − 73.0‰ and δ¹⁸ O = −10.9‰, and (b) a 12°C or colder water, shallow, and of a post-1953 age, containing 420 mg/l TDI or less, very low in Na and Cl (4 mg/l or less), isotopic values of δD = −71.0‰ and δ¹⁸ O = −10.5‰ and tritium as in recent (post-bomb) precipitation.