Assessing Nitrification and Denitrification in the Seine River and Estuary Using Chemical and Isotopic Techniques

• Published in: Ecosystems (New York) Vol. 9; no. 4; pp. 564 - 577
• Main Authors: Sebilo, M, Billen, G, Mayer, B, Billiou, D, Grably, M, Garnier, J, Mariotti, A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Springer Science+Business Media 01.06.2006; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Ammonium; ammonium nitrogen; analytical methods; Animal and plant ecology; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Applied sciences; Biological and medical sciences; chemical analysis; Denitrification; effluents; Estuaries; Exact sciences and technology; Freshwater; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General aspects; Groundwater; Isotopes; Low flow; Nitrates; Nitrification; Nitrogen; Oxygen; Pollution; pollution load; Quaternary ammonium compounds; Rivers; stable isotopes; Synecology; Wastewater; Wastewater treatment; Wastewater treatment plants; Wastewaters; Water column; water pollution; Water treatment; Water treatment and pollution; watersheds; France; France, Paris; France, Seine R; Aquatic environment; Brackish water environment; Pollution; 18O/16O; Ecosystem; denitrification; nitrification; Seine River; wastewater treatment; 15N/14N; Nitrification; Denitrification; Waste water
• ISSN: 1432-9840; 1435-0629
• DOI: 10.1007/s10021-006-0151-9

Downstream from metropolitan Paris (France), a large amount of ammonium is discharged into the Seine River by the effluents of the wastewater treatment plant at Achères. To assess the extent of nitrification and denitrification in the water column, concentrations and isotopic compositions of ammonium (δ¹⁵N-NH₄⁺) and nitrate (δ¹⁵N-NO₃⁻, δ¹⁸O-NO₃⁻) were measured during summer low-flow conditions along the lower Seine and its estuary. The results indicated that most of the ammonium released from the wastewater treatment plant is nitrified in the lower Seine River and its upper estuary, but there was no evidence for water-column denitrification. In the lower part of the estuary, however, concentration and isotopic data for nitrate were not consistent with simple mixing between riverine and marine nitrate. A significant departure of the nitrate isotopic composition from what would be expected from simple mixing of freshwater and marine nitrates suggested coupled nitrification and denitrification in the water, in spite of the apparent conservative behavior of nitrate. Denitrification rates of approximately 0.02 mg N/L/h were estimated for this part of the estuary.