Isotopic fingerprint for phosphorus in drinking water supplies

Gooddy, Daren C.; Lapworth, Dan J. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7838-7960; Ascott, Matthew J.; Bennett, Sarah A.; Heaton, Timothy H.E.; Surridge, Ben W.J.. 2015 Isotopic fingerprint for phosphorus in drinking water supplies. Environmental Science & Technology, 49 (15). 9020-9028. 10.1021/acs.est.5b01137

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.5b01137

Abstract/Summary

Phosphate dosing of drinking water supplies, coupled with leakage from distribution networks, represents a significant input of phosphorus to the environment. The oxygen isotope composition of phosphate (δ18OPO4), a novel stable isotope tracer for phosphorus, offers new opportunities to understand the importance of phosphorus derived from sources such as drinking water. We report the first assessment of δ18OPO4 within drinking water supplies. A total of 40 samples from phosphate-dosed distribution networks were analyzed from across England and Wales. In addition, samples of the source orthophosphoric acid used for dosing were also analyzed. Two distinct isotopic signatures for drinking water were identified (average = +13.2 or +19.7‰), primarily determined by δ18OPO4 of the source acid (average = +12.4 or +19.7‰). Dependent upon the source acid used, drinking water δ18OPO4 appears isotopically distinct from a number of other phosphorus sources. Isotopic offsets from the source acid ranging from −0.9 to +2.8‰ were observed. There was little evidence that equilibrium isotope fractionation dominated within the networks, with offsets from temperature-dependent equilibrium ranging from −4.8 to +4.2‰. While partial equilibrium fractionation may have occurred, kinetic effects associated with microbial uptake of phosphorus or abiotic sorption and dissolution reactions may also contribute to δ18OPO4 within drinking water supplies.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	10.1021/acs.est.5b01137
ISSN:	0013-936X
Additional Keywords:	GroundwaterBGS, Groundwater, Environmental tracers
Date made live:	18 Aug 2015 13:18 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/511578

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

10.1021/acs.est.5b01137

ISSN:

0013-936X

Additional Keywords:

GroundwaterBGS, Groundwater, Environmental tracers

Date made live:

18 Aug 2015 13:18 +0 (UTC)

URI:

https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/511578