Made available in DSpace on 2014-12-17T15:01:45Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 AndreaLF.pdf: 804797 bytes, checksum: e48b62b20831c2372981d6edcc8e4608 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2008-07-21 / The city of Natal comprises an area of about 170 km? (65,63 squares miles). The Dunas-Barreiras Aquifer is the most important reservoir of the coastal basin of RN. It is being responsible for the water supplying of about 70% of the population, however, due to the sewage disposal system by cesspools and drains, it is presently affected in a great extent by nitrates contamination. Thus, the present work proposes to research the utilization of contaminated water by nitrates of this fountainhead and find cost of the potable water through the ionic exchange technology. This technology consists in the removal of mineral salts by the exchange of cations for one ion of hydrogen (H+), through the passage of water by cationic resin bed and, secondly, by the exchange of the anions for hydroxyl ions (OH-) through a anionic resin bed. The obtained results have showed the waters derived from fountains, big water holes and shallow wells were microbiologically contaminated, while the waters derived from deep wells (above 70 m 76,58 yards) were free of contamination. Thus, only these ones are suitable to the use of ionic technology. The experiments were conducted with the resin IMAC-HP-555 such as kinetic, thermodynamic, and adsorption by fixed bed studies, being obtained several project variables for the experimental column, as follow: work temperature of 25oC; resin maximum capacity maximum e mean of adsorption ==0,01692 g NO3-1/g R e 0,0110 g NO3-1/g R, respectively. On the experimental column were performed breakthrough tests which pointed for an average ideal average speed of work of 13.2 m / h, with an average efficiency of 45% of adsorption, an optimal concentration of NaCl desorption of 8%, and an ideal desorption time of 80 minutes for the equilibrium conditions of water from the Dunas-Barreiras aquifer. Scale projection for ion-exchange column for denitrification, for these variables, using a computer modeling programme, to project the column of ion exchange ROREX-420/2000, obtained a cost for the drinking water denitrified by this system of R$ 0,16 / m3 / A cidade de Natal-RN abrange uma ?rea de aproximadamente 170 km2. O aq??fero Dunas-Barreiras, mais importante reservat?rio da bacia costeira do RN, abastece cerca de 70% da cidade. Devido ? aus?ncia de sistema de saneamento municipal e a cidade ter adotado forma de disposi??o de esgotos atrav?s de fossas e sumidouros, este aq??fero apresenta-se, em grande parte, contaminado por nitratos. O trabalho em quest?o se prop?e a pesquisar o aproveitamento da ?gua contaminada desse manancial, assim como estimar o custo da ?gua pot?vel atrav?s da tecnologia de troca i?nica. O estudo da qualidade das ?guas do aq??fero Dunas-Barreiras mostrou que, as ?guas provenientes de fontes, cacimbas e po?os rasos apresentaram-se contaminadas microbiologicamente, enquanto as ?guas provenientes de po?os profundos (superior a 70 m) apresentaram-se isentas, sendo ent?o somente essas adequadas para aproveitamento pela tecnologia de troca i?nica. Foram realizados v?rios experimentos cin?tico, termodin?mico, utilizando (resina IMAC-HP-555) o m?todo da imers?o em volume finito e din?micos da adsor??o por troca i?nica usando-se uma coluna. A partir destes resultados foi projetada uma coluna piloto onde se usou uma resina ani?nica, operando no ciclo cloreto, para remo??o seletiva de nitrato. Os resultados obtidos indicaram uma temperatura de trabalho de 25oC, velocidade m?dia ideal de trabalho de 13,6 m/h, capacidade de adsor??o m?xima e m?dia da resina =0,01692 g NO3-1/g R e 0,0110 g NO3-1/g R, respectivamente, concentra??o ideal de dessor??o do NaCl de 8% e tempo ideal de dessor??o de 80 minutos para as condi??es de equil?brio da ?gua do aq??fero Dunas-Barreiras. Experi?ncia de proje??o de aumento de escala realizada para sistema de coluna de troca i?nica para desnitrifica??o, com as vari?veis determinadas, adotou-se um programa de modelagem computacional para projetos de coluna de troca i?nica, ROREX-420/2000, onde se obteve um custo da ?gua pot?vel desnitrificada de R$ 0,16/m3. Para um volume de ?gua pot?vel produzido igual a 2.100 m3/ ciclo de opera??o foi obtida uma efici?ncia m?dia de remo??o de nitratos de 45%

Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T12:51:45Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 / Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T14:08:59Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 / O Brasil tem uma longa tradição na tecnologia do tório, desde a abertura do principal mineral, a monazita, até compostos de pureza grau nuclear, com reservas minerais estimados em 1.200.000 ton – ThO2. Como conseqüência desta produção, foi acumulado um resíduo produzido na unidade piloto de purificação de nitrato de tório, do Instituto de Pesquisas Energéticas e Nucleares- CNEN/SP, mais de 25 toneladas ao longo das últimas três décadas, proveniente dos rafinados e soluções de lavagem do processo de extração por solventes, conhecido como RETOTER. Sua composição, um hidróxido, contendo tório, terras raras e impurezas menores, incluindo o chumbo-208 do decaimento do 232 Th, com abundância isotópica em 88,34 %, enriquecido naturalmente ao longo das eras geológicas. Neste trabalho são discutidos os estudos dos principais parâmetros do processo de recuperação deste chumbo, 0,42 % em massa no RETOTER seco, utilizando-se a técnica de troca iônica com resinas aniônicas em meio clorídrico. A abundância isotópica do chumbo foi analisada por espectrometria de massa termoiônica (TIMS) e de alta resolução (ICPMS), e com os dados calculou-se a secção de choque de captura para nêutrons térmicos. O valor resultante foi de s? o = 14,6 +/- 0,7 mb diferentemente do chumbo natural de s? o = 174,2 +/- 7,0 mb. Estudos preliminares de recuperação do tório e terras raras neste resíduo também foram apresentados. / Tese (Doutoramento) / IPEN/T / Instituto de Pesquisas Energeticas e Nucleares - IPEN/CNEN-SP

L'objectif de cette étude est de mieux comprendre comment la biodiversité influence le service de purification de la qualité de l'eau en tant que service de régulation capable de limiter la charge en polluants de l'eau naturelle. Peu d'études ont regardé comment les invertébrés (macro- et méio-faune) sont capables d'influencer le fonctionnement de la zone hyporhéique considérée, comme un réacteur biogéochimique contribuant largement au recyclage des nutriments. L'élimination du nitrate et la dénitrification sont utilisés comme indicateur de ce service dans les rivières afin de pouvoir suivre son évolution spatiale et temporelle. Dans cette thèse, la relation fonctionnelle entre le taux de réduction des nitrates et les organismes participant à l'expression de ce service est testée à différentes échelles d'étude allant du microcosme jusqu'à l'habitat hyporhéique d'un méandre de large rivière, la Garonne. Cette relation est mise en évidence dans une série de colonnes d'infiltration reproduisant le lit de rivière avec sa communauté benthique (projet Inbioprocess). Dans cette expérience, un gradient de biodiversité a été créé avec des combinaisons de communautés +/- biofilm, +/- méiofaune et +/- macrofaune pour tester leur influence sur l'élimination du nitrate avec et sans pesticides dans le cadre du projet Inbioprocess. Les résultats suggèrent l'influence des interactions entre communautés, sur le taux de réduction des nitrates qui est supérieur quand les invertébrés sont présents (11.8 ± 1.2) par comparaison avec les conditions sans invertébrés (7.7 ± 1.4 mg N l-1d-1 ; moyenne ± erreur standard (m ± ET)). Ces interactions ont également été suggérées comme favorisant le retour de la capacité de réduction des nitrates en présence de pesticides, utilisé comme source de stress, dans l'eau des microcosmes. Ces résultats de laboratoire montrent l'influence des interactions trophiques et non trophiques entre les différents niveaux trophiques de ce réseau, avec probablement l'implication des espèces les plus résistantes pour expliquer la capacité potentielle de résilience du système. L'existence de cette relation fonctionnelle de type "top-down" a ensuite été explorée en conditions in situ. Les taux de rétention mesurés dans 9 cours d'eau européens (projet STREAMES) ont été estimés à l'échelle du tronçon de rivière à 1.64 ± 2.39 (m ± ET) mg NO3--N m-2.min-1. L'influence des communautés d'invertébrés sur le taux de réduction des nitrates se révèle statistiquement comme aussi importante que celle des facteurs physicochimiques dans l'ensemble des tronçons explorés. L'étude des traits biologiques des communautés d'invertébrés a permis de préciser le type de communauté le plus corrélé aux processus d'élimination des nitrates. Ces organismes sont majoritairement interstitiels vivant dans les sédiments grossiers et avec des modes d'alimentation de type brouteurs de biofilm. Dans la zone hyporhéique de la zone humide alluviale de Monbéqui (projet Attenagua), la corrélation positive de la communauté d'invertébrés avec le taux de dénitrification a été seulement visible pendant automne. Cette période est considérée comme un moment propice pour l'observation de la relation diversité-fonction dans ce milieu. / This PhD study aims to understand how the biodiversity influences the water purification processes in the hyporheic zone of running water, as an important regulating service that reduces the quantity of pollutants in freshwater ecosystems. Few studies have focused on how the invertebrate community influences the functioning of hyporheic zones, which are considered as a biogeochemical reactor that largely contributes to nutrient cycling capacity of the rivers. Nitrate retention or denitrification functions in hyporheic zones are used as indicators for the water purification service. The relationship between the nitrate removal function and its associated biodiversity was tested at different scales from indoor microcosms to in-stream reaches and the hyporheic habitat of a large river (Garonne) meander, under natural and stressful conditions. First, the linkage between invertebrates and the nitrate (NO3-) removal function was given in evidence in a series of infiltration columns that mimicked the riverbed conditions with its benthic communities. A gradient of community diversity was created with biofilm, meiofauna and macrofauna communities' combination in different treatments. It enabled to test the influence of the invertebrate community on the NO3- removal rates with and without pesticides during the Inbioprocess project. The results implied the influence of invertebrate and microbial cross-community interactions on NO3- removal rates, which was higher with invertebrate communities in the sediments (11.8 ± 1.2) than without (7.7 ± 1.4 mg N.l-1.d-1). These findings suggested a top-down control of invertebrates on the microbial activities. These interactions were also depicted at the source of the recovery of the NO3- removal capacity when facing stressful conditions due to addition of pesticide in the experimental water. These laboratory findings highlighted the importance of multi-trophic level interactions in the hyporheic habitat, with probable implication of the more resistant species in the resilience capacity of this system. The occurrence of the top-down linkage was then explored in in situ habitats. The NO3- removal rates measured at the reach scale in 9 European streams during the STREAMES project ranged from 0.04 to 10.75 with an average of 1.64 ± 2.39 mg NO3--N m-2.min-1 (Mean ± SE). The results suggested that not only physico-chemical and hydrological factors, but also macro-invertebrate assemblages may influence nitrate removal. Some functional groups positively correlated with nitrate reduction were biofilm grazers and interstitial organisms associated with macro-porous substrate. In the hyporheic water of Monbequi meander of the Garonne river, the positive correlation between invertebrate diversity and the potential denitrification rates was only visible during the autumn season, suggesting a potential "hot moment" for the observation of this correlation between biodiversity and ecosystem function in fields.

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The Enhanced Biological Phosphorus Removal (EBPR) process is characterized as the most sustainable process to remove phosphorus from wastewater albeit with high variability in performance efficiency. Thus, unpredictable upsets in the EBPR system is the norm across several wastewater treatment plants throughout Sweden, forcing the hand of the operators to dose higher volume of chemicals to reach the effluent requirements. As future effluent requirements are getting stricter and since higher chemical usage is environmentally and economically unsustainable, this investigation was setup to evaluate which environmental, operational and/or wastewater characteristics correlate with EBPR upsets at full-scale wastewater treatment plant (WWTP), more specifically at Lundåkra WWTP operated by Nordvästra Skånes Vatten och Avlopp (NSVA). The data used in the investigation was collected between 1St January 2018 and 31St December 2020 for a vast number of parameters known to play a key role in biological phosphorus removal. Online sensors as well as external and internal analysis contributed to the data which included parameters such as ‘Total flow at the plant’, ‘pH of the incoming water’, ‘Temperature in aeration basins’, ‘Dissolved oxygen (DO) levels in aeration basins’, ‘Nitrate in aeration basins’, ‘Sludge content in aeration basins’, etc. Other relevant parameters such as ‘Hydraulic retention time (HRT) in the treatment units’, ‘Sludge retention time (SRT) in aeration basin’, ‘Organic loading rate (OLR)’, etc. were calculated. Before the start of this investigation, the two possible explanations were presumed and they can be classified as: (i) upsets as a result of unsuitable environmental conditions and/or error in the operational strategy at the plant and (ii) upsets as a result of toxicity from higher concentration of metals in the influent specifically. Traditional statistical methods such as the t-distributed Stochastic Neighbor Embedding (t-SNE), Spearman Rank Correlation and Principal Component Analysis were used for the purpose of this study to test the first presumed explanation. The t-SNE plot showed that the upsets did not cluster into one large group but instead clamped up into smaller groups scattered across the length of the scale in both dimensions. This points towards the multivariate dependency of the EBPR process and exhibits that upsets might occur even with an operational strategy that produces good results otherwise. This, in turn, eludes to the fact that a non-included parameter such as the ‘daily metal concentrations in the influent’ could be responsible for some or all of the upsets. The Principal Component Analysis (PCA) plot, although noisy, offered an improvement strategy built around the key variables namely ‘nitrate in aeration basin 1 & 2’, ‘sludge content in aeration basin’, ‘SRT in aeration basin’, ‘O2 in aeration basin 1 & 2’ and ‘pH of incoming water’. Therefore, it is recommended that an improvement strategy be devised around them. Multiple causal factors increase the complexity of the analysis by decreasing the correlation coefficients, however, incorporation of the scatterplots presents a clearer picture. The parameters ‘nitrate in aeration basin 1 & 2’ and ‘sludge content in aeration basin’ showed the strongest correlation with phosphate values at the end of biological treatment at -0.32 and 0.42 respectively. The results also open the door to future research and provide direction for further investigations. / Den förbättrade biologiska fosforborttagningsprocessen karakteriseras som den mest hållbara processen för att avlägsna fosfor från avloppsvatten om än med stor variation i prestandaeffektivitet. Således är oförutsägbara störningar i systemet för förbättrad biologisk fosforavskiljning (EBPR) normen bland flera avloppsreningsverk i hela Sverige, vilket tvingar operatörerna att dosera högre volymer kemikalier för att nå avloppskraven. Eftersom framtida avloppskrav blir allt strängare och eftersom högre kemikalieanvändning är miljömässigt och ekonomiskt ohållbar, gjordes denna undersökning för att utvärdera vilka miljö-, drifts- och/eller avloppsvattenegenskaper som korrelerar med EBPR- störningar vid fullskaligt avloppsreningsverk. Närmare bestämt vid Lundåkra reningsverk som drivs av Nordvästra Skånes Vatten och Avlopp. Datan som användes i undersökningen samlades in mellan 1:a januari 2018 och 31:a december 2020 för ett fast antal parametrar som är kända att spela en nyckelroll vid borttagning av biologiskt P. Onlinesensorer samt externa och interna analyser bidrog till datan vilken inkluderade parametrar som 'Totalt flöde vid anläggningen', 'pH för det inkommande vattnet', 'Temperatur i luftningsbassänger', nivåer av upplöst syre (DO) i luftningsbassänger ',' Nitrat i luftningsbassänger ',' Slamhalt i luftningsbassänger ', etc. Andra relevanta parametrar som 'Hydraulisk retentionstid (HRT) i behandlingsenheterna ',' Slamretentionstid (SRT) i luftningsbassäng ',' Organisk belastningshastighet (OLR) ', etc. beräknades. Innan denna undersökning påbjörades antogs de två möjliga förklaringarna och de kan klassificeras som: (i) störningar till följd av olämpliga miljöförhållanden och/eller fel i driftstrategin vid anläggningen och (ii) störningar till följd av toxicitet från högre koncentration av metaller i inflödet specifikt. Traditionella statistiska metoder såsom t- Distributed Stochastic Neighbor Embedding (t-SNE), Spearman Rank Correlation och Principal Component Analysis användes i denna studie för att testa den första förmodade förklaringen. t-SNE- diagrammet visade att störningarna inte samlades i en stor grupp utan istället klämdes ihop i mindre grupper utspridda över skalans längd i båda dimensionerna. Detta pekar mot EBPR-processens multivariata beroende och visar att störningar kan uppstå även med en operativ strategi som annars ger bra resultat. Detta i sin tur undviker det faktum att en icke-inkluderad parameter som "dagliga metallkoncentrationer i inflödet" kan vara orsaken för några eller alla störningar. Principal Component Analysis (PCA)-diagrammet, trots att det var bullrigt, möjliggjorde en förbättringsstrategi byggd kring nyckelvariablerna, nämligen 'nitrat i luftningsbassäng 1 & 2', 'slamhalt i luftningsbassäng', 'SRT i luftningsbassäng', 'O2 i luftningsbassäng 1 & 2' och 'pH av inkommande vatten'. Därför rekommenderas att en förbättringsstrategi utarbetas kring dem. Flera kausala faktorer ökar komplexiteten i analysen genom att minska korrelationskoefficienterna, men spridningsdiagrammen ger en tydligare bild. Parametrarna ‘nitrat i luftningsbassäng 1 & 2’ och ‘slamhalt i luftningsbassäng’ visade starkast samband med fosfatvärden vid slutet av biologisk behandling vid -0,32 respektive 0,42. Resultaten lämnar dörren öppen för framtida forskning och kan vägleda vidare undersökningar.

Polymer-based drug delivery systems represent one of the promising strategies for successful tumor treatment. Conjugation of a low-molecular-weight drug to a syn- thetic polymer carrier enables targeted drug delivery to tumor tissue/cells and limited systemic toxicity of the drug. The conjugates show extended circulation time, and preferentially accumulate in tumor tissue due to the Enhanced Permeability and Re- tention (EPR) effect. The EPR effect depends on a structural anomaly in tumor neovasculature, and vasodilators were shown to enhance the EPR effect via an in- crease of blood supply in the tumor. Polymer drug carriers based on water-soluble N-(2-hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide (HPMA) benefit from variable architecture, drug loading and controlled release. HPMA-based conjugates with cancerostatics have al- ready proved high anti-tumor activity, inducing complete tumor regression followed by resistance to a second tumor challenge in experimental murine models. Three HPMA-based conjugates with organic nitrates (labeled 1, 2, and 3) were pre- pared as polymer donors of nitric oxide (NO) with the aim to intensify the EPR effect, thereby enhancing accumulation of co-administered macromolecular cancerostatics in the tumor. In this study, the conjugates were non-toxic to cancer cells and did not potentiate...

Face à la pollution généralisée des masses d’eau souterraines par les nitrates et les pesticides, l’agriculture biologique (AB) est présentée comme un outil pertinent pour la reconquête de la qualité des eaux sur les aires d’alimentation de captage (AAC). Ce travail vise à mieux définir l’opportunité d’un développement de l’AB sur des zones à enjeu eau. L’objectif de la thèse est d’évaluer conjointement la faisabilité des conversions sur les exploitations de l’AAC et l’efficacité de ces conversions par rapport aux enjeux de reconquête de la qualité de l’eau.Etudier l’opportunité d’un développement de l’AB à l’échelle territoriale suppose d’instruire la diversité des exploitations et des profils d’agriculteurs sur la zone à enjeu eau. Pour être en mesure de tester l’opportunité des conversions, une méthode typologique permettant d’analyser conjointement la variabilité actuelle des pressions sur les zones à enjeu eau et la propension des agriculteurs conventionnels à la conversion est nécessaire.Pour produire cette typologie, nous avons développé une méthode innovante d’analyse compréhensive des pratiques, centrée sur les principes d’action à l’origine des systèmes de culture. Les principes d’action correspondent à des méta-raisonnements à l’origine de l’organisation concrète des pratiques agricoles sur le territoire d’exploitation. Par l’analyse conjointe du discours des agriculteurs et de la variabilité des règles de décision, nous avons élaboré des typologies basées sur les postures techniques des agriculteurs pour i) identifier des principes d’action associés aux pratiques à risque et ii) dégager des proximités éventuelles entre agriculteurs biologiques et agriculteurs conventionnels. La méthode a été testée sur deux territoires à enjeu eau en Rhône-Alpes, sur lesquels des entretiens semi-directifs ont été réalisés auprès d’exploitants conventionnels et biologiques.Cinq principes d’action génériques à l’origine de l’organisation de l’assolement et cinq principes d’action génériques à l’origine des pratiques culturales ont été dégagés. A partir des différents principes d’action, des typologies des postures techniques ont été produites sur les deux terrains. Les pressions à l’origine de la lixiviation des nitrates et des pesticides ont été évaluées et spatialisées via le recours à des indicateurs agro-environnementaux. Nous avons démontré que la variabilité forte des indicateurs et leur distribution spatiale sur les AAC étaient liées à la diversité des postures techniques entre agriculteurs.Nous avons comparé les principes d’action mobilisés par les agriculteurs conventionnels et les agriculteurs biologiques « références » présents sur les zones à enjeu eau. Par l’étude des spécificités des postures techniques en AB, trois critères de propension à la conversion ont été identifiés. Plusieurs degrés de propension à la conversion ont été dégagés parmi les agriculteurs conventionnels des deux territoires.L’analyse croisée des degrés de propension à la conversion et des différentiels de pressions entre systèmes conventionnels et biologiques nous a permis d’évaluer l’opportunité d’un développement de l’AB sur les deux territoires. Nos résultats ont mis en évidence des niveaux de pression limités quant à la lixiviation des nitrates sur les systèmes biologiques : un développement exhaustif de l’AB à l’échelle des deux AAC entrainerait potentiellement une réduction forte de la lixiviation des nitrates. Néanmoins, l’opportunité d’un tel développement doit être relativisée. Les agriculteurs présentant une propension réelle ou forte à la conversion sont minoritaires sur les AAC. Ensuite, le différentiel des pressions entre systèmes conventionnels et systèmes biologiques diminue à mesure que la propension à la conversion augmente. Pour envisager une diminution forte des pressions sur les zones à enjeu eau, la conversion devrait concerner des exploitants pour lesquels cette conversion est difficilement envisageable à moyen terme. / Many problems with nitrate and pesticide contamination from agriculture exist in European drinking water catchments. In France, a new mitigation approach aims at preventing water quality degradation in explicitly targeting agricultural non-point source pollutions associated with leaching of nitrates and pesticides. This work aims at assessing the opportunity to develop organic farming in water catchment areas in order to reduce nitrate and pesticide leaching from root zone. The objective was to analyze both i) feasibility of conversions to organic farming on farms concerned by water preservation and ii) the potential impacts of these conversions in terms of nitrate and pesticide leaching reduction.To explore the potential contribution of organic farming in water catchment areas, we develop an innovative typology approach to characterize farmers’ conceptions and strategies related to cropping systems’ organization on the farm territory. Our method was tested in two French water catchment areas characterized by diversified production systems, where semi-structured interviews were carried out with conventional and organic farmers. Resulting typologies of farmers were used to assess leaching risks variability related with current cropping systems and to identify potential similarities between conventional and organic farmers’ conceptions. Nitrate and pesticide leaching risks for cropping systems were assessed and spatialized by using four agro-environmental indicators. Our results show major variations for all indicators at both study sites, for example N-surpluses which range from -105 to 192 kg N ha-1 year-1. These variations are deeply related with diversity of farmers’ conceptions summarized in typologies. To assess proximity of conventional farmers to organic farming, we used typologies to compare conceptions related to organization of cropping systems between conventional and organic farmers. By analyzing specificities of organic farmers’ conceptions, we determined three main criteria of proximity to organic farming; these criteria were then used to identify various degrees of proximity to organic farming among conventional farmers in the catchment areas.To assess potential contribution of organic farming to water preservation in catchment areas, we firstly compared nitrate leaching risks between conventional and organic cropping systems. Our results reveal low leaching risks from organic systems, characterized by reduced N-surpluses and lower bare soils frequencies in autumn. According to these results, massive development of organic farming should decrease nitrate leaching in our two water catchment areas. However, analysis of similarities between conventional and organic farmers’ conceptions shows that a majority of farmers are characterized by a low level of proximity to organic farming. Moreover, the farmers who show strongest similarities with organic farmers’ conceptions are already those with low leaching risks cropping systems. To significantly lower nitrate leaching risks, conversions should concern conventional farmers with low degree of proximity to organic farming.

The Safe Drinking Water Act ensures that public systems provide water that meets health standards. However, no such protection exists for millions of Americans who obtain water from private wells. Concern for safety is warranted as most wells draw from underground aquifers, and studies demonstrate that groundwater is affected by a range of contaminants, most often nitrate. Oregon's Domestic Well Testing Act (DWTA) links well testing to property sales, enabling continuous data collection by the State. This research addresses a need for identifying datasets for characterizing exposure to private well contaminants by evaluating DWTA data for use in a sentinel surveillance system. Validation of DWTA data was accomplished by developing a land use regression (LUR) model based on agricultural nitrogen inputs and soil leachability to predict nitrate concentrations in well water. Geographic information systems (GIS) were used to advance methods for high resolution spatial modeling of fertilizer and manure nitrogen with statewide coverage. Hazard mapping with these datasets suggests that nearly half of recently drilled wells are susceptible to nitrate contamination. Spearman's rank correlation demonstrated a significant correlation between LUR-predicted nitrate levels and levels reported in the DWTA dataset. These results suggest that DWTA data is valid for use in a sentinel surveillance system, such that evidence of nitrate contamination in a single well may indicate an area-wide health hazard. However, a low fraction of variance explained by the LUR model highlighted the need for specific improvements to datasets crucial for understanding nitrate contamination in well water, including the DWTA. / Graduation date: 2012

From the Proceedings of the 1971 Meetings of the Arizona Section - American Water Resources Assn. and the Hydrology Section - Arizona Academy of Science - April 22-23, 1971, Tempe, Arizona / The nitrogen balance of a watershed near the city of New Prague, Minnesota was evaluated as part of an overall study on lake and stream eutrophication. Although the n-balance of a humid Midwest watershed cannot be expected to be identical to that of an arid watershed, the processes are the same and differences should be mainly quantitive. Sources of input and causes of depletion are reviewed for 4 points in the nitrogen cycle: the atmospheric zone, the soil-atmosphere interface, the plant-root and soil-water zone and the surface water zone. In the New Prague watershed, commercial fertilizer and bulk precipitation were the major sources of input, contributing, respectively, 53% and 34.4% of the total input of 2.34 million lb/yr. Crop yield and soil or groundwater storage contributed 52.1% and 20.4% of non-enrichment depletions. The closeness of the values of crop yield and commercial fertilizer application was an unfortunate coincidence and is certainly not an indication that the entire fertilizer supply was taken up cry crops. In an arid environment, free from fertilized agriculture, bulk precipitation probably provides the major source of nitrogen compounds.

From the Proceedings of the 1971 Meetings of the Arizona Section - American Water Resources Assn. and the Hydrology Section - Arizona Academy of Science - April 22-23, 1971, Tempe, Arizona / High nitrates in drinking water are significant in relation to an infant disease, methemoglobinemia, and the U.S. public health service has set a limit of 45 ppm for human consumption. This paper illustrates how chemical hydrographs were used in a study of nitrates in the groundwater of the Fresno-Clovis metropolitan area (F.C.M.A.) of semiarid central California. The area comprises about 145 square miles, with a population of 310,000. Urban water use is entirely derived from wells, whereas the surrounding agriculture relies on surface and ground water. In 1965, the California department of water resources noted nitrate concentrations in the F.C.M.A. were exceeding the safe limit. A number of sources of error in chemical analyses of water quality are noted. A measure of the accuracies of analyses and a method of double-checking anomalous results is furnished by plotting chemical hydrographs of individual wells. Seasonal changes in nitrate were consistent for many parts of the area, and were related to hydrogeologic factors and parameters directly affecting nitrification. Nitrate hydrographs were monitored by chloride hydrographs. The highest nitrate concentrations were in the shallower parts of the aquifer, and well deepening and changes in water level, pumping patterns and recharge rates complicated interpretations. However, the hydrographs helped to pinpoint the source of nitrate in areas where several possible sources were present.