Use of nitrogen isotopes to identify nitrogen contamination of the Sherwood Sandstone aquifer beneath the city of Nottingham, United Kingdom

Rivers, C. N., Barrett, M. H., Hiscock, K. M. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4505-1496, Dennis, P. P. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0307-4406, Feast, N. A. and Lerner, D. N. (1996) Use of nitrogen isotopes to identify nitrogen contamination of the Sherwood Sandstone aquifer beneath the city of Nottingham, United Kingdom. Hydrogeology Journal, 4 (1). pp. 90-102. ISSN 1431-2174

Full text not available from this repository. (Request a copy)

Abstract

The city of Nottingham is underlain by the unconfined Sherwood Sandstone aquifer, which is vulnerable to contamination from various sources arising from urban and industrial activities of the region. In this study, samples of aquifer recharge, both artificial and natural, and of shallow and deep groundwater were collected to determine the sources and level of contamination from nitrogen species. Deep groundwater contains low concentrations of ammonium (less than 0.3 mg-N/L) throughout, but much higher nitrate concentrations (less than 1.0 mg-N/L to 28.0 mg-N/L). Shallow groundwater shows distinct evidence of surface contamination; ammonium concentration is as much as 1.2 mg-N/L and nitrate as much as 20 mg-N/L. Two-thirds of the deep groundwater samples have measured δ15N values that range from +4‰ to +8‰, indicative of a predominantly soil organic nitrogen source for dissolved nitrate. Most remaining groundwater samples (δ15N<5‰) have a nitrogen fertiliser source, possibly derived from an influent river draining a rural catchment; some samples have δ15N values >8‰, suggestive of point-source inputs from sewer leakage. In the future, contaminated shallow groundwater is likely to penetrate deeper into the aquifer, although a gradual dilution with older groundwater is occurring toward the confined zone of the aquifer.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: water science and technology,earth and planetary sciences (miscellaneous),sdg 2 - zero hunger ,/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/2300/2312
Faculty \ School: Faculty of Science > School of Environmental Sciences
University of East Anglia Research Groups/Centres > Theme - ClimateUEA
UEA Research Groups: Faculty of Social Sciences > Research Centres > Water Security Research Centre
Faculty of Science > Research Groups > Geosciences
Faculty of Science > Research Groups > Centre for Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences
Related URLs:
Depositing User: LivePure Connector
Date Deposited: 11 Oct 2022 11:33
Last Modified: 04 Mar 2024 18:13
URI: https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/88970
DOI: 10.1007/s100400050099

Actions (login required)

View Item View Item