• Geochemical Characteristics and Assesment of Nitrate Nitrogen in Groundwater in Yanggu-Gun, Gangwon-Do in Korea
  • Won Gyu Choi*

  • Department of New Energy and Mining Engineering, SangJi University

Abstract

An analysis of groundwater quality is significant for monitoring and managing water contamination and groundwater system. For the purpose of those, the geochemical characteristics of groundwater were studied over the concern for water quality, water type and origin of nitrate nitrogen. Total colony counts were detected in 11 out of 20 samples, and the average value was 31.73 CFU/ml. Range and average of NO3-N concentrations were 0.9~24.0 mg/L and 8.3 mg/L. All groundwater types were found to be Ca2+-HCO3-. The range and average of NO3-N were 0.2~17.4 mg/L and 8.7 mg/L, and those of δ15N were 1.7~8.9‰, and 5.0‰. Careful consideration is required for evaluating the origin of nitrogen when NO3-N concentration is low. In general, noticeable difference between rockbed and alluvial water was not found. The ranges of nitrate origins by chemical fertilizer, livestock manure and domestic sewage, and natural soil were 29.6~76.4%, 14.2~58.9% and 2.6~7.0%, and the average values of those were 57.4%, 37.4%, and 5.3%, respectively. Origin of nitrate was affected by more chemical fertilizer than the other parameters. Rockbed water was more affected by chemical fertilizer than alluvial water. 


Keywords: Groundwater quality, Water type, Nitrate nitrogen, Nitrogen Isotope, Origin of nitrogen

This Article

  • 2019; 24(6): 26-32

    Published on Dec 31, 2019

  • 10.7857/JSGE.2019.24.6.026
  • Received on Dec 9, 2019
  • Revised on Dec 9, 2019
  • Accepted on Dec 20, 2019

Correspondence to

  • Won Gyu Choi
  • Department of New Energy and Mining Engineering, SangJi University

  • E-mail: wgchoi@sangji.ac.kr