Riverine nitrogen source and yield in urban systems

Abstract

Although human reshaping of the nitrogen (N) cycle is well established, contributions of individual N sources to riverine and coastal eutrophication are less certain. Urban N fluxes are potentially substantial, particularly from sewer overflows. Results from four longitudinal surveys in rivers in and around the city of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, were used to characterize N chemistry and isotopic composition and were compared with LOADEST-model-derived total N (TN) flux budgets from three urban areas along the Ohio River (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Cincinnati, Ohio; and Louisville, Kentucky). Triple nitrate isotopes reveal that riverine nitrate in the Pittsburgh region is dominated by wastewater inputs despite high atmospheric deposition rates. Our budget estimates demonstrate that the magnitude of urban N yields is comparable to yields reported for agricultural watersheds and that these high urban N yields cannot consist of permitted, point-source discharges alone. Our results reveal that nonpoint sources in urban systems represent an important but overlooked source of TN to overall riverine budgets.