wSummary
@Deterioration of the quality of groundwater under urban areas
has become a major environmental concern worldwide. This paper
presents a pilot case study (in the Taipei urban area) using multiple
stable isotopes (ΒD-H2O and Β18O-H2O, Β15N-NO3 and Β18O-NO3, Β34S-SO4 and Β18O-SO4, and 87Sr/86Sr)
with the aim of understanding the subsurface nature and environmental
status of such areas. A previous study has already characterized
Taipei shallow groundwaters as sulfate-rich in comparison to other
Southeast Asian metropolitan cities. Our chemical measurements
clarified that the arsenic is the important environmental concerns
in the aquifers. Dual isotope approaches for nitrate and sulfate
suggested these ions were sourced mainly from municipal sewage
leaking from sewer pipes in urbanized area, while chemical fertilizers
applied in the local agricultural fields partly contribute in
the suburb area. Significant decreases in nitrate and sulfate
concentrations due to denitrification and sulfate reduction were
observed in some groundwaters, which induced increases in isotope
ratios up to 24.9ρ for Β15N-NO3 and 27.2ρ for Β34S-SO4. Nitrate groundwater pollution in the Taipei
Basin is not a subject of serious concern (44 mg/L limit for
NO3- for all analyzed samples)
at the present time due to attenuation by denitrification. However,
arsenic is preferentially released in groundwater (100Κg/L) in
anoxic environment under which sulfate reduction occurs. The Sr
isotope data suggested that the arsenic is derived from alluvial
deposits of Oligocene-Miocene sedimentary rock origin. This study
disclosed the complex causes of environmental changes in Taipei
urban shallow groundwater. It is also important as an excellent
case study demonstrating the efficient use of multiple isotope
diagnosis in the urban groundwater environmental field.
Keywords: Taipei; Urban environment; Groundwater; Water quality;
Multi isotopex
1. Introduction
2. Outline of study area
3. Sampling and processing
4. Methods
5. Results and discussion
@5.1. Origins of Taipei shallow groundwater
@5.2. Origins and attenuation of nitrate pollution
@5.3. Sources of sulfate and occurrence of sulfate reduction
@@5.3.1. Isotopic characterization of the source materials
@@5.3.2. Sources of sulfate in river and spring waters
@@5.3.3. Sources of sulfate in shallow groundwaters
@@5.3.4. Behaviors of sulfate, arsenic and lead in shallow groundwaters
@5.4. Variation of 87Sr/86Sr ratios and
the origin of arsenic
6. Conclusions
Acknowledgments
References