Identification of pollutant sources using water quality and stable isotope ratios of inflow tributaries in the lower reaches of the Han-River

Despite the expansion of sewage treatment facilities to reduce pollutants in the tributaries of the Han River, water pollution accidents such as fish deaths continue to frequently occur. The purpose of this study was to identify the pollutant sources using water quality and stable isotope ratio (${\delta}^{15}N$, ${\delta}^{13}C$, ${\delta}^{15}N-NH_4$, ${\delta}^{15}N-NO_3$) analysis results in the three inflow tributaries (Gulpocheon (GP), Anyangcheon (AY) and Sincheon (SC)) of the Han River. Water quality was analyzed in June and October from 2013 to 2017, and the results showed that the concentrations of nutrients, such as T-N, $NO_3-N$, and T-P, were increased at GP4, AY3, SC3, and SC4, which lie downstream of sewage treatment facilities. The results of ${\delta}^{15}N$ for June 2017 indicated that the source of nitrogen was sewage or livestock excreta at GP4 and SC4, and organic fertilizers at AY3 and SC3. ${\delta}^{15}N-NO_3$ results suggested that the source of nitrogen was related to organic sewage, livestock or manure at GP4, AY3 and SC4. Therefore, GP4 and SC4 were more influenced by effluent from sewage treatment facilities than by their tributaries, AY3 and SC3 were considered to be influenced more by their tributary than effluent from sewage treatment facilities. With the results of this study, the source of contamination (sewage treatment facility effluent) of river inflow downstream of Han River could be confirmed using water quality and stable isotope ratio.