Top

Hydrogeology Journal

Published in:

10-11-2018 | Paper

Impact of hotel septic effluent on the Jinfoshan Karst aquifer, SW China

Authors: Pingheng Yang, Xiaoxing Ming, Chris Groves, Ting Sheng

Published in: Hydrogeology Journal | Issue 1/2019

Activate our intelligent search to find suitable subject content or patents.

search-config

AI-assisted search

Off

Abstract

The karst aquifer of Jinfoshan Karst (JFK) in UNESCO’s South China Karst World Heritage Site was investigated. An artificial tracer test, geochemistry, and oxygen and hydrogen isotopes were employed to assess the impacts of effluent from the Jinfoshan Holiday Hotel (JHH), Chongqing, on the karst aquifer and its outlet, Shuifang spring (SFS). Most of the fluorescent dye (uranine) flushed into a JHH toilet was recovered at SFS, suggesting a strong hydraulic connection between JHH and SFS. The waters of SFS were of HCO₃–Ca type, whereas the effluent had more complex hydrochemical characteristics. The effluent was characterized by higher mean δD and δ¹⁸O values. The slope of the δD–δ¹⁸O evaporation line for effluent was significantly lower than that of the local meteoric water line, indicating evaporation. Concentrations of major elements at SFS were below the threshold values of the Chinese Standard for Groundwater Quality. However, hydrogen and oxygen isotopic compositions of SFS waters were influenced by the effluent and mixing with water from diffuse sources within the aquifer. Low values of d-excess at SFS corresponded well to periods of high tourism activity (weekends and holidays), suggesting that declining d-excess probably signifies an increased release of contaminants from the hotel. The contribution of effluent to the discharge of the SFS was ~18%. Because of tourism activities and their production of wastewater, the results of this study may be relevant to other karst environments and World Heritage Sites throughout the world.

previous article Characterizing fluxes of trace metals related to dissolved and suspended matter during a storm event: application to a karst aquifer using trace metals and rare earth elements as provenance indicators

next article Laboratory and numerical study of hyporheic flow-mediated DNAPL dissolution in karst conduits

Dont have a licence yet? Then find out more about our products and how to get one now:

Springer Professional "Wirtschaft+Technik"

Online-Abonnement

Mit Springer Professional "Wirtschaft+Technik" erhalten Sie Zugriff auf:

über 102.000 Bücher
über 537 Zeitschriften

aus folgenden Fachgebieten:

Automobil + Motoren
Bauwesen + Immobilien
Business IT + Informatik
Elektrotechnik + Elektronik
Energie + Nachhaltigkeit
Finance + Banking
Management + Führung
Marketing + Vertrieb
Maschinenbau + Werkstoffe
Versicherung + Risiko

Jetzt Wissensvorsprung sichern!

inform now

Springer Professional "Technik"

Online-Abonnement

Mit Springer Professional "Technik" erhalten Sie Zugriff auf:

über 67.000 Bücher
über 390 Zeitschriften

aus folgenden Fachgebieten:

Automobil + Motoren
Bauwesen + Immobilien
Business IT + Informatik
Elektrotechnik + Elektronik
Energie + Nachhaltigkeit
Maschinenbau + Werkstoffe

Jetzt Wissensvorsprung sichern!

inform now

Amiel RB, Grodek T, Frumkin A (2010) Characterization of the hydrogeology of the sacred Gihon Spring, Jerusalem: a deteriorating urban karst spring. Hydrogeol J 18(6):1465–1479. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-010-0600-6 CrossRef

Araguás-Araguás L, Froehlich K, Rozanski K (2000) Deuterium and oxygen-18 isotope composition of precipitation and atmospheric moisture. Hydrol Process 14(8):1341–1355. https://doi.org/10.1002/1099-1085(20000615)14:8<1341::AID-HYP983>3.3.CO;2-Z CrossRef

Bar-Matthews M, Ayalon A, Matthews A, Sass E, Halicz L (1996) Carbon and oxygen isotope study of the active water-carbonate system in a karstic Mediterranean cave: implications for paleoclimate research in semiarid regions. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 60(2):337–347. https://doi.org/10.1016/0016-7037(95)00395-9 CrossRef

Benetti M, Reverdin G, Pierre C, Merlivat L, Risi C, Steen-Larsen HC, Vimeux F (2014) Deuterium excess in marine water vapor: dependency on relative humidity and surface wind speed during evaporation. J Geophys Res Atmos 119(2):584–593. https://doi.org/10.1002/2013jd020535 CrossRef

Bodhankar N, Chatterjee B (1994) Pollution of limestone aquifer due to urban waste–disposal around Raipur, Madhya-Pradesh, India. Environ Geol 23(3):209–213. https://doi.org/10.1007/bf00771790 CrossRef

Carlson PE, Miller NR, Banner JL, Breecker DO, Casteel RC (2018) The potential of near-entrance stalagmites as high-resolution terrestrial paleoclimate proxies: application of isotope and trace-element geochemistry to seasonally-resolved chronology. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 235:55–75. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gca.2018.04.036 CrossRef

Carroll S, Goonetilleke A (2005) Assessment of high density of onsite wastewater treatment systems on a shallow groundwater coastal aquifer using PCA. Environmetrics 16(3):257–274. https://doi.org/10.1002/Env.698 CrossRef

Chen C, Li T (2018) Geochemical characteristics of cave drip water respond to ENSO based on a 6–year monitoring work in Yangkou Cave, Southwest China. J Hydrol 516:896–907. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2018.04.061 CrossRef

Craig H (1961) Isotopic variations in meteoric waters. Science 133(3465):1702–1703. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.133.3465.1702 CrossRef

Dansgaard W (1964) Stable isotopes in precipitation. Tellus 16(4):436–468. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2153-3490.1964.tb00181.x10.1111/j.2153-3490.1964.tb00181.x CrossRef

Dodgen LK, Kelly WR, Panno SV, Taylor SJ, Armstrong DL, Wiles KN, Zhang Y, Zheng W (2017) Characterizing pharmaceutical, personal care product, and hormone contamination in a karst aquifer of southwestern Illinois, USA, using water quality and stream flow parameters. Sci Total Environ 578:281–289. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.10.103 CrossRef

Duque C, López-Chicano M, Calvache ML, Martín-Rosales W, Gómez-Fontalva JM, Crespo F (2011) Recharge sources and hydrogeological effects of irrigation and an influent river identified by stable isotopes in the Motril-Salobrena aquifer (southern Spain). Hydrol Process 25(14):2261–2274. https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.799010.1002/hyp.7990 CrossRef

Ekmekci M (2005) Pesticide and nutrient contamination in the Kestel Polje-Kirkgoz karst springs, southern Turkey. Environ Geol 49(1):19–29. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-005-0022-2 CrossRef

Field MS, Leij FJ (2012) Solute transport in solution conduits exhibiting multi-peaked breakthrough curves. J Hydrol 440–441:26–35. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2012.03.018 CrossRef

Florea LJ, McGee DK (2010) Stable isotopic and geochemical variability within shallow groundwater beneath a hardwood hammock and surface water in an adjoining slough (Everglades National Park, Florida, USA). Isot Environ Health Stud 46(3):190–209. https://doi.org/10.1080/10256016.2010.494770 CrossRef

Ford DC, Williams PW (2007) Karst hydrogeology and geomorphology, Wiley, Chichester, UK

Gat J (2010) Isotope hydrology: a study of the water cycle. Imperial College Press, London

General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of the People’s Republic of China (2017) Standard for groundwater quality (GB/T 14848–2017) (in Chinese without English abstract). General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine, Beijing, China

Geyer T, Birk S, Licha T, Liedl R, Sauter M (2007) Multitracer test approach to characterize reactive transport in karst aquifers. Ground Water 45(1):36–45. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1745-6584.2006.00261.x CrossRef

Ghobadi MH, Taheri M, Taheri K (2017) Municipal solid waste landfill siting by using analytical hierarchy process (AHP) and a proposed karst vulnerability index in Ravansar County, west of Iran. Environ Earth Sci 76:78. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-017-6392-4 CrossRef

Goldscheider N (2005) Karst groundwater vulnerability mapping: application of a new method in the Swabian Alb, Germany. Hydrogeol J 13:555–564. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-003-0291-3 CrossRef

Goldscheider N (2008) A new quantitative interpretation of the long-tail and plateau-like breakthrough curves from tracer tests in the artesian karst aquifer of Stuttgart, Germany. Hydrogeol J 16:1311–1317. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-008-0307-0 CrossRef

Goldscheider N, Hötzl H, Käss W, Ufrecht W (2003) Combined tracer tests in the karst aquifer of the artesian mineral springs of Stuttgart, Germany. Environ Geol 43(8):922–929. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-002-0714-9 CrossRef

Goldscheider N, Meiman J, Pronk M, Smart C (2008) Tracer tests in karst hydrogeology and speleology. Int J Speleol 37(1):27–40. https://doi.org/10.5038/1827-806X.37.1.3 CrossRef

Gonfiantini R, Roche M, Olivry J, Fontes J, Zuppi GM (2001) The altitude effect on the isotopic composition of tropical rains. Chem Geol 181(1–4):147–167. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0009-2541(01)00279-0 CrossRef

Gong X, Chen Z, Luo Z (2014) Spatial distribution, temporal variation, and sources of heavy metal pollution in groundwater of a century-old nonferrous metal mining and smelting area in China. Environ Monit Assess 186(12):9101–9116. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-014-4069-y CrossRef

Grimmeisen F, Lehmann MF, Liesch T, Goeppert N, Klinger J, Zopfi J, Goldscheider N (2017) Isotopic constraints on water source mixing, network leakage and contamination in an urban groundwater system. Sci Total Environ 583:202–213. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.01.054 CrossRef

Guo X, Jiang G, Gong X, Yin J, Wu X (2015) Recharge processes on typical karst slopes implied by isotopic and hydrochemical indexes in Xiaoyan Cave, Guilin, China. J Hydrol 530:612–622. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2015.09.065 CrossRef

Huang T, Pang Z (2012) The role of deuterium excess in determining the water salinisation mechanism: a case study of the arid Tarim River basin, NW China. Appl Geochem 27(12):2382–2388. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apgeochem.2012.08.015 CrossRef

Huth AK, Leydecker A, Sickman JO, Bales RC (2004) A two-component hydrograph separation for three high-elevation catchments in the Sierra Nevada, California. Hydrol Process 18(9):1721–1733. https://doi.org/10.1002/Hyp.1414 CrossRef

Iverson G, O’Driscoll MA, Humphrey CP, Manda AK, Anderson-Evans E (2015) Wastewater nitrogen contributions to coastal plain watersheds, NC, USA. Water Air Soil Pollut 226(10):325. https://doi.org/10.1007/S11270-015-2574-4 CrossRef

Jiang Y, Zhang C, Yuan D, Zhang G, He R (2008) Impact of land use change on groundwater quality in a typical karst watershed of Southwest China: a case study of the Xiaojiang watershed, Yunnan Province. Hydrogeol J 16(4):727–735. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-007-0259-9 CrossRef

Jiang Y, Wu Y, Yuan D (2009) Human impacts on karst groundwater contamination deduced by coupled nitrogen with strontium isotopes in the Nandong Underground River system in Yunan, China. Environ Sci Technol 43(20):7676–7683. https://doi.org/10.1021/es901602t CrossRef

Jiang Y, Hu Y, Schirmer M (2013) Biogeochemical controls on daily cycling of hydrochemistry and δ¹³C of dissolved inorganic carbon in a karst spring-fed pool. J Hydrol 478:157–168. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2012.12.001 CrossRef

Jin L, Siegel DI, Lautz LK, Lu Z (2012) Identifying streamflow sources during spring snowmelt using water chemistry and isotopic composition in semi-arid mountain streams. J Hydrol 470–471:289–301. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2012.09.009 CrossRef

Katz BG, Griffin DW, McMahon PB, Harden HS, Wade E, Hicks R, Chanton JP (2010) Fate of effluent-borne contaminants beneath septic tank drainfields overlying a karst aquifer. J Environ Qual 39:1181–1195. https://doi.org/10.2134/Jeq2009.0244 CrossRef

Klaus J, McDonnell JJ (2013) Hydrograph separation using stable isotopes: review and evaluation. J Hydrol 505:47–64. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2013.09.006 CrossRef

Kogovšek J, Petrič M (2013) Increase of vulnerability of karst aquifers due to leakage from landfills. Environ Earth Sci 70(2):901–912. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-012-2180-3 CrossRef

Larssen T, Carmichael GR (2000) Acid rain and acidification in China: the importance of base cation deposition. Environ Pollut 110(1):89–102. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0269-7491(99)00279-1 CrossRef

Larssen T, Lydersen E, Tang D, He Y, Gao J, Liu H, Duan L, Seip HM, Vogt RD, Mulder J, Shao M, Wang Y, Shang H, Zhang X, Solberg S, Aas W, Okland T, Eilertsen O, Angell V, Li Q, Zhao D, Xiang R, Xiao J, Luo J (2006) Acid rain in China. Environ Sci Technol 40(2):418–425. https://doi.org/10.1021/Es0626133 CrossRef

Lauber U, Goldscheider N (2014) Use of artificial and natural tracers to assess groundwater transit–time distribution and flow systems in a high-alpine karst system (Wetterstein Mountains, Germany). Hydrogeol J 22(8):1807–1824. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-014-1173-6 CrossRef

Laudon H, Hemond HF, Krouse R, Bishop KH (2002) Oxygen 18 fractionation during snowmelt: implications for spring flood hydrograph separation. Water Resour Res 38(11):40–41–41–10. https://doi.org/10.1029/2002wr001510

Lettingue M (2007) Vulnerability and risk mapping, tracer tests and microbiological monitoring to assess the human impact on an UNESCO world heritage candidate site, the Jinfo karst plateau, China. MSc Thesis, Université de Neuchâtel, Neuchâtel, France

Magal E, Arbel Y, Caspi S, Glazman H, Greenbaum N, Yechieli Y (2013) Determination of pollution and recovery time of karst springs, an example from a carbonate aquifer in Israel. J Contam Hydrol 145:26–36. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jconhyd.2012.10.010 CrossRef

Mahler B, Massei N (2007) Anthropogenic contaminants as tracers in an urbanizing karst aquifer. J Contam Hydrol 91(1–2):81–106. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jconhyd.2006.08.010 CrossRef

Maurya AS, Shah M, Deshpande RD, Bhardwaj RM, Prasad A, Gupta SK (2011) Hydrograph separation and precipitation source identification using stable water isotopes and conductivity: River Ganga at Himalayan foothills. Hydrol Process 25(10):1521–1530. https://doi.org/10.1002/Hyp.7912 CrossRef

Mellander PE, Jordan P, Wall DP, Melland AR, Meehan R, Kelly C, Shortle G (2012) Delivery and impact bypass in a karst aquifer with high phosphorus source and pathway potential. Water Res 46(7):2225–2236. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2012.01.048 CrossRef

Milenic D, Milankovic D, Petric M, Savic N, Vranjes A (2014) Integrated management of karstic waters: a case study of the Zlatibor Mountain Massif, Serbia. Global NEST J 16(4):717–731CrossRef

Mook WG (2000) Environmental isotopes in the hydrological cycle: principles and applications. UNESCO, Paris

Pape JR, Banner JL, Mack LE, Musgrove M, Guilfoyle A (2010) Controls on oxygen isotope variability in precipitation and cave drip waters, central Texas, USA. J Hydrol 385(1–4):203–215. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2010.02.021 CrossRef

Pei YS, Luan ZK, Barber C, Williamson D (2003) Assessment of the environmental impact of artificial effluent lagoon in Jiayuguan City of China. J Environ Sci-China 15(4):525–530. https://doi.org/10.1001/0742(2003)04-0525-06

Pronk M, Goldscheider N, Zopfi J (2007) Particle–size distribution as indicator for fecal bacteria contamination of drinking water from karst springs. Environ Sci Technol 41(24):8400–8405. https://doi.org/10.1021/es071976f CrossRef

Rapti-Caputo D, Martinelli G (2009) The geochemical and isotopic composition of aquifer systems in the deltaic region of the Po River plain (northern Italy). Hydrogeol J 17(2):467–480. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-008-0370-6 CrossRef

Schiavo MA, Hauser S, Povinec PP (2009) Stable isotopes of water as a tool to study groundwater–seawater interactions in coastal south-eastern Sicily. J Hydrol 364(1–2):40–49. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2008.10.005 CrossRef

Schmidt S, Geyer T, Marei A, Guttman J, Sauter M (2013) Quantification of long-term wastewater impacts on karst groundwater resources in a semi-arid environment by chloride mass balance methods. J Hydrol 502:177–190. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2013.08.009 CrossRef

Schnegg PA, Costa R (2002) Tracer tests made easier with field fluorometers. Bull Hydrogeol 20(5):89–91

State Bureau of Technical Supervision of China (2008) Method for examination of drinking natural mineral water (GB/T8538–2008) (in Chinese without English abstract). State Bureau of Technical Supervision of China, Beijing

Tang D, Lydersen E, Seip HM, Angell V, Eilertsen O, Larssen T, Liu X, Kong G, Mulder J, Semb A, Solberg S, Torseth K, Vogt RD, Xiao J, Zhao D (2001) Integrated monitoring program on acidification of Chinese terrestrial systems (impacts): a Chinese-Norwegian cooperation project. Water Air Soil Poll 130(1–4):1073–1078. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1013982300245 CrossRef

Toor, GS, Toor M, Obrez T (2011) Onsite sewage treatment and disposal systems: an overview, Institute of Food and Agric Sci, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ss549. Accessed July 23 2018

Turner KW, Edwards TWD, Wolfe BB (2014) Short communication characterising runoff generation processes in a lake-rich thermokarst landscape (Old Crow Flats, Yukon, Canada) using δ¹⁸O, δ²H and d-excess measurements. Permafrost Periglac 25(1):53–59. https://doi.org/10.1002/ppp.1802 CrossRef

Umezawa Y, Hosono T, Onodera S, Siringan F, Buapeng S, Delinom R, Yoshimizu C, Tayasu I, Nagata T, Taniguchi M (2009) Erratum to “Sources of nitrate and ammonium contamination in groundwater under developing Asian megacities”. Sci Total Environ 407(9):3219–3231. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2009.01.047 CrossRef

UNESCO (2014a) Decision: 38 COM 8B.9, South China Karst (China) (extension). http://whc.unesco.org/en/decisions/6094. Accessed July 23, 2018

UNESCO (2014b) WHC-14/38.COM/16: report of the decisions adopted by the World Heritage Committee at its 38th session (Doha, 2014). http://whc.unesco.org/en/documents/131277/,%20WHC-14/38.COM/16. Accessed July 23, 2018

USEPA (2002) Onsite wastewater treatment systems manual (EPA/625/R-00/008). Office of Water, Office of Research and Development, USEPA, Washington, DC

Vanderzalm JL, Jeuken BM, Wischusen JDH, Pavelic P, Le Gal La Salle C, Knapton A, Dillon PJ (2011) Recharge sources and hydrogeochemical evolution of groundwater in alluvial basins in arid central Australia. J Hydrol 397(1–2):71–82. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2010.11.035 CrossRef

Wang H, Li T, Yuan N, Li J (2014) Environmental signification and characteristics of δD and δ¹⁸O variation in drip water in Yangkou Cave, Chongqing China (in Chinese without English abstract). Carsolog Sin 33:146–155

Wang S (2011) The new method of engineering geology (in Chinese without English abstract). Yinshengyingxiang Press, China

Wu Y, Jiang Y, Yuan D, Li L (2008) Modeling hydrological responses of karst spring to storm events: example of the Shuifang spring (Jinfo Mt., Chongqing, China). Environ Geol 55(7):1545–1553. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-007-1105z CrossRef

Xiao K (2015) Analysis of hydrogeochemistry and hydrogen and oxygen isotopes of surface surface water and groundwater in Jinfo Mt (in Chinese with English abstract). MSc Thesis, Southwest University, Chongqing, China

Yang M, Hens L, Ou X, De Wulf R (2009) Tourism: an alternative to development? Mt Res Dev 29(1):75–81. https://doi.org/10.1659/Mrd.1051 CrossRef

Yang P, Yuan D, Yuan W, Kuang Y, Jia P, He Q (2010) Formations of groundwater hydrogeochemistry in a karst system during storm events as revealed by PCA. Chin Sci Bull 55(14):1412–1422. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11434-010-0083-9 CrossRef

Yang P, Yuan D, Ye X, Xie S, Chen X, Liu Z (2013) Sources and migration path of chemical compositions in a karst groundwater system during rainfall events. Chin Sci Bull 58(20):2488–2496. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11434-013-5762-x CrossRef

Zang H, Zheng X, Qin Z, Jia Z (2015) A study of the characteristics of karst groundwater circulation based on multi-isotope approach in the Liulin spring area, North China. Isot Environ Health Stud 51(2):271–284. https://doi.org/10.1080/10256016.2015.987275 CrossRef

Zhu Y, Ye M, Roeder E, Hicks RW, Shi L, Yang J (2016) Estimating ammonium and nitrate load from septic systems to surface water bodies within ArcGIS environments. J Hydrol 532:177–192. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2015.11.017 CrossRef

Title: Impact of hotel septic effluent on the Jinfoshan Karst aquifer, SW China
Authors: Pingheng Yang
Xiaoxing Ming
Chris Groves
Ting Sheng
Publication date: 10-11-2018
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in: Hydrogeology Journal / Issue 1/2019
Print ISSN: 1431-2174
Electronic ISSN: 1435-0157
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-018-1890-3

Springer Professional

Abstract

Please log in to get access to your license.

Dont have a licence yet? Then find out more about our products and how to get one now:

Springer Professional "Wirtschaft+Technik"

Springer Professional "Technik"

Other articles of this Issue 1/2019

Uncertainty assessment of spatial-scale groundwater recharge estimated from unsaturated flow modelling

Correction: Push-pull tests for estimating effective porosity: expanded analytical solution and in situ application

Analysis of groundwater resources in densely populated urban watersheds with a complex tectonic setting: Shenzhen, southern China

Hydrogeology of an arid endorheic basin (Tsagaan Els, Dornogobi, Mongolia): field data and conceptualization, three-dimensional groundwater modeling, and water budget

Groundwater potential mapping using a novel data-mining ensemble model

Correction: Laboratory and numerical study of hyporheic flow-mediated DNAPL dissolution in karst conduits