Monitoring of nitrate contamination in groundwater: case study of the campus of UNESP, Rio Claro/SP

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5902/2179460X33188

Keywords:

Nitrate, Groundwater contamination, Hydrochemistry monitoring, Rio Claro aquifer

Abstract

This study presents the results of the monitoring of nitrate concentrations in shallow groundwater at the UNESP Campus of Rio Claro/SP assumed to be sourced by septic tank leakage, which were discontinued in October 2014. The distribution of nitrate concentrations provides support to a conceptual model of contamination by multiple sources, since the concentration gradients are not observed along the flowpaths. The results of the monitoring indicate that in some monitored wells, the nitrate concentrations remain stable, while in other wells minor to strong fall trends were observed. These results provide support to the presence of other active sources, such as sewage leakage in the external and internal area of the campus. This scenario perfect fit with the maintenance of recorded high nitrate concentrations over the time. Despite the nitrate concentrations are below potability limit, additional investigations will be conducted to identify sources of contamination to ensure water quality in the future.

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Author Biographies

Elias Hideo Teramoto, Universidade Estadual Paulista Júlio de Mesquita Filho, Rio Claro, SP

Pesquisador na Universidade Estadual Paulista Júlio de Mesquita Filho, Rio Claro, SP

Pedro Paulo Bazilio da Costa, Universidade Estadual Paulista Júlio de Mesquita Filho, Rio Claro, SP

Formado em Geologia pela Universidade Estadual Paulista Júlio de Mesquita Filho, Rio Claro, SP

Roger Dias Gonçalves, Universidade Estadual Paulista Júlio de Mesquita Filho, Rio Claro, SP

Doutorando em Geociências e Meio-Ambiente na Universidade Estadual Paulista Júlio de Mesquita Filho, Rio Claro, SP

Bruno Zanon Engelbrecht, Universidade Estadual Paulista Júlio de Mesquita Filho, Rio Claro, SP

Colaborador do Laboratório de Estudos de Bacias (LEBAC), Universidade Estadual Paulista Júlio de Mesquita Filho, Rio Claro, SP

Hung Kiang Chang, Universidade Estadual Paulista Júlio de Mesquita Filho, Rio Claro, SP

Professor na Universidade Estadual Paulista Júlio de Mesquita Filho, Rio Claro, SP

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Published

2019-10-24

How to Cite

Teramoto, E. H., Costa, P. P. B. da, Gonçalves, R. D., Engelbrecht, B. Z., & Chang, H. K. (2019). Monitoring of nitrate contamination in groundwater: case study of the campus of UNESP, Rio Claro/SP. Ciência E Natura, 41, e54. https://doi.org/10.5902/2179460X33188

Issue

CIÊNCIA E NATURA, V. 41, 2019

Section

Environment

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