A Modeling-Based Evaluation of the Effect of Wastewater Application Practices on Groundwater Quality,
Abstract
The model WASTEN was used to compare several nitrogen input scenarios and to predict the levels of nitrate in groundwater for a proposed wastewater treatment facility at Fort Dix, New Jersey. The primary variables tested were input concentration of NO3-N (nitrate nitrogen) and NH4-N (ammonium nitrogen) and long-term application of wastewater. Two NO3-N loading rates, 4 and 10 mg NO3-N/L, were tested for 168-day simulations. The system's response was estimated from the NO3-N concentration in water draining below 150 cm. For both input NO3-N concentrations, the predicted NO3-N concentrations in the leachate below 150 cm were less than 2 mg NO3-N/L. The initial NO3-N in the soil profile represented typical background levels for this site. The final NO3-N in the soil profile was affected by both denitrification and leaching. The initial NH4-N in the simulated soil profile was equal to the extractable NH4-N from soil samples taken at the Fort Dix site. Because a portion of the extractable NH4-N exists as exchangeable rather than solution NH4-N, the soil profile values for the solution NH4-N used in the simulation were greater than actual soil solution values would be. jg
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 01, 1995
- Accession Number
- ADA293491
Entities
People
- Charles M. Reynolds
- Iskandar K. Iskandar
Organizations
- Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory