Nitrogen pollution and source identification of urban ecosystem surface water in Beijing

Abstract

Nitrogen contamination of surface water is a worldwide environmental problem with intensive agriculture and high population densities. We assessed the spatial and seasonal variation in concentrations of total nitrogen and different nitrogen species present in surface-water in Beijing, China. Also, chemical (NO 3 − −N=C1−) and isotopic (δ 15 N nitrate ) indicators were used to identify nitrate sources. The results showed that, during 2009 and 2010, nitrate nitrogen concentrations ranged from 0.7 to 7.6 mg ·L−1, ammonium nitrogen from 0.1 to 3.4 mg·L−1, and total nitrogen from 2.4 to 17.0 mg·L−1. Inorganic nitrogen accounted for between 60 and 100% of total nitrogen at the ten monitoring sites. Nitrate nitrogen, ammonium nitrogen, and total nitrogen concentrations at the 2 downstream monitoring sites in south-eastern Beijing were significantly higher than those at the other eight upstream monitoring sites (P<0.01). Examination of seasonal variation showed that there was a significant inverse relationship between nitrate nitrogen concentrations and precipitation, and that nitrate nitrogen concentrations peaked in the dry seasons. The information given by the δ 15 N nitrate values and nitrate nitrogen concentrations, combined with the NO 3 − -N=C1− ratio distribution, showed that domestic sewage was the major source of nitrate in Beijing. Methods to control and reduce sewage pollution are urgently needed to help manage surface water quality in Beijing.