M. pinto n8848489 project 1_presentation

GROUNDWATER PATHWAYS FOR CONTAMINANT TRANSPORT FROM AGRICULTURAL AREAS TO THE GREAT BARRIER REEF M. PINTO I JUNE 2016

CURRENT ISSUE

IMPACTS OF EXCESS NUTRIENT INPUT TO THE GBR – ECOSYSTEM LOSS

Reduction in coral growth

Shift in the relative abundance and

composition of corals Degradation of

estuarine watersShift in the relative

abundance and composition of algae

Eutrophication Increase in the global nutrient cycling

Modifications in the community structure

Promote the growth of undesirable species of

macroalgae

Impairment of photosynthetic activity

Growth of Cyanobacterium:

Lyngbya majuscule

IMPACTS OF EXCESS NUTRIENT INPUT TO THE GBR

Society Aesthetic conditions Economic valueGBR’s inshore marine environment “poor”

• Cape York poor • Wet Tropics poor • Mackay Whitsundays poor • Fitzroy and Burnett Mary poor • Burdekin moderate

BIOCHEMICAL PROCESSES OF GROUNDWATER TRANSPORTATION – SOIL PROFILE

Quantity + speed of groundwater • permeability • Porosity

Soil profile • zoot zone • soil moisture zone • intermediate zone • capillary zone water table • saturated zone/groundwater zone

It is important to understand the soil profile in which nitrate and prosperous are transported. The quantity and speed of groundwater flow is highly dependent on the permeability and the porosity of the soil. Typically, the soil profile in which groundwater travels consists of zoot zone soil moisture zone intermediate zone capillary zone water table saturated

zone/groundwater zone.

Soil Profile

Conceptualised illustration of all biochemical processes involved in Nitrogen and Phosphorus flows from

agricultural areas to the Reef

NUMERICAL MODELS FOR THE DETECTION OF CONTAMINATED GROUNDWATER

Areas of Numerical

Model Developmen

t

Mulgrave River Basin

Johnstone River Basin

Tully-Marray River Basin

Lower Burdekin

Lower Herbert River Basin

POLLUTANT MANAGEMENT METHODOLOGIES

Reduce herbicide quantities Dilute N and P concentrations Implement of monitoring wells Execution of monitoring programs Identification of existing boundaries

contaminated plumes Cleaning of groundwater pollution Adhering groundwater development to the

quality protection Development numerical models to detect

groundwater contaminated sites

CURRENT AND FUTURE PROJECTS

Reef Extension program

Farm Management Systems

Mackay Whitsundays Sustainable Landscapes program

Rural Water Use Efficiency (RWUE) initiative

Community-based water quality monitoring through

‘Waterwatch’

‘Fertcare’ program

‘Six Easy Steps’ for pesticide control in sugarcane

AgForward program

GROUNDWATER INVESTIGATIONS NEAR BARRATTA CREEK NORTHCOTE

Aim: to determine the likelihood and quantity of contaminated groundwater discharge in to the Great Barrier Reef

Location: Barratta Creek at Northcote Data sampling no.1

• Four bores: RN 11910204, RN 11911173, RN 11911174 and RN 11911175• Sampling period: May 2012-April 2013

Data sampling no. 2• Outputs generated by the gauging station no. 119101A • Sampling period: February 1977 to December 2015

BORES AND ITS CORRESPONDING NUMBERS INSTALLED NEAR BARRATTA CREEK AT NORTHCOTE

FINDINGS FROM GROUNDWATER INVESTIGATIONS - RAINFALL

High degree of hydraulic connectivity RN 11911173 water height in the bore mirrors the river height Intense rainfall events;

• March 2011• July 2012-August 2012 • January-February 2013

FINDINGS FROM GROUNDWATER INVESTIGATIONS – NITRATE+NITRITE AND PHOSPHATE CONCENTRATIONS

Data sampling no.1• Increase in N levels RN11911173, RN11911174 and RN1191117 intense rainfall events • Low phosphate concentrations RN11911173 • Precipitation of phosphate onto soil • Fe (II) is oxidised to Fe (III), as iron (III)

CONCENTRATIONS OF NITRATE+NITRITE AS N SOLUBLE PRESENT IN ALL BORES LOCATED NEAR BARRATTA CREEK AT NORTHCOTE

5/4/201

2

5/24/20

12

6/13/2

012

7/3/20

12

7/23/20

12

8/12/2

012

9/1/20

12

9/21/2

012

10/11/2

012

10/31

/2012

11/20/2

012

12/10/2

012

12/30/2

012

1/19/2

013

2/8/201

3

2/28/20

13

3/20/2

013

4/9/20

130.0000

0.1000

0.2000

Concentrations of nitrate+nitrite as N soluble present in bore RN11911173

Date

Mill

igra

ms/

Litre

5/4/20

12

5/24/2

012

6/13/20

12

7/3/201

2

7/23/2

012

8/12/20

12

9/1/201

2

9/21/20

12

10/11

/2012

10/31/2

012

11/20/2

012

12/10

/2012

12/30/2

012

1/19/2

013

2/8/20

13

2/28/2

013

3/20/20

13

4/9/201

30.0000

0.0040

0.0080


Date

Mill

igra

ms/

Litre

5/4/20

12

5/24/2

012

6/13/20

12

7/3/20

12

7/23/2

012

8/12/2

012

9/1/20

12

9/21/2

012

10/11

/2012

10/31/2

012

11/20

/2012

12/10

/2012

12/30/2

012

1/19/20

13

2/8/20

13

2/28/2

013

3/20/20

13

4/9/201

30.00000.04000.0800


Date

Mill

igra

ms/

Litre

6/7/20

12

6/25/2

012

7/13/20

12

7/31/2

012

8/18/2

012

9/5/20

12

9/23/20

12

10/11/2

012

10/29

/2012

11/16

/2012

12/4/20

12

12/22/2

012

1/9/201

3

1/27/2

013

2/14/20

13

3/4/20

13

3/22/20

13

4/9/20

130.00000.40000.80001.2000

Concentrations of nitrate+nitrite as N soluble present in 11910204

DateM

illig

ram

s/Li

tre

CONCENTRATIONS OF TOTAL REACT P (ORTHO P) - SOLUBLE (FLDF) PRESENT IN ALL BORES LOCATED NEAR BARRATTA CREEK AT NORTHCOTE

5/4/201

2

5/25/20

12

6/15/2

012

7/6/20

12

7/27/2

012

8/17/2

012

9/7/20

12

9/28/20

12

10/19/2

012

11/9/

2012

11/30

/2012

12/21/2

012

1/11/2

013

2/1/20

13

2/22/20

13

3/15/20

13

4/5/201

30.0000

0.1000

0.2000

Concentrations of Total React P (Ortho P) - soluble (FldF) present in bore RN11911173

Date

Mill

igra

ms/

Litre

5/4/201

2

5/25/2

012

6/15/20

12

7/6/20

12

7/27/20

12

8/17/20

12

9/7/201

2

9/28/20

12

10/19

/2012

11/9/

2012

11/30/2

012

12/21

/2012

1/11/20

13

2/1/20

13

2/22/2

013

3/15/20

13

4/5/201

30.00000.05000.10000.1500


Date

Mill

igra

ms/

Litre

5/4/201

2

5/25/20

12

6/15/20

12

7/6/201

2

7/27/2

012

8/17/20

12

9/7/20

12

9/28/20

12

10/19/2

012

11/9/20

12

11/30/2

012

12/21

/2012

1/11/2

013

2/1/20

13

2/22/20

13

3/15/20

13

4/5/20

130.00000.04000.08000.1200


Date

Mill

igra

ms/

Litre

6/7/201

2

6/26/2

012

7/15/2

012

8/3/201

2

8/22/20

12

9/10/2

012

9/29/2

012

10/18/2

012

11/6/

2012

11/25/2

012

12/14/2

012

1/2/201

3

1/21/20

13

2/9/201

3

2/28/20

13

3/19/2

013

4/7/201

30.00000.01000.02000.0300


DateM

illig

ram

s/Li

tre

FINDINGS FROM GROUNDWATER INVESTIGATIONS – NITRATE+NITRITE AND PHOSPHATE CONCENTRATIONS Data sampling no.2• Increase in N and P concentrations throughout the years• Reason 1: Denitrification may be inexistent in groundwater near

Barratta Creek • Reason 2: Quantity of nitrate used by farmers on crops have

increased throughout the years

INCREASING TREND IN THE CONCENTRATIONS OF NITRATE, TOTAL NITROGEN, ORGANIC NITROGEN AND NITRITE IN BARRATTA CREEK AT NORTHCOTE STATION 119101A

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14Nitrate as NO3(mg/L)

Total Nitrogen (mg/L)

Organic Nitrogen (mg/L)

Nitrate+nitrite as N soluble (FieldFilt)

Date

Mill

igra

ms/

Litre

INCREASING TREND IN THE CONCENTRATIONS OF TOTAL PHOSPHORUS AND TOTAL REACT P (ORTHO P) - SOLUBLE (FLDF) BARRATTA CREEK AT NORTHCOTE STATION 119101A

9/6/19

96

4/6/19

97

11/6/

1997

6/6/19

98

1/6/19

99

8/6/19

99

3/6/20

00

10/6/

2000

5/6/20

01

12/6/

2001

7/6/20

02

2/6/20

03

9/6/20

03

4/6/20

04

11/6/

2004

6/6/20

05

1/6/20

06

8/6/20

06

3/6/20

07

10/6/

2007

5/6/20

08

12/6/

2008

7/6/20

09

2/6/20

10

9/6/20

10

4/6/20

11

11/6/

2011

6/6/20

12

1/6/20

13

8/6/20

13

3/6/20

14

10/6/

2014

5/6/20

15

12/6/

2015

00.020.040.060.080.1

0.120.140.160.180.2

Total Phosphorus as P (mg/L)

Total React P (Ortho P) - soluble (FldF)

Date

Nillig

ram

s/Litr

e

COMPARISON OF N AND P CONCENTRATIONS AGAINST AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND TRIGGER VALUES FOR TOXICANTS AND THE QUEENSLAND WATER QUALITY GUIDELINES (QWQGS) Nitrogen concentrations

• Median concentration RN11919204 exceeds QWQGs• 95th percentile RN11919204 exceeds ANZECC

Phosphorus concentrations •Median concentrations RN 11911173 and RN 11911174 exceeds QWQGs

Gauge station 119191A N and P concentrations • Median concentrations exceeds QWQGs• 95th percentile nitrogen concentrations exceeds ANZECC

COMPARISON OF N AND P CONCENTRATIONS AGAINST AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND TRIGGER VALUES FOR TOXICANTS AND THE QUEENSLAND WATER QUALITY GUIDELINES (QWQGS)

May 2012 - April 2013 Gauge Station 119101A (1977-2015) May 2012 - April 2013 Gauge Station 119101A

(1977-2015)Range 0.0010-1.2700 0.0010-0.0330Median 1.1050 0.014095th percentile 1.2570 0.0310Range 0.0010-0.0830 0.0120-0.1270Median 0.0030 0.042095th percentile 0.0445 0.1270Range 0.0030-0.0090 0.0880-0.1360Median 0.0030 0.117095th percentile 0.0063 0.1320Range 0.0030-0.2000 0.0010-0.1920Median 0.0030 0.001095th percentile 0.0895 0.0680

Phosphate phosphorus as P (mg/L)0.02

Range = 0.033-0.1722Median = 0.083

95th Percentile = 0.14

RN 11911175

RN 11911174

RN 11911173

ANZECC and ARMCANZ (2000) 0.2**

RN 11910204

Range = 0.003-2.7Median= 0.1514

95th Perentile = 1.3

Nitrate+nitrite as N soluble (mg/L)QWQG 0.06

FINDINGS FROM GROUNDWATER INVESTIGATIONS – AMMONIUM CONCENTRATIONS

Bores closest to the creek reduction in N and P concentrations increase in ammonium

11911173 11911174 11911175 119102040

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

0.7

0.8

0.9

Mean ammonium-N, nitrate+nitrite and phosphate-P concentrations in bore located near Barratta Creek at Northcote

Ammonia as NNitriate + NitritePhosphate as P

Bore Number

Mea

n co

ncen

tratio

n (m

illig

ram

s/lit

re)

5/4/20

12

5/22/2

012

6/9/20

12

6/27/2

012

7/15/2

012

8/2/20

12

8/20/2

012

9/7/20

12

9/25/2

012

10/13

/2012

10/31

/2012

11/18

/2012

12/6/2

012

12/24

/2012

1/11/2

013

1/29/2

013

2/16/2

013

3/6/20

13

3/24/2

013

4/11/2

013

0

1

Concentrations of Ammonia present in the water analysis for bore

RN11911173

Date

Mill

igra

ms/

Litre

5/4/20

12

5/25/2

012

6/15/2

012

7/6/20

12

7/27/2

012

8/17/2

012

9/7/20

12

9/28/2

012

10/19

/2012

11/9/2

012

11/30

/2012

12/21

/2012

1/11/2

013

2/1/20

13

2/22/2

013

3/15/2

013

4/5/20

130

0.1


RN11911174

Date

Mill

igra

ms/

Litre

6/7/20

12

6/23/2

012

7/9/20

12

7/25/2

012

8/10/2

012

8/26/2

012

9/11/2

012

9/27/2

012

10/13

/2012

10/29

/2012

11/14

/2012

11/30

/2012

12/16

/2012

1/1/20

13

1/17/2

013

2/2/20

13

2/18/2

013

3/6/20

13

3/22/2

013

4/7/20

130

0.40.81.2


RN11910204

Date

Mill

igra

ms/

Litre

5/4/20

12

5/25/2

012

6/15/2

012

7/6/20

12

7/27/2

012

8/17/2

012

9/7/20

12

9/28/2

012

10/19

/2012

11/9/2

012

11/30

/2012

12/21

/2012

1/11/2

013

2/1/20

13

2/22/2

013

3/15/2

013

4/5/20

13

4/26/2

013

00.10.2


RN11911175

Date

Mill

igra

ms/

Litre

CONCENTRATIONS OF AMMONIA PRESENT IN ALL BORES LOCATED NEAR BARRATTA CREEK AT NORTHCOTE

CONCENTRATIONS OF AMMONIA PRESENT IN BARRATTA CREEK AT NORTHCOTE STATION 119101A

9/6/19

96

2/6/19

97

7/6/19

97

12/6/1

997

5/6/19

98

10/6/1

998

3/6/19

99

8/6/19

99

1/6/20

00

6/6/20

00

11/6/2

000

4/6/20

01

9/6/20

01

2/6/20

02

7/6/20

02

12/6/2

002

5/6/20

03

10/6/2

003

3/6/20

04

8/6/20

04

1/6/20

05

6/6/20

05

11/6/2

005

4/6/20

06

9/6/20

06

2/6/20

07

7/6/20

07

12/6/2

007

5/6/20

08

10/6/2

008

3/6/20

09

8/6/20

09

1/6/20

10

6/6/20

10

11/6/2

010

4/6/20

11

9/6/20

11

2/6/20

12

7/6/20

12

12/6/2

012

5/6/20

13

10/6/2

013

3/6/20

14

8/6/20

14

1/6/20

15

6/6/20

15

11/6/2

015

0

0.05

0.1

0.15

0.2

0.25

Date

Mill

igra

ms/

Litre


Elevated ammonium concentrations, Justification 1

• Result of dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium (DNRA)

• High carbon to nitrate+nitrite concentration

• transformation of nitrate-N to ammonium-N

11911173 11911174 11911175 119102040

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

Mean nitrate+nitrite and DOC concentrations in bore located near Barratta Creek at Northcote

Bore Number

Mea

n co

ncen

tratio

n (M

illig

ram

s/lit

re)


Elevated ammonium concentrations, Justification 2• Decomposition of organic material by removing nitrate nitrogen gas ammonium

FINDINGS FROM GROUNDWATER INVESTIGATIONS – DISSOLVED OXYGEN CARBON (DOC)

Riparian zone dense stands of permanent + deep rooted vegetation higher concentrations of DOC

Increase DOC remove nitrate from groundwater DOC concentrations above 2 mg/L electrons for denitrification Depletion of nitrate from groundwater shallow aquifers that of 5 to 8 m of

groundwater flow

FINDINGS FROM GROUNDWATER INVESTIGATIONS – DISSOLVED OXYGEN CARBON (DOC)

Increase in DOC concentrations• RN11911173

• RN11911174 Rainfall event January/February 2013

• RN11911175

Low and steady concentrations • RN11910204

• average DOC 0.5 mg/L

DOC concentrations are lower that 2mg/L• DOC increase due to rainfall

• Denitrification inexistent

CONCENTRATIONS OF DISSOLVED ORGANIC CARBON PRESENT IN ALL FOUR BORES LOCATED NEAR BARRATTA CREEK AT NORTHCOTE

6/7/20

12

6/30/2

012

7/23/2

012

8/15/2

012

9/7/20

12

9/30/2

012

10/23

/2012

11/15

/2012

12/8/2

012

12/31

/2012

1/23/2

013

2/15/2

013

3/10/2

013

4/2/20

130.00002.00004.0000

Concentrations of Dissolved Organic Carbon present in bore RN11911173

Date

Mill

igra

ms/

Litre

6/7/20

12

6/30/2

012

7/23/2

012

8/15/2

012

9/7/20

12

9/30/2

012

10/23

/2012

11/15

/2012

12/8/2

012

12/31

/2012

1/23/2

013

2/15/2

013

3/10/2

013

4/2/20

130.00004.00008.0000

Concentrations of Dissolved Organic Carbon present bore RN11911175

Date

Mill

igra

ms/

Litre

6/7/20

12

6/30/2

012

7/23/2

012

8/15/2

012

9/7/20

12

9/30/2

012

10/23

/2012

11/15

/2012

12/8/2

012

12/31

/2012

1/23/2

013

2/15/2

013

3/10/2

013

4/2/20

130.00001.00002.00003.0000


Date

Mill

igra

ms/

Litre

6/7/20

12

6/30/2

012

7/23/2

012

8/15/2

012

9/7/20

12

9/30/2

012

10/23

/2012

11/15

/2012

12/8/2

012

12/31

/2012

1/23/2

013

2/15/2

013

3/10/2

013

4/2/20

130.00000.20000.40000.6000


DateM

illig

ram

s/Li

tre

FINDINGS FROM GROUNDWATER INVESTIGATIONS – SPECIFIC CONDUCTIVITY

Highly variable conductivity levels Assumption each bore draws from different aquifers RN 1191173 closest to the creek significant specific conductivity (SC) variations SC of samples had a reduction in variations during rainfall events

Figure 39: Specific conductivity measured in bores at Barratta Creek (Vardy, et al., 2015)

FINDINGS FROM GROUNDWATER INVESTIGATIONS – SPECIFIC CONDUCTIVITY

Increasing conductivity measurements in the Barratta Creek at Northcote gauging station 119191A

4/29/1

983

1/29/1

984

10/29

/1984

8/1/19

85

5/1/19

86

2/1/19

87

11/1/1

987

8/1/19

88

5/1/19

89

2/1/19

90

11/1/1

990

8/1/19

91

5/1/19

92

2/1/19

93

11/1/1

993

8/1/19

94

5/1/19

95

2/1/19

96

11/1/1

996

8/1/19

97

5/1/19

98

2/1/19

99

11/1/1

999

8/1/20

00

5/1/20

01

2/1/20

02

11/1/2

002

8/1/20

03

5/1/20

04

2/1/20

05

11/1/2

005

8/1/20

06

5/1/20

07

2/1/20

08

11/1/2

008

8/1/20

09

5/1/20

10

2/1/20

11

11/1/2

011

8/1/20

12

5/1/20

13

2/1/20

14

11/1/2

014

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

Conductivity (at 25C FLD) measurements in Barratta Creek at Northcote Station 119101A

Date

μS/c

m

UNCERTAINTIES AND LIMITATIONS – KNOWLEDGE GAPS



UNCERTAINTIES AND LIMITATIONS – DATA GAPS

UNCERTAINTIES AND LIMITATIONS – DATA GAPS

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M. pinto n8848489 project 1_presentation

Environment