Naslov
An interdisciplinary approach to understanding high nitrate concentrations in the Varaždin alluvial aquifer

Autori
Karlović, Igor ; Marković, Tamara

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Sažeci sa skupova, sažetak, znanstveni

Izvornik
Proceedings of the 4th conference of the IAH CEG / Stevanović, Zoran ; Živanović, Vladimir ; Milanović, Petar - Beograd : Šprint, 2019, 54-55

ISBN
978-86-86053-22-0

Skup
4th IAH CEG conference: Toward sustainable management of groundwater resources

Mjesto i datum
Donji Milanovac, Srbija, 19.06.2019. - 20.06.2019

Vrsta sudjelovanja
Poster

Vrsta recenzije
Međunarodna recenzija

Ključne riječi
nitrate, Varaždin, alluvial aquifer

Sažetak
Groundwater pollution with nitrate is a concern in alluvial aquifers underlying agricultural areas worldwide, because it causes the degradation of groundwater quality and contamination of drinking water supplies. High concentrations of nitrate in groundwater usually derive from synthetic nitrogen fertilizers and manure applied in agriculture, septic systems and other wastewaters. The surrounding area of the town of Varaždin is an example of area with high nitrate content in groundwater due to industrial and extensive agricultural production. High amounts of chicken waste, mineral fertilizers and agrochemicals are used during corn and vegetable cultivation. Demands for drinking and industrial water rise because of growing production. High concentrations of nitrate caused the shutting down of the pumping site ‘’Varaždin’’. The research area is located upstream of Varaždin and comprises the catchment areas of the pumping sites ‘’Varaždin’’ and ‘’Vinokovščak’’. The aquifer of the research area is composed of gravel and sand with variable portions of silt. The general groundwater flow direction is NW-SE and is parallel to the Drava River. The recharge of the aquifer occurs by means of precipitation infiltration and percolation of surface water. The covering layer of the aquifer is not continuously developed. Such conditions are favorable if they are considered from the aspect of aquifer recharge, but also make the aquifer quite vulnerable to pollution from the surface. Since problems relating to high nitrate concentrations occurred in the research area, intensive research of source, distribution and fate of nitrate and nitrogen related species is being conducted. For the research purposes, a monitoring network has been established. Water samples are being taken from 10 observation wells and 4 surface water locations on monthly basis. Prior to sampling, electrical conductivity, pH, temperature and dissolved oxygen content are determined by using portable WTW probes. Groundwater and surface water samples are being collected for various analyses: major cations and anions, REE, stable isotopes D, 18O and 13C in water, stable isotopes 18O and 15N in nitrate and nutrients (nitrate, nitrite, ammonia, phosphate, TN and TOC). The surface water and groundwater analyses will be compared to determine the role of surface waters on aquifer recharge and nitrogen cycle. The sources of nitrate will be identified by comparing stable isotopes 18O and 15N in nitrate in groundwater and 15N in solids. In addition to water sampling, soil samples are also being collected during various vegetation cycles and from different land use plots to define the soil’s mineralogical and chemical composition and its role in nitrogen cycle. These results will be combined with land use analysis and applied/extrapolated for the whole research area. All of the results will be used together to build a conceptual model of Varaždin aquifer which will serve as a basis for numerical modelling of groundwater flow and transport of nitrates. The research is performed as part of the TRANITAL project that is funded by the Croatian Science Foundation (HRZZ) and supported by Young Researchers Career Development Project - Training of New PhDs – HRZZ & ESF.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Geologija, Rudarstvo, nafta i geološko inženjerstvo

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