An isotope study of the sources of nitrate in Malta’s groundwater

Heaton, Tim H.E.; Stuart, Marianne E.; Sapiano, Manuel; Sultana, Miriam Micallef. 2012 An isotope study of the sources of nitrate in Malta’s groundwater. Journal of Hydrology, 414-415. 244-254. 10.1016/j.jhydrol.2011.10.037

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Abstract/Summary

Levels of nitrate in Malta’s groundwater are high. Median concentrations in the main sea-level aquifers of Malta and Gozo are 14 and 10 mg NO3–N L−1, respectively, and even higher in the younger groundwaters of the perched aquifers on Malta (37 mg NO3–N L−1). The wide variations in groundwater nitrate concentration are not due to denitrification, as 15N/14N and 18O/16O analyses of 47 samples from the three aquifer types found clear evidence for this process in only one sample. 90% of the groundwater nitrate samples had δ18O values in the range +3.1 to +6.1‰, which correspond exactly to those expected for nitrate formed by microbial processes in the presence of Maltese surficial waters (δ18O of H2O typically −5.3 to −4.3‰). The δ15N values of these groundwater nitrate samples, +7.7 to +11.7‰, were compared with those of a wide variety of potential nitrate sources in Malta (fertilizers, sewage, manure and soils). The closest correspondence was found for the organic N in cultivated soils (+6.0 to +11.2‰). These relatively high δ15N values for soils may reflect greater fluxes of N from soils with a low C/N ratio and a long history of cultivation. While the isotope data support soil nitrification as the source for nitrate in the groundwaters, they do not rule out direct leaching of manure-derived nitrate as a source.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	10.1016/j.jhydrol.2011.10.037
Programmes:	BGS Programmes 2010 > Groundwater Science
ISSN:	0022-1694
Additional Keywords:	GroundwaterBGS, Groundwater, Environmental tracers, Groundwater dating, Nitrate pollution, Groundwater resources
Related URLs:	http://www.bgs.ac.uk/research/groundwate...
Date made live:	04 Jan 2012 12:36 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/16226

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