Studies on the Characteristics of Nitrogen and Phosphorus Pollution of Natural Outcrop Springs in Wudalianchi

Xiaoxue WEI,Yuexing LI,Jinghua WANG,Zhenxing FANG,Hong PAN,Ying ZENG,Cheng YANG

Institute of Volcanoes and Mineral Springs,Heilongjiang Academy of Science,Wudalianchi 164155,China

Responsible editor:Nana FAN Responsible proofreader:Xiaoyan WU

As the hometown of mineral water in China,Wudalianchi is normally considered as World Top 3 Cold Spring[1]along with the Vichy mineral spring in France,and Caucasia mineral spring in Russia[1].The existed factories,which produce mineral water in Wudalianchi,used the natural spring as the water source production,so the water quality of natural outcrops spring in Wudalianchi is of significant strategic position.There is few industries in Wudalianchi,and most residents live on agriculture and tourism.There are 0.28 million hm2of arable land within Wudalianchi,and the soybean production occupied 70%of the total arable land,and the annual average production amounted to above 0.4 million ton.

Fertilizing is the major source for supplying nitrogen and phosphorus in farmland,while the loss of nitrogen and phosphorus is the essential factor for eutrophication in underground water.Many scholars pay attention to the water pollution caused by unreasonable fertilizing and over-fertilizing[2-4].Large amount of nitrogen and phosphorus accumulates in the soil,and adds the risk of sending nitrogen and phosphorus to water.When it rains,the nitrogen and phosphorus in the soil will flow to the surface along with the runoff,which leads to problems such as surface water eutrophication or underground water pollution[5].The random discharging of rural living sewage and husbandry sewage are essential factors which give rise to nitrogen and phosphorus[6].

There is plenty of water in Wudalianchi,and the natural outcrop spring is the origin of drinkable water.The water quality directly relates to the living quality of residents within the region,and affects local ecological safety.Considering the unreasonable fertilizing or over-fertilizing of farmland,this paper collected and analyzed the pollutants like nitrogen and phosphorus in the 30 natural outcrop springs during the in low water period,normal water period,wet period respectively from 2013 to 2014.This paper studied the features of nitrogen and phosphorus features of natural outcrop springs in different places of Wudalianchi,and discussed the differences of water quality.This paper is of great significance to the monitoring of water quality and pollution treatment in Wudalianchi,and offers threatical basis for the sustainable development and protection of natural mineral sources in Wudalianchi.

Materials and Methods

General information of sample zone

Wudalianchi is located in the north of Heilongjiang Province,the transitional place between the Xiaoxing’anling and the Songnen Plain,lying in the 48°30′-48°50′North latitude,126°00′-126°25′east latitude.The Wudalianchi natural reserve belongs to continental monsoon climate in the cool temperate zone,as the average rainfall is 514.3 mm,and the rain mainly concentrates on the three months from June to August.There is northwest wind all year round and the ice period lasts from early October to early May,and there are 121 days of no frost period.There are more than 100 natural outcrop springs in the Wudalianchi natural reserve[7].Most springs in Wudalianchi natural reserve originate from the depression spring in the crack of the fourth generation of balsalt,and only few springs come from the ascending spring.Generally speaking,the anion in the spring is mostly HCO3-,while the positive ion mainly is Na+,Ca2+,Mg2+.The water chemistry often is in HCO3-Na·Ca·Mg type.

Choice of sampling and sample collection

This paper chose 30 typical natural outcrop springs in different environmental areas in Wudalianchi natural reserve.The name,position and environment of each spring is shown in Table1.The project collected samples for three times each at the low water period,normal water period and wet period in October 2013,May and August in 2014.The collected water was sealed in a polythene bottle,and put in the refrigerator for conservation.

Experiment method

This paper applied the method suggested by the Ministry of Environmental Protection of the People’s Republic of China[8].The total nitrogen is determined by ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy,and the nitrate nitrogen is determined by the polyvinyl chloride aminated spectroscopy,ammonia nitrogen is determined by the Nessler spectroscopy,and the total phosphorus is determined by ammonium molybdate spectroscopy.

Results and Analyses

Changes of total nitrogen content in 30 outcrop springs

According to the Surface Environmental Quality Standard(GB 3838-2002),the total nitrogen content exceeded the set standard (Fig.1) and the average concentrate was two to ten times above the V type.The maximum value was more than ten times of the V-type water quality standard.The total nitrogen at different water periods showed indistinct features,and the maximum value was at the normal water period.The content of total nitrogen of the mouth of spring under different environments was not clear,which suggested that the 30 natural outcrop springs were polluted by nitrogen at different degrees.Normal water period was exactly the time to apply fertilizers and spray pesticides.Although there was not as much water as in the wet period,the loss of fertilizer and pesticides went into the underground water,which led to high total nitrogen content during the normal water period.

Table1 The spring location and profile

Changes in the nitrite nitrogen content in 30 outcrop springs

According to the Underground Water Environment Quality Standard(GB 3838-2002),the nitrite nitrogen in almost a half of the mouths of springs exceeded the set standard,and the rest was two times higher than the standard (Fig.2).The maximum value of nitrite nitrogen was at the normal water period,which was consistent with the total nitrogen trend.The maximum value of total nitrogen and nitrite nitrogen concentration took place on 16thand 21thmouth of spring,in the farmland.The concentration of nitrate nitrogen at the mouth of spring in the farmland was higher than that in the residential zone,which suggested that the agricultural source pollution was the major contributor to worsening the nitrate nitrogen pollution.

Changes of ammonia nitrogen in 30 outcrop springs

Based on the Underground Water Environment Quality Standard(GB3838-2002),the ammonia nitrogen concentration was low(Fig.3).It generally fits the second type water standard.The ammonia nitrogen concentration during the low water period was higher than that in the normal water and wet period,and the ammonia nitrogen content in the mouth of spring in different areas was different.Therefore,the nitrogen pollution mainly was the nitrate nitrogen pollution.Therefore,the ammonia nitrogen content was low,but the nitrogen pollution was severe.

Changes of total phosphorus in 30 outcrop springs

Based on the Underground Water Environment Quality Standard(GB3838-2002),the total phosphorus at the mouth of spring was low(Fig.4),and it met the III and IV water quality standard.The total phosphorus at the mouth of the 9th,12th,17thand 28thspring was much higher than that in other mouths of springs.The 9thand 17thmouth of spring were close to the livestock farm,which might be affected by the living sewage and the excretion of livestock so that the content of total phosphorus was higher than other sampling points.Because the 12thand 28thmouths of springs are close to the scenic spot,the direct discharge of unprocessed sewage and living rubbish gave rise to high content of total phosphorus.Compared with the mouth of spring in different water periods and different environment,the content of total phosphorus was insignificant.

Conclusions and Discussion

The water quality of 30 mouths of springs in Wudalianchi was polluted by nitrogen,total nitrogen and nitrate nitrogen.Total nitrogen and nitrate nitrogen are the main form of nitrogen pollution,and the content of total phosphorus and ammonia nitrogen was low.The nitrogen pollution at this stage mainly comes from agricultural source pollution,including rural living sewage,pesticides,and the pollution due to unreasonable use of fertilizer.In response to the severe pollution of the nitrogen in the mouth of spring,corresponding measures should be applied.Firstly,it is necessary to protect the ecological environment of the water source to make sure of the spring quality,and to avoid destroying the original vegetation and landscape in its surroundings.Secondly,it is essential to avoid pollution caused by human beings.The sewage disposal and rubbish category systems can be set up to dispose the sewage,so is the husbandry excretion disposal project.Thirdly,it is of great significance to strengthen the management and protection of spring,and to increase people’s awareness of environmental protection.

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