Sedimentary records of sewage pollution using faecal markers in contrasting peri-urban shallow lakes

• Published in: The Science of the total environment Vol. 409; no. 2; pp. 345 - 356
• Main Authors: Vane, C.H., Kim, A.W., McGowan, S., Leng, M.J., Heaton, T.H.E., Kendrick, C.P., Coombs, P., Yang, H., Swann, G.E.A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier B.V 15-12-2010; [Amsterdam; New York]: Elsevier Science; Elsevier
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Attenborough; Bacteria; Carbon Isotopes - analysis; Cesium Radioisotopes - analysis; Cholesterol; Churches; Colony Count, Microbial; Continental surface waters; Coprostanol; Earth sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Engineering and environment geology. Geothermics; Environmental Monitoring - methods; Exact sciences and technology; Fresh Water - chemistry; Fresh Water - microbiology; Geologic Sediments - chemistry; Geologic Sediments - microbiology; Gravel pit; Lakes; Lead Radioisotopes - analysis; Markers; Natural water pollution; Nitrogen Isotopes - analysis; Pb-210; Pollution; Pollution, environment geology; Ponds; Principal Component Analysis; Ruminantia; Sediments; Sewage; Sewage - analysis; Sewage treatment; Stable isotopes; Sterols - analysis; Water Pollutants - analysis; Water Pollution - statistics & numerical data; Water treatment and pollution; England; United Kingdom; Great Britain; Europe; Attenborough; Sewage; Pb-210; Coprostanol; Gravel pit; Stable isotopes; Microbiology; Historical aspects; Biological marker; Radioisotope; Isotope dating; Shallow water; Pathogenic; Bacteria; Feces; Waste water discharge; Biological contamination; Cesium 137; Lead 210; Lake sediments; Coliforms; Surface water; Pollution source inventory; Water pollution; Principal component analysis; Sterol
• ISSN: 0048-9697; 1879-1026
• DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2010.09.033

Sewage contamination in shallow lake sediments is of concern because the pathogens, organic matter and nutrients contribute to the deterioration of the water-bodies' health and ecology. Sediment cores from three shallow lakes (Coneries, Church and Clifton Ponds) within Attenborough nature reserve located downstream of sewage treatment works were analysed for TOC, C/N, δ
13C, δ
15N, bacterial coliforms and faecal sterols.
210Pb and
137Cs activities were used to date the sediments. Elemental analysis suggests that the source of organic matter was algal and down profile changes in δ
13C indicate a possible decrease in productivity with time which could be due to improvements in sewage treatment. δ
15N for Coneries Pond are slightly higher than those observed in Church or Clifton and are consistent with a sewage-derived nitrate source which has been diluted by non-sewage sources of N. The similarity in δ
15N values (+
12‰ to +
10‰) indicates that the three ponds were not entirely hydrologically isolated. Analysis by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) reveals that Coneries Pond had sterol concentrations in the range 20 to 30
μg/g (dry wt.), whereas, those from Clifton and Church Ponds were lower. The highest concentrations of the human-sourced sewage marker 5β-coprostanol were observed in the top 40
cm of Coneries Pond with values up to 2.2
μg/g. In contrast, Church and Clifton Pond sediments contain only trace amounts throughout. Down-profile comparison of 5β-coprostanol/cholesterol, 5β-coprostanol/(5β-coprostanol
+
5α-cholestanol) and 5β-epicoprostanol/coprostanol as well as 5α-cholestanol/cholesterol suggests that Coneries Pond has received appreciable amounts of faecal contamination. Examination of 5β-stigmastanol (marker for herbivorous/ruminant animals) down core concentrations suggests a recent decrease in manure slurry input to Coneries Pond. The greater concentration of β-sitosterol in sediments from Church and Clifton Ponds as compared to Coneries is attributed in part to their greater diversity and extent of aquatic plants and avian faeces.