A Basin-Scale Denitrification Budget for a Nitrate Contaminated Wisconsin Aquifer: A Study at the Groundwater/Surface Water Interface

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Project Number:

WR00R004

Funding Year:

2000

Contract Period:

7/1/2000 - 6/30/2002

Funding Source:

UWS, USGS

Investigator(s):

Abstract:

Background/Need:
Nitrate is a pervasive and increasing groundwater contaminant in Wisconsin. Many studies have found that nitrate is relatively conservative in groundwater. However, others have shown that nitrate can be transformed to nitrogen gas (denitrified) when reducing conditions are encountered along a groundwater flowpath (e.g., within riparian soil). Inadequate knowledge of groundwater denitrification hinders the development and application of accurate mass balance models for management of nitrate pollution.

Objectives:
The goal of this study was to achieve a better understanding of groundwater denitrification as a basin-scale control of nitrate concentrations and export from Wisconsin basins.

Project Reports: