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Relations of hydrogeologic factors, groundwater reduction-oxidation conditions, and temporal and spatial distributions of nitrate, Central-Eastside San Joaquin Valley, California, USA

Relation entre facteurs hydrogéologiques, conditions d’oxydo-réduction de nappe et distribution temporelle et spatiale des nitrates, Centre-Est, de la San Joaquin Valley, Californie, USA

Relaciones de factores hidrogeológicas, condiciones de oxidación-reducción del agua subterránea, y distribuciones espacial y temporal de nitrato, Valle Centro-Oriental de San Joaquín, California, EEUU

美国加州东区中部 San Joaquin河谷水文地质条件、地下水氧化还原条件与硝酸盐时空分布的关系

Relações dos factores hidrogeológicos, das condições redução-oxidação das águas subterrâneas e das distribuições espacial e temporal da variável nitrato na área Centro-Este do Vale de SanJoaquin, Califórnia, EUA

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Abstract

In a 2,700-km2 area in the eastern San Joaquin Valley, California (USA), data from multiple sources were used to determine interrelations among hydrogeologic factors, reduction-oxidation (redox) conditions, and temporal and spatial distributions of nitrate (NO3), a widely detected groundwater contaminant. Groundwater is predominantly modern, or mixtures of modern water, with detectable NO3 and oxic redox conditions, but some zones have anoxic or mixed redox conditions. Anoxic conditions were associated with long residence times that occurred near the valley trough and in areas of historical groundwater discharge with shallow depth to water. Anoxic conditions also were associated with interactions of shallow, modern groundwater with soils. NO3 concentrations were significantly lower in anoxic than oxic or mixed redox groundwater, primarily because residence times of anoxic waters exceed the duration of increased pumping and fertilizer use associated with modern agriculture. Effects of redox reactions on NO3 concentrations were relatively minor. Dissolved N2 gas data indicated that denitrification has eliminated >5 mg/L NO3–N in about 10% of 39 wells. Increasing NO3 concentrations over time were slightly less prevalent in anoxic than oxic or mixed redox groundwater. Spatial and temporal trends of NO3 are primarily controlled by water and NO3 fluxes of modern land use.

Résumé

Sur une surface de 2,700 km2 à l’Est de la San Joaquin Valley, Californie (USA), des données de sources multiples ont été utilisées pour déterminer les interrelations entre facteurs hydrogéologiques, conditions redox et distribution temporelle et spatiale du nitrate (NO3), un polluant de nappe fréquemment détecté. L’eau de nappe est principalement moderne, ou est un mélange d’eau moderne avec (NO3) détectable en milieu oxydant, mais quelques zones présentent des conditions redox anoxiques ou mixtes. Les conditions anoxiques sont associées à des temps de séjour long qui se rencontrent près de la dépression de la vallée et dans des secteurs de décharge historique de nappe de surface. Les conditions anoxiques sont aussi associées à des interactions entre nappe moderne superficielle et sols. Les concentrations en NO3 sont sensiblement plus faibles dans les eaux anoxiques que dans les eaux oxydantes ou mixtes, principalement parce que les temps de séjour des eaux anoxiques dépassent la durée croissante de pompage et en raison de l’utilisation des fertilisants associés à l’agriculture moderne. Les effets des réactions réductrices sur la concentration en NO3 sont relativement mineurs. Les données sur le gaz N2 dissous indiquent que la dénitrification a éliminé >5 mg/L NO3-N dans environ 10% de 39 puits. L’augmentation des concentrations NO3 dans le temps prévaut légèrement moins en nappe anoxique qu’en nappe à redox oxydant ou mixte. Les tendances spatiales et temporelles de NO3 dans le temps sont principalement contrôlées par l’eau et par les flux NO3 des pratiques culturales modernes.

Resumen

Se utilizaron datos de fuentes múltiples en un área de 2,700-km2 en el este del Valle San Joaquin, California (EEUU), para determinar las interrelaciones entre factores hidrogeológicos, condiciones de oxidación – reducción (redox), y las distribuciones especial y temporal de nitrato (NO3), un contaminante del agua subterránea ampliamente detectado. El agua subterránea es predominantemente moderna, o mezclas de agua moderna, con NO3 detectable y condiciones redox óxicas, pero algunas zonas tienen condiciones redox mixtas o anóxicas. Las condiciones anóxicas fueron asociadas con largos tiempos de residencia que ocurrieron cerca del canal del valle y en áreas de descarga histórica de agua subterránea con escasa profundidad del agua. Las condiciones anóxicas también fueron asociadas con interacciones de agua subterránea moderna, somera con los suelos. Las concentraciones de NO3 fueron significativamente menores en agua subterránea anóxica que en agua subterránea óxicas o de redox mixtas, primariamente debido a que los tiempos de residencia de las aguas anóxicas excedieron la duración del bombeo y el uso de fertilizantes asociados a la agricultura moderna. Los efectos de las reacciones redox sobre las concentraciones de NO3 fueron relativamente menores. Los datos del gas N2 disuelto indicaron que la desnitrificación ha eliminado >5 mg/L NO3-N en alrededor del 10% de los 39 pozos. Las concentraciones crecientes de NO3 con el tiempo fueron levemente menos prevalentes en el agua subterránea anóxica que en óxica o de redox mixta. Las tendencias espaciales y temporales de NO3 son primariamente controladas por flujos de agua y NO3 del uso moderno de la tierra.

摘要

摘要 : 在位于美国加州的San Joaquin河谷东部一个面积达2700 km 2的区域内, 用多种方法获取数据, 以查明水文地质条件、氧化还原条件与硝酸盐-一种分布较广的地下水污染物-的时空分布之间的关系。地下水主要是由现代水或混入现代水的水源补给, 处于氧化条件下并含有硝酸盐, 但也存在一些缺氧或混合氧化还原环境。还原环境中的地下水一般驻留时间较长, 且位于河谷槽以及浅埋深的古地下水排泄区附近。还原条件还和浅层现代地下水与土壤的相互作用有关。还原环境中地下水的硝酸盐含量明显低于混合有氧化环境的地下水, 主要是因为还原环境中的地下水驻留时间超过了与现代农业相关的开采量增加与施肥活动。氧化还原反应对硝酸盐浓度的影响非常小。溶解 N2数据表明, 39口井的10%经反硝化反应消耗了大于5 mg/L NO3-N 。还原环境中地下水NO3浓度随时间增加的普遍性不如氧化环境或混合氧化还原环境中的地下水。NO3的时空分布主要是由现代土地利用造成的水和NO3通量所控制。

Resumo

Numa área de 2,700 km2 localizada a leste do Vale de San Joaquin, na Califórnia (EUA), foram utilizados dados provenientes de múltiplas fontes para determinar as relações entre os factores hidrogeológicos, condições de oxidação-redução (redox) e distribuições espacial e temporal de nitrato (NO3), um contaminante comum nas águas subterrâneas. As águas subterrâneas são predominantemente de origem recente ou resultantes da mistura de águas recentes onde foram detectadas concentrações de NO3 e condições não anóxicas, embora em algumas áreas tenham sido identificadas condições anóxicas ou de características mistas. As condições anóxicas estão associadas a tempos de residência longos que ocorrem perto do vale e em áreas históricas de descarga em aquíferos superficiais. As mesmas condições anóxicas estão também associadas com interacções das águas subterrâneas superficiais recentes com solos. As concentrações de NO3 são significativamente mais baixas em águas com propriedades anóxicas do que em condições não anóxicas ou mistas, porque os seus tempos de residência excedem o tempo de duração de bombagem intensiva e de uso de fertilizantes na agricultura moderna. Os efeitos de reacções redox sobre as concentrações de NO3 são relativamente pouco significativos. A presença de gás N2 dissolvido indica que os processos de desnitrificação eliminaram as concentrações de nitratos acima dos 5 mg/LNO3-N em aproximadamente 10% do total de 39 poços. O aumento das concentrações de NO3 ao longo do tempo foi um pouco menos frequente em condições anóxicas do que em condições não anóxicas ou mistas. As tendências espacial e temporal do NO3 são principalmente controladas pela água e pelos fluxos de NO3 resultante do uso do solo.

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Acknowledgements

This study was funded by the US Geological Survey National Water Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Program study of groundwater trends, and by the California Groundwater Ambient Monitoring and Assessment Program. We thank the large number of people involved in collecting the data for these programs as well as the California Department of Public Health for providing access to data utilized in this study. We thank the NAWQA trends team for ideas and suggestions and Barbara Dawson and Claudia Faunt for data and analysis that assisted with this study. This manuscript benefited from reviews by Frank Chapelle, Steve Phillips, and two anonymous reviewers. Any use of trade, product, or firm names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the US Government.

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  1. US Geological Survey, 4165 Spruance Road, Suite 200, San Diego, CA, 92101, USA

    Matthew K. Landon & Kenneth Belitz

  2. US Geological Survey, 345 Middlefield Rd., Menlo Park, CA, 94025, USA

    Christopher T. Green

  3. Environmental Radiochemistry Group, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, 7000 East Ave., L-231, Livermore, CA, 94550, USA

    Michael J. Singleton & Bradley K. Esser

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  1. Matthew K. Landon
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  2. Christopher T. Green
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  3. Kenneth Belitz
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Correspondence to Matthew K. Landon.

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Landon, M.K., Green, C.T., Belitz, K. et al. Relations of hydrogeologic factors, groundwater reduction-oxidation conditions, and temporal and spatial distributions of nitrate, Central-Eastside San Joaquin Valley, California, USA. Hydrogeol J 19, 1203–1224 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-011-0750-1

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