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Impact of fertilizer application and urban wastes on the quality of groundwater in the Cambrai Chalk aquifer, Northern France

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Environmental Geology

Abstract

Since 1975, Europe sets up its policy to limit the degradation and the pollution of the aquatic environments through 30 directives and regulations. In the north of France, the nitrate concentrations measured in the groundwater exceed the water drinking limit fixed at 50 mg/L by the European framework directive in the field of water (2000/60/EC). This high concentration is due to intensive agriculture, industrialization and demographic growth. Several programs were launched in order to resolve this situation: “Ferti-better” or the use of fertilizer in moderation and installation and amelioration of wastewater collect and treatment systems. In order to estimate the influence of the anthropic activities on the quality of groundwater in the “Artois-Picardy” basin, a preliminary validation on parcel and district scale were necessary. The impact of these programs in the “Cambrai district” was evaluated using an integrated approach, which is based on the use of four numerical models: AgriFlux, VS2DT, Modflow and MT3D. The results illustrate an improvement due to the “Ferti-Better” program initiated in 1990 and punctual degradation under urbanized areas. Predictions (2015) show a spatial evolution of nitrates concentration varying with the thickness of unsaturated layer. The integrated model constitutes an efficient tool for predicting the evolution of the groundwater quality. This approach is important to control the application of the new European laws in the water field.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratoire de Mécanique de Lille (CNRS UMR 8107), Université des Sciences et Technologies de Lille (USTL), Polytech-Lille, Avenue Paul Langevin, 59655, Villeneuve d’Ascq cedex, France

    Hani Serhal, Daniel Bernard, Jamal El Khattabi, Bastin-Lacherez Sabine & Isam Shahrour

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  1. Hani Serhal
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  2. Daniel Bernard
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  3. Jamal El Khattabi
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  4. Bastin-Lacherez Sabine
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  5. Isam Shahrour
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Correspondence to Hani Serhal.

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Serhal, H., Bernard, D., Khattabi, J.E. et al. Impact of fertilizer application and urban wastes on the quality of groundwater in the Cambrai Chalk aquifer, Northern France. Environ Geol 57, 1579–1592 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-008-1433-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-008-1433-7

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