Nitrogen loads to estuaries from waste water plumes: modeling and isotopic approaches.

We developed, and applied in two sites, novel methods to measure ground water-borne nitrogen loads to receiving estuaries from plumes resulting from land disposal of waste water treatment plant (WWTP) effluent. In addition, we quantified nitrogen losses from WWTP effluent during transport through watersheds. WWTP load to receiving water was estimated as the difference between total measured ground water-transported nitrogen load and modeled load from major nitrogen sources other than the WWTP. To test estimated WWTP loads, we applied two additional methods. First, we quantified total annual waste water nitrogen load from watersheds based on nitrogen stable isotopic signatures of primary producers in receiving water. Second, we used published data on ground water nitrogen concentrations in an array of wells to estimate dimensions of the plume and quantify the annual mass of nitrogen transported within the plume. Loss of nitrogen during transport through the watershed was estimated as the difference between the annual mass of nitrogen applied to watersheds as treatment plant effluent and the estimated nitrogen load reaching receiving water. In one plume, we corroborated our estimated nitrogen loss in watersheds using data from multiple-level sampling wells to calculate the loss of nitrogen relative to a conservative tracer. The results suggest that nitrogen from the plumes is discharging to the estuaries but that substantial nitrogen loss occurs during transport through the watersheds. The measured vs. modeled and stable isotopic approaches, in comparison to the plume mapping approach, may more reliably quantify ground water-transported WWTP loads to estuaries.

Assessment of a delta15N isotopic method to indicate anthropogenic eutrophication in aquatic ecosystems.

Increased anthropogenic delivery of nutrients to water bodies, both freshwater and estuarine, has caused detrimental changes in habitat, food web structure, and nutrient cycling. Nitrogen-stable isotopes may be suitable indicators of such increased nutrient delivery. In this study, we looked at the differences in response of macrophyte delta15N values to anthropogenic N across different taxonomic groups and geographic regions to test a stable isotopic method for detecting anthropogenic impacts. Macrophyte delta15N values increased with wastewater input and water-column dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) concentration. When macrophytes were divided into macroalgae and plants, they responded similarly to increases in wastewater N, although macroalgae was a more reliable indicator of both wastewater inputs and water-column DIN concentrations. Smooth cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora Loisel.) Delta15N increased uniformly with wastewater inputs across a geographic range. We used the relationship derived between S. alterniflora and relative wastewater load to predict wastewater loads in locations lacking quantitative land use data. The predictions matched well with known qualitative information, proving the use of a stable isotopic method for predicting wastewater input.

Varying stable nitrogen isotope ratios of different coastal marsh plants and their relationships with wastewater nitrogen and land use in New England, USA.

The stable nitrogen isotope ratios of some biota have been used as indicators of sources of anthropogenic nitrogen. In this study the relationships of the stable nitrogen isotope ratios of marsh plants, Iva frutescens (L.), Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin ex Steud, Spartina patens (Ait.) Muhl, Spartina alterniflora Loisel, Ulva lactuca (L.), and Enteromorpha intestinalis (L.) with wastewater nitrogen and land development in New England are described. Five of the six plant species (all but U. lactuca) showed significant relationships of increasing delta (15)N values with increasing wastewater nitrogen. There was a significant (P < 0.0001) downward shift in the delta (15)N of S. patens (6.0 +/- 0.48 per thousand) which is mycorrhizal compared with S. alterniflora (8.5 +/- 0.41 per thousand). The downward shift in delta (15)N may be caused by the assimilation of fixed nitrogen in the roots of S. patens. P. australis within sites had wide ranges of delta (15)N values, evidently influenced by the type of shoreline development or buffer at the upland border. In residential areas, the presence of a vegetated buffer (n = 24 locations) significantly (P < 0.001) reduced the delta (15)N (mean = 7.4 +/- 0.43 per thousand) of the P. australis compared to stands where there was no buffer (mean = 10.9 +/- 1.0 per thousand; n = 15). Among the plant species, I. frutescens located near the upland border showed the most significant (R (2) = 0.64; P = 0.006) inverse relationship with the percent agricultural land in the watershed. The delta (15)N of P. australis and I. frustescens is apparently an indicator of local inputs near the upland border, while the delta (15)N of Spartina relates with the integrated, watershed-sea nitrogen inputs.