Lerner, D., Yang, Y., Barrett, M., Tellam, J. 1999. Loadings of non-agricultural nitrogen in urban groundwater. Impacts of Urban Growth on Surface Water and Groundwater Quality. International Association of Hydrological Sciences (IAHS), Birmingham, UK. Number 259. Pages 117-123

fertilizer, groundwater, sampling, source area

Authors recently completed a major field and modeling study of Nottingham to identify and quantify recharge sources and amounts, and loadings of solutes. Results suggest that sewers contribute about 13% of the nitrogen loading. Nitrogen loading from leaking water mains is more significant at about 36% of the total, because they provide over half the recharge in the urban area. The remaining 50% of the N loading includes parks, gardens, landfills and industrial spillages.