Abstract
Nutrients such as nitrates and phosphates in the groundwater are a serious concern in certain parts of Sri Lanka where many rural communities depend on groundwater for their daily water supplies. In addition excess nutrients in water have lead to water quality problems such as algal blooms, eutrophication in a number of surface water bodies.
Sri Lankan coast line extending over a length of nearly 1585km is one of the highly sensitive and rapidly developing areas of the country. The coastal aquifers can be subdivided into four groups according to aquifer media by which the coastal areas are characterized. Those aquifers play an important role in supplying water both for domestic and agricultural activities in the areas concern.
Sri Lankan coastal groundwater resources at most places appears to be contaminated by nutrient pollutants. Elevated levels of pollutants have been often recoded in shallow karstic limestone aquifers of northern and sandy aquifers of northwestern and northeastern coastal zones. It is revealed that the behavior of nutrients in groundwater is mainly governed by intrinsic properties of aquifer media and the distribution of nutrients shows a clear correlation with anthropogenic activities and land use pattern of the coastal areas. The most commonly recorded nutrient in coastal groundwater is nitrate. With regard to phosphate concentrations however, Sri Lankan coastal groundwater is presently safe though shows increasing trend of future vulnerability.
It is inferred that coastal sandy aquifers in Sri Lanka are at risk and need an immediate protection effort with comprehensive investigations, introducing preventive measures and establishing a long term monitoring setup.
Key words
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
Reference
Balendran, V. S. (1969). Salt Water Fresh Water Interface Studies in the Jaffna Peninsula, Report III. Geological Survey Department, Colombo.
Bhuvendralingam, S., Chanmugam, S., Gunaruwan, T., Jayawardene, K., Kotagama, H.B., Sivagnanasothy, V. and W.O. Wadugodapitiya (1994). A case study on economic valuation of environmental services provided by the Bolgoda Lake: Sri Lanka Phase 1. Draft Final report, Metropolitan Environmental Improvement programme-Colombo. Natural Resources & Environmental Policy Project.
Carpenter, S., Caraco, N., Correll, D., Howarth, R., Sharpley, A. and V. Smith (1998). Nonpoint Pollution of Surface Waters with Phosphorous and Nitrogen. Ecological Applications 8(3): 559-568.
Cloern, J.E. (2001). Our evolving conceptual model of the coastal eutrophication problem. Marine Ecology Progress Series 210: 223-253.
Conley, D.J. (2000). Biogeochemical nutrient cycles and nutrient management strategies. Hydrobiologia 410: 87-96.
Cooray, P.G. (1984). An introduction to the Geology of Sri Lanka (Ceylon), National Museums of Sri Lankapublication 340 p.
Cooray, P.G. (1994). The Precambrian of Sri Lanka: A historical review. Precambrian Research 66: 3-18.
Cooray, P.G. and J. Katupotha (1991). Geological evolution of the coastal zone of Sri Lanka. Proc. Symposium on “Causes of coastal erosion in Sri Lanka”. Coast Conservation Department/German Technical Cooperation, Colombo, Sri Lanka: 9-11.
Davis, J. and R. Herbert (1988). The hydrogeology of the Miocene sedimentary belt of Sri Lanka. Journal of Geological Society of Sri Lanka 1: 45-63.
Deraniyagala, S.U. (1976). The geomorphology and pedology of three sedimentary formations containing a Mesolithic industry in the lowlands of the Dry Zone of Sri Lanka. South Asia Occasional Papers and Theses South Asia Program, Cornell University, 11-27.
Dissanayake, C.B. (1988). Nitrates in the groundwater in Sri Lanka - implications for community health. Journal of Geological Society of Sri Lanka 1: 80-84.
Dissanayake, C.B. and S.V.R. Weerasooriya (1985). A geochemical classification of groundwater in Sri Lanka. Journal of National Science Foundation of Sri Lanka 13(2): 147-186.
Fan, A.M. and V.E. Steinberg (1996). Health implications of nitrate and nitrite in drinking water. An update on methemoglobinemia occurrence and reproductive and developmental toxicity. Regulatory Toxicology andPharmacology 23(1): 35-43.
Fennesy, M.S. and J.K. Cronk (1997). The effectiveness and restoration potential of riparian ecotones for the management of non-point source pollution, particularly nitrate. CriticalReviews in Environmental Science and Technology 27(4): 285-317.
Gardolinski, P.C.F.C., Worsfold, P.J. and I.D. McKelvie (2004). Seawater induced release and transformation of organic and inorganic phosphorus from river sediments. Water Research 38(3): 688-692.
Gelberg, K.H., Church, L., Casey, G., London, M., Roerig, D.S., Boyd, J. and M. Hill (1999). Nitrate levels in drinking water in rural New York State. Environmental Research 80(1): 30-40.
Gowrithasan, K. (2007). A study on spatial and temporal changes of groundwater in the tsunami affected Nawalady area in the Batticaloa district. MSc thesis. Postgraduate Institute of Science, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya.
Gulis, G., Czompolyova, M. and J.R. Cerhan (2002). An ecologic study of nitrate in municipal drinking water and cancer incidence in Trnava District, Slovakia. Environmental Research 88(3): 182-187.
Gunatilake, J. and S. Gunatilake (2004). Pollution of drinking water by application of nitrate fertilizers: a case study from Kandy. In: Water Professionals Symposium, Post Graduate Institute of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka.
Gupta, S.K., Gupta, R.C., Gupta, A.B., Seth, A.K., Bassin, J.K. and A. Gupta (2001). Recurrent diarrhea in areas with high nitrate in drinking water. Archives of Environmental Health 56(4): 369-374.
Herath, J.W. and D.B. Pattiarachchi (1963). Geology, composition and mineralogy of Ceylon laterites. Ceylon Geographer 17: 11-20.
International Union for Conservation (2007). Technical Guidelines for the Establishment of a Coastal Greenbelt. The World Conservation Union (IUCN) Sri Lanka Country Office.
Jayasingha, J.P., Dharmagunawardane, H.A., Pitawala, A. and S. Madawala (2008). Groundwater contamination in coastal aquifers due to agricultural practices: Recent experience from Kalpitiya Peninsula in the west coast of Sri Lanka. Abstracts of Peradeniya University Research Session 13: 390-391.
Jeyaruba, J. and M. Thushyanthy (2009). The Effect of Agriculture on Quality of Groundwater: A case study. Middle-East Journal of Scientific Research 4(2): 110-114.
Katupotha, J. and N.P. Wijayananda (1989). Chronology of inland shell deposits on the southern coast of Sri Lanka. Quaternary Research 32: 222-228.
Katupotha, J. (1988). Evolution of the coastal landforms in the western part of Sri Lanka. Geographical Sciences (Hiroshima Univ.), 43.1.
Katuptha, J. (1994). Quaternary research in Sri Lanka. Recent advances in the earth sciences of Sri Lanka. Journal of Geological Society of Sri Lanka 5: 141-152.
Knobeloch, L., Krenz, K., Anderson, H. and C. Hovell (1992). Methemoglobinemia in an infant Wisconsin. Morbidity andMortality Weekly Report 42(12): 217-219.
Kumaraswami, A.K. (1905). Recent marine clay at Kuchchaweli, Ceylon. Geological Magazine 2(11): 508-509.
Kuruppurachchi, D.S.P. and W.A.R.N. Fernando (1999). Impact of agriculture on groundwater quality: Leaching of fertilizers to groundwater in Kalpitiya Peninsula. Journal of Soil Science of Sri Lanka 11: 9-15.
Lawrence, A.R., Kuruppuarachchi, D.S.P. and A.M. Mubarak (1992). Impact of agriculture on groundwater quality: Kalpitiya Peninsula, Sri Lanka. British Geological Survey, Hydrogeology Series Research Technical Report WD/92/49.
Liu, G.D., Wu, W.L. and J. Zhang (2005). Regional differentiation of non-point source pollution of agriculture-derived nitrate nitrogen in groundwater in northern China. Agriculture Ecosystems andEnvironment 107(2-3): 211-220.
Liyanage, C.E., Thabrew, M.I. and D.S.P. Kuruppuarchchi (2000). Nitrate pollution in ground water of Kalpitiya: An evaluation of the content of nitrate in the water and food items cultivated in the area. Journal of National Science Foundation of Sri Lanka 28(2): 101-112.
Meegaswaran, R. and S. Mahalingam (1983). Nitrate nitrogen content in well water and soil from selected areas in Jaffna peninsula. Journal of National Science Foundation of Sri Lanka 11(1): 269-275.
Min, J.H., Yun, S.T., Kim, K., Kim, H.S., Hahn, J. and K.S. Lee (2002). Nitrate contamination of alluvial groundwater in the Nakdong River basin, Korea. Geosciences Journal 6(1): 35-46.
Nagarajah, S., Emerson, B.N., Abeykoon, V. and S. Yogaligam (1988). Water quality of some wells in Jaffna and Kilinochchi with special reference to nitrate pollution. Tropical Agriculture 44: 61-73.
Nandakumara, V. (1983). Natural environment and groundwater in the Jaffna peninsula, Sri Lanka. Climatological notes, Tsukumba, Japan 33: 155-164.
Nanthini, T., Mikunthan, T. and R. Vijayarathnam (2001). Some physico-chemical characters of groundwater in some (selected) water supply wells in the Jaffna peninsula. Journal of National Science Foundation of Sri Lanka 29: 81-95.
Natural Resources Sri Lanka (1991). Conditions and Trends. 2nd edition C.B. Dissanayake (ed), Energy and Science Authority of Sri Lanka.
Navarathnarajah, V. (1994). Water problems in Jaffna peninsula. Affordable water supply and sanitation. In: 20th Water, Engineering and Development Centre conference publication.
Nawas, M.F., Mowjood, M.I.M. and L.W. Galagedara (2005). Contamination of shallow dug wells in highly populated coastal sand aquifer: A case study in Sainthamarudhu, Sri Lanka. Seventeenth annual congress of the Post Graduate Institute of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka.
Nixon, S.W. (1995). Coastal marine eutrophication: a definition, social causes and future concerns. Ophelia 41: 199-219.
Pitawala, A., Dharmagunawardane, H.A., Welagedara A.S. and M.N.A. Mubarak (2007). Deterioration of groundwater quality in tsunami affected coastal aquifers in Sri Lanka and complexities in natural recovery. Abstracts of Peradeniya University Research Sessions 12(2): 301.
Rajasooriyar, L., Mathavan, V., Dharmagunawardhane, H.A. and V. Nandakumar (2002). Groundwater quality in the Valigamam region of the Jaffna Peninsula, Sri Lanka. Geological Society, London, Special Publication 193: 181-197.
Senarathne, A. and C.B. Dissanayake (1991). Palaeo-environmental significance of some major and trace elements in a tropical back-barrie peat deposits, Sri Lanka. Journal of the Geological Society of Sri Lanka 3: 51-58.
Silva De, C.S. and N. Ayomi (2004). Impact of intensive vegetable cultivation on agro- well water quality in Malsiripura region of Kurunegala district. In: Water professionals symposium. Post Graduate Institute of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka.
Sirimanne, C.H.L. (1952). Geology for water supply. Presidential address. Section D, Centre for Advance Academic Studies, 87-118.
Spalding, R.F. and M.E. Exner (1993). Occurrence of nitrate in groundwater - A review. Journal of Environmental Quality 22: 392-402.
Sugunathasa, K. (2007). Geochemistry of shallow groundwater in Sinnauppodai coastal area, Batticaloa, Sri Lanka. MSc thesis. Postgraduate Institute of Science, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya.
Suzumura, M., Ueda, S. and E. Sumi (2000). Control of phosphate concentration through adsorption and desorption process in ground water and sea water mixing at sandy beached in Tokyo bay, Japan. Journal of Oceanography. 56(6): 667-673.
Swan, B. (1983). The coastal geomorphology of Sri Lanka: An introduction survey. Aemidale 25: 84-89.
Vakeesan, A., Nishanthan, T. and G. Mikunthan (2008). Green manures: Nature's gift to improve soil fertility. Leisa magazine 24: 2.
Villholth, K.G. and L.D. Rajasooriyar (2009). Groundwater Resources and Management Challenges in Sri Lanka - An Overview. Water Resources Management. Online ISSN 1573-1650.
Voudouris, K., Panagopoulos, A. and J. Koumantakis (2004). Nitrate pollution in the coastal aquifer system of the Korinthos prefecture (Greece). Global Nest: The International Journal 6(1): 31-38.
Wadia, D.N. (1941). The geology of Colombo and its environs. Spolia Zeylanica 23: 10-18.
Wakida, F.T. and D.N. Lerner (2005). Non-agricultural sources of groundwater nitrate: a review and case study. Water Research 39(1): 3-16.
Wayland, E.J. (1919). Outline of the stone age of Ceylon. Spolia Zeylanica 11: 85-125.
Welagedara, A.S. (2009). Spatial and temporal changes of water quality of tsunami affected areas in the southwestern Coast, Sri Lanka. MPhil thesis. Postgraduate Institute of Science, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya.
Young, S.M., Pitawala, A. and J. Gunatilake (2009). Fate of phosphate and nitrate in waters of an intensive agricultural area in the dry zone of Sri Lanka. Journal of Paddy and Water Environment. Online ISSN 1611-2504.
Acknowledgments
Authors wish to acknowledge the financial assistance for this study by the National Science Foundation of Sri Lanka (NSF) under the research grant No: RG/2007/AG/02.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2012 Capital Publishing Company
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Jayasingha, P., Pitawala, A., Dharmagunawardhane, H.A. (2012). A Review on Nutrient Pollution of Coastal Aquifers of Sri Lanka. In: Subramanian, V. (eds) Coastal Environments: Focus on Asian Regions. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-3002-3_5
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-3002-3_5
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-90-481-3001-6
Online ISBN: 978-90-481-3002-3
eBook Packages: Earth and Environmental ScienceEarth and Environmental Science (R0)