Premium
Investigating landfill‐impacted groundwater seepage into headwater streams using stable carbon isotopes
Author(s) -
Atekwana E. A.,
Krishnamurthy R. V.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
hydrological processes
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.222
H-Index - 161
eISSN - 1099-1085
pISSN - 0885-6087
DOI - 10.1002/hyp.1457
Subject(s) - groundwater , groundwater discharge , streams , dissolved organic carbon , hydrology (agriculture) , environmental science , geology , hyporheic zone , groundwater flow , aquifer , geotechnical engineering , oceanography , computer network , computer science
The impact of landfill contaminated groundwater along a reach of a small stream adjacent to a municipal landfill was investigated using stable carbon isotopes as a tracer. Groundwater below the stream channel, groundwater seeping into the stream, groundwater from the stream banks and stream water were sampled and analysed for dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) and the isotope ratio of DIC (δ 13 C DIC ). Representative samples of groundwater seeping into the stream were collected using a device (a ‘seepage well’) specifically designed for collecting samples of groundwater seeping into shallow streams with soft sediments. The DIC and δ 13 C DIC of water samples ranged from 52 to 205 mg C/L and −16·9 to +5·7‰ relative to VPDB standard, respectively. Groundwater from the stream bank adjacent to the landfill and some samples of groundwater below the stream channel and seepage into the stream showed evidence of δ 13 C enriched DIC (δ 13 C DIC = −2·3 to +5·7‰), which we attribute to landfill impact. Stream water and groundwater from the stream bank opposite the landfill did not show evidence of landfill carbon (δ 13 C DIC = −10·0 to −16·9‰). A simple mixing model using DIC and δ 13 C DIC showed that groundwater below the stream and groundwater seeping into the stream could be described as a mixture of groundwater with a landfill carbon signature and uncontaminated groundwater. This study suggests that the hyporheic zone at the stream–groundwater interface probably was impacted by landfill contaminated groundwater and may have significant ecological implications for this ecotone. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.