Distinguishing sources of groundwater nitrate by 1H NMR of dissolved organic matter

Dissolved organic matter (DOM) originating from a certain source usually carries characteristic marks in its molecular structures that can be recognized by spectroscopic analysis. Sources of water-borne contaminants, such as nitrate, can be identified by recognition of the characteristics of DOM entrained in the water. In this study, DOM in groundwaters sampled from a dairy/crop production area (Chino Basin, CA) was analyzed by 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR). Results showed that DOM derived from natural soil organic matter has a characteristic resonance at a chemical shift region of 4.0–4.3 ppm, while DOM derived from dairy wastes has a characteristic resonance at a lower chemical shift region of 3.2–3.6 ppm. These signature resonances were then used to distinguish the origins of nitrate in the groundwater. It was found that disposal of dairy wastes on croplands is the primary source of nitrate contamination in groundwater underlying the Chino Basin dairy area.