Spatial and temporal variations in groundwater nitrate at an intensive dairy farm in south-east Ireland: Insights from stable isotope data

Achievement of at least “good ecological status” in all waterbodies under the EU Water Framework Directive by 2015 will in some cases be a challenge. The twin challenge is to manage expectations of policy makers for such waterbodies as to a realistic length of time required for improvement in water quality. Hence, understanding the source, transformation processes and residence time of nitrate in a hydrological system is an essential part of meeting such challenges. On a dairy farm with 24 shallow groundwater wells, the dual isotopic composition of nitrate (δ¹⁵N and δ¹⁸O) was used to clarify nitrate sources, to assess spatial and temporal variability in nitrate concentrations and to determine if and where denitrification was occurring. Vertical travel time was estimated to correlate nitrate concentrations with management practices. Organically derived nitrogen was the predominant source contributing to groundwater nitrate concentrations. Denitrification was identified as prevalent within specific regions of the study site. The distinct low temporal variability in the isotopic data suggests constancy among nitrate sources and processes over time across the study site. Vertical travel times of up to 3 years were estimated on site indicating the influence of recent management practices on nitrate concentrations. Very slow horizontal migration of groundwater (decades) indicates a legacy of older management practices. Stable isotope techniques, together with an understanding of time lag, provide an extra mechanism to test the efficacy of monitoring and mitigation programmes.     

Impact analysis of drought, water excess and salinity on grass production in The Netherlands using historical and future climate data

The coupled SWAP-WOFOST model was used to study the effects of increasing salinity of groundwater, drought and water excess on grass production in The Netherlands. WOFOST simulates crop growth and SWAP simulates transport of water, solutes and heat in the vadose zone. The model was tested using several datasets from field experiments. We applied the models at regional scale where we quantified the impact of various groundwater salinity levels on grass growth and production using historical weather data (1971-2000). The salt concentrations in the subsoil were derived from the National Hydrological Instrument. The results show that salinity effects on grass production are limited. In wet years the excess rainfall will infiltrate the soil and reduce salt water seepage. In a next step we used future weather data for the year 2050, derived from 3 Global Circulation Models. From each model we used data from two CO₂ emission scenarios. As expected higher temperatures increased drought stress, however, the production reduction as a result of salt water in the root zone is limited. Salt stress mainly occurred when irrigation was applied with saline water. The increased CO₂ concentration in combination with the limited drought stress resulted in increasing simulated actual and potential yields. Overall conclusion for grassland in The Netherlands: drought stress is stronger than stress caused by water excess which on its turn is stronger than salinity stress. Future water demand for irrigation may increase by 11-19% and result in water scarcity if water supply is insufficient.     

Review of the remediation strategies for soil water repellency

Many regions of the world are predicted to experience water scarcity due to more frequent and more severe droughts and increased water demands. Water use efficiency by plants can be negatively affected by soil water repellency (SWR). It is timely to review existing techniques to remedy SWR. Ideally remediation addresses the origins of a problem. However, the fundamental mechanisms of how and why SWR develops are still poorly understood. In this review it was hypothesized that SWR occurs where the balance of input-decomposition of organic matter is impaired, due to either increased input or decreased decomposition rates of hydrophobic substances. Direct and indirect strategies to remedy SWR were distinguished. While direct remediation aims at abolishing the causes of SWR, indirect strategies seek to manage sites with SWR by treating its symptoms. The 12 reviewed strategies include applying surfactants, clay, slow-release fertilizers, lime, and fungicides, bioremediation of SWR through stimulating earthworms, choosing adapted vegetation, irrigation, cultivation, soil aeration and compaction. Some of the techniques have been applied successfully only in laboratory experiments. Our review highlights that it is not straightforward to cure SWR based on easily measurable and site-specific soil and vegetation properties, and that long-term, large-scale field experiments are required to improve the understanding of the evolution of SWR as cornerstone to develop cost-effective and efficient remediation strategies. We also identified current research gaps around the diagnosis and prevention of SWR.     

辅料配比对污泥生物-物理联合干燥的影响

利用自主研制的污泥生物-物理联合干燥反应系统研究了脱水污泥∶树皮∶回流污泥分别为7∶3∶0.5、9∶3∶0.5和12∶3∶0.5时,污泥生物-物理联合干燥过程中温度、含水率等参数的变化规律.结果表明,污泥温度随干燥时间延长先增大后减小,含水率在0～96 h逐渐降低,继续延长反应时间,则变化不明显.当脱水污泥∶树皮∶回流...     

改进的模糊层次分析法在南苕溪临安段水质评价中的应用

南苕溪是太湖的源头水系,其水质状况对杭嘉湖平原居民饮用水安全和太湖流域的污染治理有重要意义.为了了解南苕溪的水质状况,在临安段开展了2年的水质监测,分别在2009年7月、10月和2010年1月、4月采集了水样并进行水质评价.同时,为了克服以往模糊层次分析法存在的低估污染的严重性及不能评价劣Ⅴ类水质的缺点,建立了一个改进...     

枯草芽孢杆菌对微污染水体的净化作用

采用投加枯草芽孢杆菌的水质净化方法,系统考察了在典型南方夏季气温下,封闭的模拟微污染水枯草芽孢杆菌净化体系中,投菌浓度、主要环境条件（pH和溶解氧）及其冲击对净化效果的影响.结果表明,枯草芽孢杆菌的最佳投菌浓度为3.2×105cfu·mL-1,适宜的环境条件为：pH5～7,溶解氧4～6mg·L-1.投菌9d后,CODM...     

污水处理厂中全氟化合物的污染研究

为研究全氟化合物在污水厂中的去除效率和环境行为,对泰安市2座污水处理厂进出水中不同链长的全氟磺酸和全氟羧酸的存在与分布进行了采样调查,并分析了全氟辛烷磺酸(PFOS)和全氟辛烷羧酸(PFOA)在采用曝气-A2O工艺的污水处理厂各单位中的浓度变化情况.研究发现,上述污水厂进出水中全氟化合物的污染程度较轻,其中,PFOA、...     

基于非线性响应函数和蒙特卡洛模拟的滇池流域污染负荷削减情景分析

为定量了解滇池外海水质对流域污染负荷削减率的响应变化程度,并评估相关决策的潜在风险,在长期的水质模拟结果基础之上,本文使用内嵌非线性响应函数的蒙特卡罗模拟方法,在2个不确定性水平下（5%和10%的变异范围）分析滇池外海为达到3个水质目标情景（Ⅲ类、Ⅳ类和Ⅴ类）的污染负荷削减及其不确定性.模型结果表明,在2种不确定性水平...     

闽江下游突发性水污染事故时空模拟

以闽江下游为例,基于有限元法建立闽江下游水动力模型及水质模型,通过对模型进行率定和验证,表明该模型具有较理想的模拟效果.在此基础上,利用闽江下游2004年的水文情况,模拟了突发性水污染事故中污染物的运移扩散过程.定量模拟了突发性水污染事故发生后,闽江下游不同地点处污染物到达的时间和浓度值,并对突发风险事故的影响范围、程...     

The water supply footprint (WSF): a strategic planning tool for sustainable regional and local water supplies

This paper introduces a new methodological approach of the ecological footprint explicitly addressing the sustainability of water supplies, which we call the water supply footprint (WSF). The WSF calculates the catchment area or water supply hinterland of a certain society and can serve as a strategic planning tool for local or regional water supplies linking the water demand with the water supply in a water supply footprint matrix. Based on regional water balances it estimates how much water can be appropriated for human use in an environmentally sustainable way.The proposed method is tested on the South East Queensland water supply in Australia, an area where water use restrictions are regularly imposed on the population. Applying the proposed method indicates that supply shortages may be avoided by considerably changing the organisation of water supply, thereby reducing and possibly even avoiding the necessity for large-scale supply side measures like additional sweet water reservoirs or desalination plants. In that way it is demonstrated that the WSF method is applicable at an early and strategic stage of water supply planning.