Exploring changes in Nitrate contamination in the coastal and Hautere zone Aquifer Wellington New Zealand

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Authors
Wanigasekera, Deepthi Jayatha Dias-
De Costa, Gregory
Worden, John
Wanigasekera, Beatrice Dias-
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Date
2013
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Type
Conference Contribution - Paper in Published Proceedings
Ngā Upoko Tukutuku (Māori subject headings)
Keyword
Hautere zone
Wellington (N.Z.)
groundwater
aquifers
nitrate contamination
New Zealand
ANZSRC Field of Research Code (2020)
Citation
Wanigasekera, D. J., De Costa, G., Warden, J., and Wanigasekera, B. (2013). Exploring changes in NItrate contamination in the coastal and Hautere zone Aquifer Wellington New Zealand. Proceedings of the 2013 IAHR World Congress, China(Ed.),
Abstract
Fifteen years of groundwater quality monitoring in the Kapiti Coast by the local authority in Wellington, New Zealand, has identified an area of elevated nitrate concentrations in the Te Horo area, with some monitoring bores testing for concentrations above 5 mg/L. However, recent analysis seems to indicate that contaminant levels have decreased from what was previously recorded, although still remaining elevated. The purpose of this study is to investigate if changes in nitrate concentrations over time were significant, and, if so, determine which factors have contributed to these changes. Initial temporal trend analysis indicated that nitrate concentrations since 1993 have decreased in the majority of monitoring bores. Tobit regression analysis was subsequently undertaken using several land use, land cover, soil type, climate and chemical explanatory variables. Results indicated that beef cattle farming, fruit growing, settlements and lifestyle blocks were associated with increased nitrate concentrations. Groundwaters higher in dissolved oxygen which underlie fine sandy loam soils (which are highly permeable soils) were also identified as been susceptible to higher nitrate concentrations.It was ultimately determined that the temporal decrease in concentrations is best explained by improved land use practices as physical characteristics and land cover overlying groundwater had not changed substantially and thereby explaining the decreasing trend in nitrate concentrations.
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International Association for Hydro-Environment Engineering and Research (IAHR)
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International Association for Hydro-Environment Engineering and Research (IAHR)
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