Abstract
Groundwater forms the main freshwater supply in arid and semi-arid areas,and contamination of this precious resource is complicated by the slow rate of recharge in these areas.Nitrate contamination of groundwater is a global water quality problem,as it entails threat to human health as well as aquatic ecosystems.Source identification of contamination is the cornerstone and a prerequisite for any effective management program of water quality.Stable isotope composition of the dissolved nitrate(δ15N-NO3-andδ18O-NO3-)has been applied to identify NO3-sources and the main transformation processes in the upper aquifer system(A1/2,A4,and B2/A7 aquifers)in the Wadi Shueib catchment area,Jordan.Moreover,the stable isotope compositions of the groundwater(δ2H-H2O and δ18O-H2O)in conjunction with the groundwater hydrochemistry were integrated to investigate the origin and evolution of the groundwater.Results revealed that groundwater in the study area is fresh and hard-very hard water,and mainly a Ca-Mg-Cl type.NO3-concentration was in the range of 7.0-74.0 mg/L with an average of 37.0 mg/L.Most of the samples showed concentration higher than the natural background concentration of NO3-(5.0-10.0 mg/L).The δ2H-H2O and δ18O-H2O values indicated that the groundwater is meteoric,and of Mediterranean origin,with a strong evaporation effect.The δ15N-NO3-values ranged between 6.0％and 11.3‰ with an average of 8.7‰,and the δ18O-NO3-values ranged between 1.6‰ and 5.9‰ with an average of 3.4‰.These values are in conformity with the stable isotope composition of nitrate derived the nitrification of wastewater/manure,and soil NH4.Nitrification and denitrification are the main transformation processes affecting nitrogen species.Statistical analysis revealed no significant differences in the δ2H-H2O and δ18O-H2O values,and δ15N-NO3-and δ18O-NO3-values for the three aquifers(A1/2,A4,and B2/A7),indicating that the groundwater of these aquifers has the same origin,and a common source of pollution.
基金项目
This study was funded by the by the Deanship of Scientific Research,Jordan University of Science and Technology(20170338)
国家科技期刊平台
NSTL
维普
万方数据