Charlotte Sparrenbom
Senior lecturer
Tracing sources of ammonium in reducing groundwater in a well field in Hanoi (Vietnam) by means of stable nitrogen isotope (d15N) values
Author
Summary, in English
In the Southern part of Hanoi, high ammonium (NH4 + ) concentrations in reducing groundwater have been
an issue over the last 25 years. Elevated NH4 + concentrations in groundwater, in general, are an indicator of influences from anthropogenic sources, but the buried peat layers in the Red River delta formation are also hypothesized to contribute to the high NH4 + levels (up to 100 mg/l). We traced the sources of NH4 + at the Nam Du well field of the Hanoi water works by means of isotope ratios (15N/14N). The d15N values were determined for total sedimentary N and exchangeable NH4 + of the peat material, and for NH4 + dissolved in deep and shallow groundwater, sewage, and surface water. Groundwater NH4 + of the upper (Holocene) and the lower (Pleistocene) aquifers had higher d15N values than did total N and NH4 + of the sediments, and were somewhat higher than the d15N values of NH4 + in sewage and surface water.
We conclude that the present conditions of temperature and pH tend to promote deprotonation of
NH4 + to ammonia (NH3), which eventually degasses from the groundwater table to the unsaturated pore
space. This can cause an enrichment of 15N in the remaining NH4 + , as the lighter 14N inNH3 is volatilized at a slightly faster rate. The intermediate d15N values within the Pleistocene aquifer can be explained by the recharge thereto, which is a mixture of the high d15N values of the Holocene aquifer and the low d15N values of water infiltrating from the Red River into the Pleistocene aquifer. Some part of the increased groundwater NH4 + is likely to arise from anthropogenic activities, as supported by several indications: a large drawdown in the Pleistocene aquifer caused by Hanoi’s extensive water abstraction and subsequent downward gradient from the upper Holocene aquifer; the presence of coliforms in groundwater; and a positive correlation between ammonium and DOC, Cl, Br and Ni, but a lack of correlation with As. However, the much higher concentrations of NH4 + in the groundwater compared to the potential Surface sources, the positive correlation between NH4 + and DOC, the abundance of natural organic matter (OM), the amount of exchangeable NH4 + in the sediments, and the highly reducing conditions in the aquifers indicate that N-mineralization of organic N from the peat contribute substantially to the high NH4 + levels in groundwater of the Nam Du well field.
an issue over the last 25 years. Elevated NH4 + concentrations in groundwater, in general, are an indicator of influences from anthropogenic sources, but the buried peat layers in the Red River delta formation are also hypothesized to contribute to the high NH4 + levels (up to 100 mg/l). We traced the sources of NH4 + at the Nam Du well field of the Hanoi water works by means of isotope ratios (15N/14N). The d15N values were determined for total sedimentary N and exchangeable NH4 + of the peat material, and for NH4 + dissolved in deep and shallow groundwater, sewage, and surface water. Groundwater NH4 + of the upper (Holocene) and the lower (Pleistocene) aquifers had higher d15N values than did total N and NH4 + of the sediments, and were somewhat higher than the d15N values of NH4 + in sewage and surface water.
We conclude that the present conditions of temperature and pH tend to promote deprotonation of
NH4 + to ammonia (NH3), which eventually degasses from the groundwater table to the unsaturated pore
space. This can cause an enrichment of 15N in the remaining NH4 + , as the lighter 14N inNH3 is volatilized at a slightly faster rate. The intermediate d15N values within the Pleistocene aquifer can be explained by the recharge thereto, which is a mixture of the high d15N values of the Holocene aquifer and the low d15N values of water infiltrating from the Red River into the Pleistocene aquifer. Some part of the increased groundwater NH4 + is likely to arise from anthropogenic activities, as supported by several indications: a large drawdown in the Pleistocene aquifer caused by Hanoi’s extensive water abstraction and subsequent downward gradient from the upper Holocene aquifer; the presence of coliforms in groundwater; and a positive correlation between ammonium and DOC, Cl, Br and Ni, but a lack of correlation with As. However, the much higher concentrations of NH4 + in the groundwater compared to the potential Surface sources, the positive correlation between NH4 + and DOC, the abundance of natural organic matter (OM), the amount of exchangeable NH4 + in the sediments, and the highly reducing conditions in the aquifers indicate that N-mineralization of organic N from the peat contribute substantially to the high NH4 + levels in groundwater of the Nam Du well field.
Department/s
- Quaternary Sciences
Publishing year
2015
Language
English
Pages
248-258
Publication/Series
Applied Geochemistry
Volume
61
Links
Document type
Journal article
Publisher
Elsevier
Topic
- Earth and Related Environmental Sciences
Keywords
- Red River delta
- groundwater
- arsenic
- ammonium
- d15N
- reducing conditions
Status
Published
ISBN/ISSN/Other
- ISSN: 0883-2927