Nitrogen Attenuation in Septic System Plumes

The persistence of inorganic nitrogen is assessed in a set of 21 septic system plumes located in Ontario, Canada, that were studied over a 31-year period from 1988 to 2019. In the plume zones underlying the drainfields, site mean NO₃⁻ values averaged 34 ± 27 mg N/L and exceeded the nitrate drinking water limit (DWL) of 10 mg N/L at 16 of 21 sites. In plume zones extending up to 30 m downgradient from the drainfields, site mean NO₃⁻ values averaged 24 ± 20 mg N/L and exceeded the DWL at 9 of 13 sites. Site mean total inorganic nitrogen (TIN; NH₄⁺ + NO₃⁻ − N) removal averaged 34 ± 26% in the drainfield zones and 36 ± 44% in the downgradient plume zones, indicating that much of the removal occurred within the drainfields. Removal was much higher at nine sites where drainfield TIN included >10% NH₄⁺ (62 ± 25% removal). TIN removal was not correlated with wastewater loading rate, system age, or sediment carbonate mineral content, but was correlated with water table depth, where shallower water table sites had generally less complete wastewater oxidation. At many of these sites, both NO₃⁻ and NH₄⁺ were present together in the plumes and were lost concomitantly, suggesting that the anammox reaction was making an important contribution to the observed TIN loss. When groundwater nitrate contamination is a concern, considering on-site treatment system designs that lead to a lesser degree of wastewater oxidation, could be a useful approach for enhancing N removal.     

Nutrient fluxes induced by disturbance in Meiliang Bay of Lake Taihu

A wave flume experiment was conducted to study nutrient fluxes at water-sediment interface of Meiliang Bay under different hydrodynamic conditions. The results reveal that hydrodynamics has remarkable effects on nutrient fluxes in this area. With a bottom wave stress of 0.019 N m^?2 (equivalent to disturbance caused by wind SE 5–7 m s^?1 at the sediment sample site of Meiliang Bay), the fluxes of TN, TDN and NH₄ ⁺-N were separately 1.92 × 10^?3, ?1.81 × 10^?4 and 5.28 × 10^?4 mg m^?2 s^?1 (positive for upward and negative for downward), but for TP, TDP and SRP, the fluxes were 5.69 × 10^?4, 1.68 × 10^?4 and ?1.29 × 10^?4 mg m^?2 s^?1. In order to calculate the released amount of nutrients based on these results, statistic analysis on the long-term meteorological data was conducted. The result shows that the maximum lasting time for wind SE 5–7 m s^?1 in this area is about 15 h in summer. Further calculation shows that 111 t TN, 32 t NH₄ ⁺-N, 34 t TP and 10 t TDP can be released into water (the sediment area was 47.45% of the whole surface area), resulting in concentration increase of 0.025, 0.007, 0.007 and 0.002 mg L^?1 separately. With stronger disturbance (bottom wave stress is 0.217 N m^?2 which is equivalent to disturbance caused by wind SE 10–11 m s^?1 at the same site), there has been significant increase of nutrient fluxes (1.16 × 10^?2, 6.76 × 10^?3, 1.14 × 10^?2 and 2.14 × 10^?3 mg m^?2 s^?1 for TN, DTN and NH₄ ⁺-N and TP). The exceptions were TDP with flux having a decrease (measured to be 9.54 × 10^?5 mg m^?2 s^?1) and SRP with flux having a small increase (measured to be 5.42 × 10^?5 mg m^?2 s^?1). The same statistic analysis on meteorological data reveal that the maximum lasting time for wind SE 10–11 m s^?1 is no more than 5 h. Based on the nutrient fluxes and the wind lasting-time, similar calculations were also made suggesting that 232 t TN, 134.9 t TDN, 228 t NH₄ ⁺-N, 42.7 t TP, 2.0 t TDP and 1.1 t SRP will be released from sediment at this hydrodynamic condition resulting in the concentration increases of 0.050, 0.029, 0.049, 0.009, 0.0004 and 0.0002 mg L^?1. Therefore in shallow lakes, surface disturbance can lead to significant increase of nutrient concentrations although some components in water column had negative flux with weak disturbance (e.g. TDN and SRP in this experiment). In this case, sediment looks to be a source of nutrients. These nutrients deposited in sediment can be carried or released into water with sediment resuspension or changes of environmental conditions at water-sediment interface, which can have great effects on aquatic ecosystem and is also the characteristics of shallow lakes.     

Effects of resuspension on benthic fluxes of oxygen,nutrients, dissolved inorganic carbon,iron and manganese in the Gulf of Finland,Baltic Sea

The effect of resuspension on benthic fluxes of oxygen (O₂), ammonium (NH₄⁺), nitrate (NO₃^?), phosphate (PO₄^3?), silicate (Si(OH)₄), dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC), total dissolved iron (Fe) and total dissolved manganese (Mn) was studied at three different stations in the Gulf of Finland (GoF), Baltic Sea during three cruises in June–July 2003, September 2004 and May 2005. The stations were situated on different bottom types in the western, central and eastern part, respectively, of the open GoF. The fluxes were measured in-situ using the autonomous Göteborg benthic lander. To simulate resuspension events, the stirring speed was increased in two of the four chambers of the lander after approximately half of the incubation time. The other two chambers were used as control chambers. Clear effects of resuspension were observed on the oxygen fluxes where an increase of the consumption was observed in 88% of the cases and on average with 59% (stdev=53). The NH₄⁺ fluxes were affected in 50% of the cases (4 out of 8 incubations) at stations with low bottom water oxygen concentrations, but in no cases where the bottom water was oxygenated (0 out of 9 incubations). The NH₄⁺ fluxes decreased by 26±27% in 2005 and by 114±19% in 2003. There was no clear effect of resuspension on the fluxes of any of the other solutes in this study. Thus, resuspension events did not play a significant role in release/uptake of NO₃^?, PO₄^3?, Si(OH)₄, DIC, Fe and Mn in GoF sediments. However, increased oxygen consumption as a result of resuspension may lead to spreading of anoxic/suboxic bottom water conditions, and thus indirectly to increased benthic release of phosphate, ammonium and iron.     

Low boundary layer response and temperature dependence of nitrogen and phosphorus releases from oxic sediments of an oligotrophic lake

The effects of temperature, diffusive boundary-layer thickness, and sediment composition on fluxes of inorganic N and P were estimated for sediment cores with oxidized surfaces from nearshore waters (2?C10?m) of a montane oligotrophic lake. Fluxes of N and P were not affected by diffusive boundary-layer thickness but were strongly affected by temperature. Below 16?°C, sediments sequestered small amounts of P and released small amounts of N. Above 16?°C, the seasonal maximum water temperature, sediments were substantial sources of N (NH₄ ⁺?CN?=?2?C24?mg?m^?2 d^?1; NO₃ ^??+?NO₂ ^??CN?=?2?C5?mg?m^?2 d^?1) and P (0.1?C0.4?mg?m^?2 d^?1), indicating potential responsiveness of sediment?Cwater nutrient exchange, and of corresponding phytoplankton growth, to synoptic warming.     

曝气充氧对城市污染河道内源铵态氮释放的控制

以城市污染河道沉积物和上覆水为研究对象,利用模拟实验方法,探讨不同曝气充氧方式(水曝气EW、底泥曝气ES)对污染河道內源铵态氮(NH4+-N)释放的影响.研究结果发现:从间隙水和沉积物中NH4+-N的削减效果来看,底泥曝气均要优于水曝气;实验结束后,底泥曝气组沉积物与间隙水中NH4+-N含量分别减少63.39%和43.33%,水曝气组分别减少了7.54%和13.98%;从沉积物-水界面NH4+-N的扩散通量变化来看,水曝气组界面通量高于对照组,其变化规律与对照组相似;底泥曝气组沉积物-水界面NH4+-N扩散通量变化过程完全不同于其它两组,在整个试验周期内(除第5 d以外),底泥曝气组的通量低于水曝气组,在第15 d最低,为13.73 mg/(m2.d),仅为水曝气组和对照组的14.68%和19.93%,表明底泥曝气组沉积物NH4+-N的释放潜力低于水曝气组沉积物.     

Impact of overlying water velocity on ammonium uptake by benthic biofilms

The effect of the overlying water velocity on ammonium (NH₄⁺) uptake by benthic biofilms was studied in a recirculating laboratory flume (260 cm long, 29 cm wide), packed with 5 cm of silica sand arranged into bedforms. NH₄⁺ uptake was determined as the reduction in NH₄⁺ concentration in the water at average overlying water velocities of 0.8, 2, 4 and 8 cm s^?1. NH₄⁺ uptake was relatively constant under laminar flow conditions but increased when the flow regime became turbulent (>4 cm s^?1). This pattern was observed for two biofilms differing in their total biomass and in the abundance of the ammonia‐oxidizing bacteria, thus indicating that NH₄⁺ uptake was strongly controlled by mass‐transfer processes. The near stoichiometric relationship between the rates of NH₄⁺ uptake and nitrate (NO₃^?) accumulation suggests that aerobic nitrification was the main route for NH₄⁺ uptake. Microelectrode measurements showed a sharp decline of oxygen concentrations and pH values within the biofilms, thus supporting strong nitrification activity within the surficial section of the benthic biofilms. The results of this study highlight the key role of hydrodynamic conditions in regulating NH₄⁺ uptake in the transition from laminar to turbulent flow conditions. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Ammonium Ion, Humic Materials, and Trihalomethane Potential in Northeastern Kansas Ground Waters

Glacial buried-valley aquifers serve as primary sources of potable ground water in northeastern Kansas. A long known problem, however, is that a large percentage of well waters in this region exceed the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) limits for nitrate (NO⁻₃). A detailed study of the hydrogeology and water quality of the buried valleys has confirmed the nitrate problem and led to a recognition that some well waters with low ( 5 mg/l) NO⁻₃ concentrations have anomalous ( 0.5 mg/l) ammonium ion (NH⁺₄) levels, with an NH⁺₄ range from <0.1 to 4.8 mg/l. The extractable NH⁺₄ concentrations in related glacial sediments range up to approximately 75 mg/kg, and the amounts generally increase from an average of 2 mg/kg in the topsoil downward to bedrock. Migration of brines from subjacent Permian or Pennsylvanian bedrock into the unconsolidated sediments locally may cause desorption of NH⁺₄ and an increase in its levels in the associated ground waters. Numerous test holes drilled in the study area showed a black scum on the fluid and cuttings, which may be from buried humic materials. Recently measured total organic carbon (TOC) contents of the ground waters confirm a significant level in some areas, with a range from 0.1 to 2.4 mg/l as C. Chlorination of water with dissolved organics may lead to production of halogenated compounds. Two public-water-supply well waters contained total trihalomethane (TTHM) levels close to the maximum contaminant level (MCL) of 100 /μg/l in chlorinated samples quenched after one week. The presence of NH⁺₄ inhibits the formation of THMs, but it also can give rise to odor and taste problems in the finished water. The inhibition of THM formation by NH⁺₄ is achieved by reactions which compete with the organics for combination with chlorine. These reactions make maintaining appropriate chlorine residuals difficult and also may lead to production of undesirable side products. Present efforts to evaluate the regional water-quality problems are focused in Nemaha County, Kansas.     

太湖霍甫水丝蚓(Limnodrilus hoffmeisteri) NH4+-N和PO43--P的潜在释放量

为了研究太湖底栖动物优势种类——霍甫水丝蚓(Limnodrilus hoffmeisteri)对于湖泊富营养化的影响,以温度和密度为模拟控制条件,对太湖霍甫水丝蚓进行营养盐释放的室内控制实验,研究温度和密度的变化对霍甫水丝蚓NH_4~+-N和PO_4~(3-)-P释放率的影响,根据霍甫水丝蚓铵态氮(NH_4~+-N)和磷酸盐(PO_4~(3-)-P)释放率与温度的关系方程,结合太湖霍甫水丝蚓2007-2010年的生物量估算其对太湖水体氮磷的潜在贡献.结果表明,随温度升高太湖霍甫水丝蚓NH_4~+-N和PO_4~(3-)-P的释放率均呈现逐渐升高的趋势,而密度变化对霍甫水丝蚓NH_4~+-N和PO_4~(3-)-P释放率的影响均不显著,太湖霍甫水丝蚓NH_4~+-N和PO_4~(3-)-P年平均释放量分别为1925.5和210.0 t,分别可达到全太湖沉积物-水界面NH_4~+-N和PO_4~(3-)-P的年净通量的19.3%和23.3%,表明霍甫水丝蚓的营养盐释放对于湖泊生物地化循环和湖泊富营养化具有显著的影响.     

城市污染河道沉积物可提取态氮的提取方式比较

以城市污染河道——南京仙林大学城九乡河表层沉积物为研究对象,探讨沉积物常用提取剂(1 mol/L KCl、2 mol/L KCl、4 mol/L KCl和0.01 mol/L CaCl2)在不同液土比(5∶1、10∶1、50∶1和100∶1)条件下,对城市污染河道沉积物可提取态氮(NH4+-N、NO3--N)测定的影响.结果表明:KCl的提取效果要优于CaCl2,二者NH4+-N提取量分别为312.17～479.23、177.52～339.31 mg/kg,NO3--N提取量分别为4.49～21.56、4.25～8.53 mg/kg;可提取态氮提取量随液土比增高而增大,其中1 mol/L KCl组,液土比100∶1时NH4+-N和NO3--N提取量分别比液土比5∶1时增加41.97%和187.08%;NH4+-N提取量随提取剂浓度增高而增大,NO3--N随提取剂浓度增高而降低;采用1 mol/L KCl提取剂、液土比100∶1的组合联合提取城市污染河道沉积物中的NH4+-N、NO3--N,提取效果较好.     

The performance of constructed wetlands for,wastewater treatment: a case study of Splash wetland in Nairobi Kenya

The performance of a constructed wetland for wastewater treatment was examined for four months (December 1995 to March 1996). The study area, hereby referred to as the Splash wetland, is approximately 0·5 ha, and is located in the southern part of Nairobi city. Splash wetland continuously receives domestic sewage from two busy restaurants. Treated wastewater is recycled for re‐use for various purposes in the restaurants. Both wet and dry season data were analysed with a view of determining the impact of seasonal variation on the system performance. The physical and chemical properties of water were measured at a common intake and at series of seven other points established along the wetland gradient and at the outlet where the water is collected and pumped for re‐use at the restaurants. The physico‐chemical characteristics of the wastewater changed significantly as the wastewater flowed through the respective wetland cells. A comparison of wastewater influent versus the effluent from the wetland revealed the system's apparent success in water treatment, especially in pH modification, removal of suspended solids, organic load and nutrients mean influent pH = 5·7 ± 0·5, mean effluent pH 7·7 ± 0·3; mean influent BOD₅ = 1603·0 ± 397·6 mg/l, mean effluent BOD₅ = 15·1 ± 2·5 mg/l; mean influent COD = 3749·8 ± 206·8 mg/l, mean effluent COD = 95·6 ± 7·2 mg/l; mean influent TSS = 195·4 ± 58·7 mg/l, mean effluent TSS = 4·7 ± 1·9 mg/l. As the wastewater flowed through the wetland system dissolved free and saline ammonia, NH₄⁺, decreased from 14·6 ± 4·1 mg/l to undetectable levels at the outlet. Dissolved oxygen increased progressively through the wetland system. Analysis of the data available did not reveal temporal variation in the system's performance. However, significant spatial variation was evident as the wetland removed most of the common pollutants and considerably improved the quality of the water, making it safe for re‐use at the restaurants. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Contamination of Pond with Fluoride and Heavy Metals in the Central India

The ponds are natural water resources used for drinking, bathing, washing and aqua culture. In this work, the contamination of ponds lied in central India with F^– and heavy metals (As, Sb, Cr, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb, Th and U) is described. The F^– concentration in the pond water and sediment (n = 24) was ranged from 1.6–5.5 mg/L and 210–1430 mg/kg with mean value of 2.3 ± 0.4 mg/L and 599 ± 137 mg/kg, respectively. The concentration variation and sources of the elements in the pond water and sediment are discussed. The health hazards of F^– in the domestic animals are described.     

Net, actual, and potential sediment-water interface NH4 fluxes in the northern Gulf of Mexico (NGOMEX): Evidence for NH4 limitation of microbial dynamics

A new approach, combining ¹⁵NH₄⁺ isotope dilution and continuous-flow techniques, provided estimates of “actual” and “net” NH₄⁺ flux and sediment NH₄⁺ demand (SAD) at the sediment-water interface (SWI) of sites in the northern Gulf of Mexico (NGOMEX). The sites included a hypoxic site (C6), two sites with intermediate oxygen levels (B7 and F5), and a normoxic site (CT). Control cores without isotope addition and other cores from the same site treated with ¹⁵NH₄⁺ labeled overflowing water differentiated between net and actual regeneration flux and actual vs. potential uptake flux of NH₄⁺. Experiments were conducted in 2008 before (July) and after (September) two successive hurricanes (Gustav and Ike) and in January and August, 2009. Actual regeneration was significantly higher than net flux at most sites. Net flux did not differ significantly in most sites/dates, but the actual regeneration, and the actual and potential uptake, showed temporal and spatial variation; the flux at the hypoxic site was more active than non-hypoxic sites. SAD, the difference between potential and actual NH₄⁺ uptake flux, was higher at the hypoxic site than at non-hypoxic sites before and after the hurricanes in 2008 and during the hypoxia season in 2009. SAD related negatively to bottom water DO values. Conclusions: (1) net flux often underestimated actual regeneration, (2) hurricane activity decreased N dynamics, and (3) microbial N limitation status at the hypoxic site related to NH₄⁺ removal processes that were independent of oxygen (e.g., anaerobic heterotrophic uptake or anammox). These results indicate a rather consistent NH₄⁺ demand at the SWI during the hypoxic season and suggest that reduced nitrogen may limit microbial dynamics in the region.     

Major Ion and Trace Metal Geochemistry of an Acidic Septic-System Plume in Silt

Four years of detailed ground-water monitoring at a newly installed, seasonal-use, domestic septic system located on poorly buffered (CaCO₃ equivalent content ≤ 1.6 wt.%) lacustrine silt, has revealed the development of an acidic ground-water plume. Acid, generated by the partial oxidation of effluent NH₄⁺ dissolved organic carbon (DOC), and possibly sulfide minerals present in the sediment, has resulted in a distal plume core zone with pH values in the range of 4.4 to 5.0. The acidic zone, where NH₄⁺ does, however, persist (> 2 mg/1, as N) and where DOC remains elevated (6–13 mg/1), is associated with high average concentrations of the trace metals Fe (4.7 mg/1), Al (1.9 mg/1), and Mn (3.6 mg/1). Attenuation of nitrogen along the plume core flowpath is indicated by a decrease in the N/ Cl⁻ ratio from an effluent value of 1.7, to a plume value of only 0.5 after 4 m of subsurface flow. Increased SO₄²⁻ levels observed in the zone of N depletion suggest that attenuation can be at least partly attributed to reduction of plume NO₃⁻ by oxidation of reduced S present in the sediment. PO₄³⁻ has not migrated significantly beyond the infiltration bed gravel layer, demonstrating that PO₄³⁻ mobility is limited in these sediments (retardation factor > 10).     

Suspended solids induce increasing microbial ammonium recycling along the river-estuary continuum of the Yangtze River

Many large rivers worldwide are enriched with high levels of suspended solids (SS), which are known to be hotspots of many nitrogen (N) transformation processes (e.g., denitrification, nitrification). However, the influence of SS on microbial ammonium (NH₄⁺) recycling remains unclear. Water column NH₄⁺ regeneration rates (REGs) and potential uptake rates (U_pots) as well as community biological NH₄⁺ demand (CBAD) was measured in the river-estuary continuum of the third longest river in the world—Yangtze River, which has dramatic SS gradients. We found that REGs, U_pots, and CBAD all increased downriver, with higher REGs, U_pots, and CBAD in the estuary than in the river sections. The regeneration and uptake of NH₄⁺ were nearly balanced in the river sections, while the positive CBAD in the estuary indicated obvious NH₄⁺ demand of microbes. Concentrations of SS, which also control the content of chemical oxygen demand and particulate N, were the main factor influencing NH₄⁺ recycling rates and CBAD. SS-induced regenerated NH₄⁺ in the river-estuary continuum of Yangtze River was estimated to be 11.02 × 10⁸ kg N yr⁻¹ and accounted for about 14% of total N inputs, suggesting that regenerated NH₄⁺ is an important N source for microbes and may influence nutrient dynamics in lower coasts. To our knowledge, this is the first study to report NH₄⁺ recycling in Yangtze River with an emphasis on its influencing factors and contribution to N budgets.     

太湖西北湖区浮游植物和无机、有机氮的时空分布特征

以太湖重度蓝藻水华发生的西北湖区为研究对象,从河口至湖心区设置5个采样点,于2012年10月至2013年10月逐月采集表层水体样品,测定了水温、溶解氧和浮游细菌丰度,并分析了浮游植物群落结构的组成、溶解性无机氮(DIN)和有机氮(DON)浓度以及氮磷比.研究结果表明,太湖西北湖区浮游植物主要由蓝藻、硅藻、绿藻和隐藻组成.可能由于风、浪等混合作用使太湖西北湖区不同采样点之间蓝藻细胞密度没有显著差异.蓝藻生物量在浮游植物中所占比例最高为34%±15%,春季部分点位隐藻生物量高于50%,表明隐藻与蓝藻的相互竞争趋势显著.CCA排序图结果表明,DIN、DON浓度以及总氮∶总磷比(TN∶TP比)是影响西北湖区浮游植物优势属分布的重要环境因子.5个采样点铵态氮(NH_4~+-N)与DIN浓度具有显著差异,与DON浓度没有显著差异.夏季蓝藻水华暴发期间,可能由于蓝藻的吸收利用引起NH_4~+-N和硝态氮(NO_3~--N)浓度迅速降低.此外,由于NH_4~+-N浓度还可能受到沉积物NH_4~+-N释放的影响,因此,蓝藻细胞密度与NO_3~--N的相关系数和显著水平均高于NH_4~+-N.夏季TN∶TP比和DIN∶TP比降至最低,表明该湖区浮游植物,尤其是蓝藻的生长可能受到氮限制.蓝藻细胞密度与DON浓度呈显著负相关,表明在氮限制条件下,DON可能是蓝藻氮素利用的重要补充.     

Nitrogen compounds in the surface and subsurface waters of Karelia

Materials of long-term studies of the concentration and distribution of N forms (NH₄⁺, NO₃⁻, NO₂⁻, N_org) in precipitation, surface water and groundwater are generalized. Precipitation was found to be the main source of N compounds input into these waters. The effect of anthropogenic factors is local and does not influence the concentration and distribution of N forms in most water bodies that serve as wastewater recipients. The N forms dominating in precipitation are NO₃⁻ and N H₄⁺; N_org dominates in most surface water bodies, and NO₃⁻ dominates in groundwater. The median concentrations of N_tot in clear surface and subsurface waters are similar. The obtained characteristics of the concentrations and distribution of N forms in natural waters of Karelia can be used for other water bodies in the humid zone.     

Wetland nitrogen dynamics in an Adirondack forested watershed

Wetlands often form the transition zone between upland soils and watershed streams, however, stream–wetland interactions and hydrobiogeochemical processes are poorly understood. We measured changes in stream nitrogen (N) through one riparian wetland and one beaver meadow in the Archer Creek watershed in the Adirondack Mountains of New York State, USA from 1 March to 31 July 1996. In the riparian wetland we also measured changes in groundwater N. Groundwater N changed significantly from tension lysimeters at the edge of the peatland to piezometer nests within the peatland. Mean N concentrations at the peatland perimeter were 1·5, 0·5 and 18·6 µmol L^?1 for NH₄⁺, NO₃^? and DON (dissolved organic nitrogen), respectively, whereas peatland groundwater N concentration was 56·9, 1·5 and 31·6 µmol L^?1 for NH₄⁺, NO₃^? and DON, respectively. The mean concentrations of stream water N species at the inlet to the wetlands were 1·5, 10·1 and 16·9 µmol L^?1 for NH₄⁺, NO₃^? and DON, respectively and 1·6, 28·1 and 8·4 µmol L^?1 at the wetland outlet. Although groundwater total dissolved N (TDN) concentrations changed more than stream water TDN through the wetlands, hydrological cross‐sections for the peatland showed that wetland groundwater contributed minimally to stream flow during the study period. Therefore, surface water N chemistry was affected more by in‐stream N transformations than by groundwater N transformations because the in‐stream changes, although small, affected a much greater volume of water. Stream water N input–output budgets indicated that the riparian peatland retained 0·16 mol N ha^?1 day^?1 of total dissolved N and the beaver meadow retained 0·26 mol N ha^?1 day^?1 during the study period. Nitrate dominated surface water TDN flux from the wetlands during the spring whereas DON dominated during the summer. This study demonstrates that although groundwater N changed significantly in the riparian peatland, those changes were not reflected in the stream. Consequently, although in‐stream changes of N concentrations were less marked than those in groundwater, they had a greater effect on stream water chemistry—because wetland groundwater contributed minimally to stream flow. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Bathing water quality monitoring of Varna Black Sea coastal zone,Bulgaria

Physicochemical and microbiological characteristics of the bathing waters in Varna’s Black Sea coastal area were investigated during year 2007 at 23 monitoring stations. Most of the determined physicochemical parameters—pH, mineral oils, surface active substances, phenols, dissolved oxygen, nutrients and microbiological parameters—“Total coliforms”, “Faecal coliforms”, “Faecal streptococci” were in compliance with the guidline’ limits and exhibited good water quality. Ammonium and phosphate’s pollution above the limits was determined at the South beach, Officers beach and Central beach situated in Varna’s central bathing zone. For the period of 13.08 to 24.10.2007—70% of the South beach samples analyzed for NH₄⁺ exceeded the limits 60 times and the concentrations of PO₄³⁻ exceeded the limits 17.5 times. Some deviations from the guidline’ limits regarding the microbiology were exhibited at the same beaches. A conclusion is made that the area of study is not yet seriously threatened, in spite of the rapid recreation during the last years.     

Diffusive equilibrium in thin films provides evidence of suppression of hyporheic exchange and large‐scale nitrate transformation in a groundwater‐fed river

The hyporheic zone of riverbed sediments has the potential to attenuate nitrate from upwelling, polluted groundwater. However, the coarse‐scale (5–10 cm) measurement of nitrogen biogeochemistry in the hyporheic zone can often mask fine‐scale (<1 cm) biogeochemical patterns, especially in near‐surface sediments, leading to incomplete or inaccurate representation of the capacity of the hyporheic zone to transform upwelling NO₃^?. In this study, we utilised diffusive equilibrium in thin‐films samplers to capture high resolution (cm‐scale) vertical concentration profiles of NO₃^?, SO₄^2?, Fe and Mn in the upper 15 cm of armoured and permeable riverbed sediments. The goal was to test whether nitrate attenuation was occurring in a sub‐reach characterised by strong vertical (upwelling) water fluxes. The vertical concentration profiles obtained from diffusive equilibrium in thin‐films samplers indicate considerable cm‐scale variability in NO₃^? (4.4 ± 2.9 mg N/L), SO₄^2? (9.9 ± 3.1 mg/l) and dissolved Fe (1.6 ± 2.1 mg/l) and Mn (0.2 ± 0.2 mg/l). However, the overall trend suggests the absence of substantial net chemical transformations and surface‐subsurface water mixing in the shallow sediments of our sub‐reach under baseflow conditions. The significance of this is that upwelling NO₃^?‐rich groundwater does not appear to be attenuated in the riverbed sediments at <15 cm depth as might occur where hyporheic exchange flows deliver organic matter to the sediments for metabolic processes. It would appear that the chemical patterns observed in the shallow sediments of our sub‐reach are not controlled exclusively by redox processes and/or hyporheic exchange flows. Deeper‐seated groundwater fluxes and hydro‐stratigraphy may be additional important drivers of chemical patterns in the shallow sediments of our study sub‐reach. © 2015 The Authors. Hydrological Processes Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.     

The solute budget of a forest catchment and solute fluxes within a Pinus radiata and a secondary native forest site,southern Chile

Solute concentrations and fluxes in rainfall, throughfall and stemflow in two forest types, and stream flow in a 90 ha catchment in southern Chile (39°44′S, 73°10′W) were measured. Bulk precipitation pH was 6·1 and conductivity was low. Cation concentrations in rainfall were low (0·58 mg Ca²⁺ l^?1, 0·13 mg K⁺ l^?1, 0·11 mg Mg²⁺ l^?1 and <0·08 mg NH₄–N l^?1), except for sodium (1·10 mg l^?1). Unexpected high levels of nitrate deposition in rainfall (mean concentration 0·38 mg NO₃–N l^?1, total flux 6·3 kg NO₃–N ha^?1) were measured. Concentrations of soluble phosphorous in bulk precipitation and stream flow were below detection limits (<0·09 mg l^?1) for all events. Stream‐flow pH was 6·3 and conductivity was 28·3 μs. Stream‐water chemistry was also dominated by sodium (2·70 mg l^?1) followed by Ca, Mg and K (1·31, 0·70 and 0·36 mg l^?1). The solute budget indicated a net loss of 3·8 kg Na⁺ ha^?1 year^?1, 5·4 kg Mg²⁺ ha^?1 year^?1, 1·5 kg Ca²⁺ ha^?1 year^?1 and 0·9 kg K⁺ ha^?1 year^?1, while 4·9 kg NO₃–N ha^?1 year^?1 was retained by the ecosystem. Stream water is not suitable for domestic use owing to high manganese and, especially, iron concentrations. Throughfall and stemflow chemistry at a pine stand (Pinus radiata D. Don) and a native forest site (Siempreverde type), both located within the catchment, were compared. Nitrate fluxes within both forest sites were similar (1·3 kg NO₃–N ha^?1 year^?1 as throughfall). Cation fluxes in net rainfall (throughfall plus stemflow) at the pine stand generally were higher (34·8 kg Na⁺ ha^?1 year^?1, 21·5 kg K⁺ ha^?1 year^?1, 5·1 kg Mg²⁺ ha^?1 year^?1) compared with the secondary native forest site (24·7 kg Na⁺ ha^?1 year^?1, 18·9 kg K⁺ ha^?1 year^?1 and 4·4 kg Mg²⁺ ha^?1 year^?1). However, calcium deposition beneath the native forest stand was higher (15·9 kg Ca²⁺ ha^?1 year^?1) compared with the pine stand (12·6 kg Ca²⁺ ha^?1 year^?1). Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.