This study presents the behavior of nitrate in the recharge zone of Tursko well-field (south Wielkopolska, Poland). The presence of a contaminant plume derived from land drainage systems was documented. The contamination is reflected mainly by the high concentration of nitrate ([80 mg/l). It was documented that the contaminant plume migrates in the aquifer along a flow path from the contamination source to the well-field. The factor that retards nitrate migration is bacterial denitrification. As a result of the denitrification, the nitrate concentration decreases systematically along flow lines, but the concentration of other parameters-products of denitrification (sulfate and total hardness)-increases. The occurrence of denitrification was confirmed by measuring the gaseous excess of N 2 (the product of denitrification) and by using the isotopes of 15 N and 18 O dissolved in nitrate. These methods also enable the intensity of denitrification to be assessed. Keywords Land drainage systems Á Groundwater nitrate contamination Á Gaseous nitrogen N 2 Á Nitrogen and oxygen isotopes Á Denitrification
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