Advances in Earth Science ›› 2004, Vol. 19 ›› Issue (2): 183-191. doi: 10.11867/j.issn.1001-8166.2004.02.0183

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USING  NITROGEN ISOTOPE TECHNIQUES TO  IDENTIFY THE SOURCES OF  THE NITRATE CONTAMINATION TO  THE GROUNDWATER BENEATH SHIJIAZHUANG CITY

ZHANG Cuiyun 1,2, ZHANG Sheng 2, LI Zhenghong 2, LIU Shaoyu 2   

  1. 1.School of Water Resource and Environmental Engineering Department, China University of Geosciences,Beijing 100083, China; 2, Institute of Hydrogeology and Environmental Geology, Chinese Academy of Geology , Shijiazhuang 050061, China
  • Received:2003-06-12 Revised:2003-08-18 Online:2004-12-20 Published:2004-04-01

ZHANG Cuiyun, ZHANG Sheng, LI Zhenghong, LIU Shaoyu. USING  NITROGEN ISOTOPE TECHNIQUES TO  IDENTIFY THE SOURCES OF  THE NITRATE CONTAMINATION TO  THE GROUNDWATER BENEATH SHIJIAZHUANG CITY[J]. Advances in Earth Science, 2004, 19(2): 183-191.

NO3-contamination in groundwater is one of the major problems confronted by groundwater management for Shijiazhuang City. In this study, nitrogen isotopes and hydrochemistry for groundwater and various potential recharge sources were investigated to determine and identify the extent and sources of contamination from NO3-in the groundwater beneath Shijiazhuang City. Inorganic nitrogen compounds in the groundwater mainly existed in the species of NO3-,whose concentrations ranged from 2.65 to 152.1 mg/L with a mean of 54.88±31mg/L([WTBX]n[WT]=44). Some 48% of the total samples had NO3- concentrations, which exceeded the drinking water standard of 50 mg/L. The 15N values of groundwater ranged from +4.53‰  to +25.36‰ with a mean of +9.94‰±4.40‰([WTBX]n[WT]=34). Of the 34 samples analyzed, 22 samples (65%) had greater 15N than +8‰. Compared with that in 1991, nitrogen isotopic compositions indicated that the major sources of NO3- in groundwater changed from mineralized soil organic nitrogen at that time to animal wastes or sewage at present. From the analysis of Cl-, NO3- in the groundwater in the southern part was also affected by sewage from Dongmingqu channel. The remaining 12 samples had a nitrogen isotopic signature of +4‰~+8‰, of which heavier end (+6‰~+8‰) suggested that NO3- mainly come from soil organic nitrogen mineralized and lighter end (+4‰~+6‰) was indicative of NO3-from effluents, which had weak ammonia volatilization and rapid filtration, discharged by fertilizer plants. Based on these studies, the measurements of groundwater management were recommended.

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