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Evaluation of sources of nitrate beneath food processing wastewater-application sites near Umatilla, Oregon
Water samples from wells were collected beneath and downgradient of two food-processing wastewater-application sites near Umatilla, Oregon. These samples were analyzed for nitrate stable isotopes, nutrients, major ions, and age-dating constituents to determine if nitrate-stable isotopes can be used to differentiate food-processing waste from other potential sources of nitrate. Major-ion data from each site were used to determine which samples were associated with the recharge of the food-processing wastewater. End-member mixing analysis was used to determine the relative amounts of each identified end member within the samples collected from the Terrace Farm site. The delta nitrogen-15 of nitrate generally ranged between +2 and +9 parts per thousand and the delta oxygen*-18 of nitrate generally ranged between -2 and -7 parts per thousand. None of the samples that were determined to be associated with the wastewater were different from the samples that were not affected by the wastewater. The nitrate isotope values measured in this study are also characteristic of ammonium fertilizer, animal and human waste, and soil nitrate; therefore, it was not possible to differentiate between food-processing wastewater and the other nitrate sources. Values of delta nitrogen-15 and delta oxygen-18 of nitrate provided no more information about the sources of nitrate in the Umatilla River basin than did a hydrologic and geochemical understanding of the ground-water system derived from interpreting water-level and major-ion chemistry data.
by Lonna Frans and Anthony Paulson, U.S. Geological Survey; Phil Richerson, Oregon Department of Environmental Quality; Elise Striz and Curt Black, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Title from PDF title screen (viewed May 28, 2009).
Mode of access: Internet from the USGS web site. Address as of 5/28/09: http://pubs.usgs.gov/sir/2009/5069/pdf/sir20095069.pdf ; current access available via PURL.
Includes bibliographical references (pages 11-13).
Scientific investigations report ; 2009-5069