Contamination potential of nitrogen compounds in the heterogeneous aquifers of the Choushui River alluvial fan, Taiwan
Resource
Journal of Contaminant Hydrology 79 (2005) 135 – 155
Journal
Journal of Contaminant Hydrology 79 (2005)
Journal Volume
135
Journal Issue
155
Pages
-
Date Issued
2005-06-24
Date
2005-06-24
Author(s)
Jang, Cheng-Shin
DOI
246246/2006111501254665
Abstract
This study aimed to analyze the contamination potential associated with the reactive transport of
nitrate-N and ammonium-N in the Choushui River alluvial fan, Taiwan and to evaluate a risk region
in developing a groundwater protection policy in 2021. In this area, an aquifer redox sequence
provided a good understanding of the spatial distributions of nitrate-N and ammonium-N and of
aerobic and anaerobic environments. Equiprobable hydraulic conductivity (K) fields reproduced by
geostatistical methods characterized the spatial uncertainty of contaminant transport in the
heterogeneous aquifer. Nitrogen contamination potential fronts for high and low threshold
concentrations based on a 95% risk probability were used to assess different levels of risk. The
simulated result reveals that the spatial uncertainty of highly heterogeneous K fields governs the
contamination potential assessment of the nitrogen compounds along the regional flow directions.
The contamination potential of nitrate-N is more uncertain than that for ammonium-N. The high
nitrate-N concentrations (R3 mg/L) are prevalent in the aerobic environment. The low concentration
nitrate-N plumes (0.5–3 mg/L) gradually migrate to the mid-fan area and to a maximum distance of
15 km from the aerobic region. The nitrate-N plumes pose a potential human health risk in the
aerobic and anaerobic environments. The ammonium-N plumes remain stably confined to the distalfan
and partial mid-fan areas.
Subjects
Nitrate-N
Ammonium-N
Hydraulic conductivity
Uncertainty
Risk
Geostatistical method
SDGs
Publisher
Taipei:National Taiwan University Dept Mech Engn
Type
journal article
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