Measurement of Denitrification Rates in Groundwater: a collaborative New Zealand - Korean initiative

초록

Nitrate contamination of groundwater is a wide-spread problem in both New Zealand and South Korea and has lead to eutrophication of receiving lakes and rivers. Denitrification in groundwater has the potential to reduce inputs of N to these receiving waters but quantification of the amount of denitrification taking place is difficult. A series of denitrification measurements have been carried out in the field at selected groundwater locations in New Zealand using a recently developed re-circulating well technique to increase sensitivity. This is an ongoing project and the methodology and sites are described and some preliminary results discussed. An overview of the collaborative research programme on in-situ groundwater processes (in which this denitrification project is a component) is provided.