Dissolved carbon in effluent of wastewater treatment plants and its potential impacts in the receiving karst river

Abstract

The dissolved carbon cycling in river system fueled by wastewater treatment plant effluent have been a research hotspot. However, the composition of dissolved carbon (DC) in wastewater effluents from karst regions remains poorly understood, resulting in a lack of clarity regarding its impact on the dynamics of dissolved carbon in karst rivers. To address this knowledge gap, this study investigated variations of dissolved inorganic (DIC) and organic C (DOC) components in effluent in karst regions and preliminarily discussed their influence on the DC cycling in karst rivers. The results showed that bicarbonate (HCO3–) in WWTP effluents makes more than 90% of the total dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC). The partial pressure of aqueous CO2 (pCO2) of the effluent reached 14450 ± 10084μtam, and pCO2 level declined with increasing river distance from the effluent discharge, effluent acted as a strong CO2 emitter to the atmosphere. Stable carbon isotope and water chemistry evidence revealed that organic matter degradation made important contributions to the high CO2 concentrations in effluent. PHREEQC mixing simulation together with filed samples data indicated that the DIC species can be changed, and pCO2 increased in receiving karst river water after mixed with effluent. The dissolved organic carbon (DOC) of effluent contained humic-like and protein-tryptophan-like, both of them appeared important and recent autochthonous, which could interfere the distinguish the sources of DOC in receiving karst river water. Thus, these findings highlight that the effluent can be an essential factor for the changes of the karst riverine DC pool, which advance our understanding on karst riverine DC evolution under anthropogenic activities. As more than 30% of the earth surface in China, northern America, and Europe are covered by carbonate rocks, this study has relevant implications for other karst regions as it underscores the influence of WWTP effluents on the carbon cycle in karst rivers. Such information and knowledge are valuable for monitoring and managing effluent-receiving river in other karst regions in the world.