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Source identification of nitrate in the upper aquifer system of the Wadi Shueib catchment area in Jordan based on stable isotope composition

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Abstract

Groundwater forms the main freshwater supply in arid and semi-arid areas, and contamination of this precious resource is complicated by the slow rate of recharge in these areas. Nitrate contamination of groundwater is a global water quality problem, as it entails threat to human health as well as aquatic ecosystems. Source identification of contamination is the cornerstone and a prerequisite for any effective management program of water quality. Stable isotope composition of the dissolved nitrate (\({{\rm{\delta}}^{15}}{\rm{N - N}}{{\rm{O}}_{{3^ - }}}\) and \({{\rm{\delta}}^{18}}{\rm{N - N}}{{\rm{O}}_{{3^ - }}}\)) has been applied to identify \({\rm{N}}{{\rm{O}}_{{3^ - }}}\) sources and the main transformation processes in the upper aquifer system (A1/2, A4, and B2/A7 aquifers) in the Wadi Shueib catchment area, Jordan. Moreover, the stable isotope compositions of the groundwater (δ2H-H2O and δ18O-H2O) in conjunction with the groundwater hydrochemistry were integrated to investigate the origin and evolution of the groundwater. Results revealed that groundwater in the study area is fresh and hard-very hard water, and mainly a Ca-Mg-Cl type. \({\rm{N}}{{\rm{O}}_{{3^ - }}}\) concentration was in the range of 7.0–74.0 mg/L with an average of 37.0 mg/L. Most of the samples showed concentration higher than the natural background concentration of \({\rm{N}}{{\rm{O}}_{{3^ - }}}\) (5.0–10.0 mg/L). The δ2H-H2O and δ18O-H2O values indicated that the groundwater is meteoric, and of Mediterranean origin, with a strong evaporation effect. The \({{\rm{\delta}}^{15}}{\rm{N - N}}{{\rm{O}}_{{3^ - }}}\) values ranged between 6.0‰ and 11.3‰ with an average of 8.7‰, and the \({{\rm{\delta}}^{18}}{\rm{N - N}}{{\rm{O}}_{{3^ - }}}\) values ranged between 1.6‰ and 5.9‰ with an average of 3.4‰. These values are in conformity with the stable isotope composition of nitrate derived the nitrification of wastewater/manure, and soil NH4. Nitrification and denitrification are the main transformation processes affecting nitrogen species. Statistical analysis revealed no significant differences in the δ2H-H2O and δ18O-H2O values, and \({{\rm{\delta}}^{15}}{\rm{N - N}}{{\rm{O}}_{{3^ - }}}\) and \({{\rm{\delta}}^{18}}{\rm{N - N}}{{\rm{O}}_{{3^ - }}}\) values for the three aquifers (A1/2, A4, and B2/A7), indicating that the groundwater of these aquifers has the same origin, and a common source of pollution.

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Acknowledgements

This study was funded by the by the Deanship of Scientific Research, Jordan University of Science and Technology (20170338).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Science and Arts, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, 22110, Jordan

    Mutawakil Obeidat & Ahmad Al-Ajlouni

  2. Laboratory of Applied Geoinformatics, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Yarmouk University, Irbid, 21163, Jordan

    Muheeb Awawdeh

  3. Department of Water Resources and Environmental Management, Al-Balqa Applied University, Al-Salt, 19117, Jordan

    Noor Al-Kharabsheh

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  1. Mutawakil Obeidat
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  2. Muheeb Awawdeh
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  3. Noor Al-Kharabsheh
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  4. Ahmad Al-Ajlouni
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Correspondence to Mutawakil Obeidat.

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Obeidat, M., Awawdeh, M., Al-Kharabsheh, N. et al. Source identification of nitrate in the upper aquifer system of the Wadi Shueib catchment area in Jordan based on stable isotope composition. J. Arid Land 13, 350–374 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40333-021-0055-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40333-021-0055-8

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