title: Isotopic Fingerprint for Phosphorus in Drinking Water Supplies.
abstract: Phosphate dosing of drinking water supplies, coupled with leakage from distribution networks, represents a significant input of phosphorus to the environment. The oxygen isotope composition of phosphate (δ(18)OPO4), a novel stable isotope tracer for phosphorus, offers new opportunities to understand the importance of phosphorus derived from sources such as drinking water. We report the first assessment of δ(18)OPO4 within drinking water supplies. A total of 40 samples from phosphate-dosed distribution networks were analyzed from across England and Wales. In addition, samples of the source orthophosphoric acid used for dosing were also analyzed. Two distinct isotopic signatures for drinking water were identified (average = +13.2 or +19.7‰), primarily determined by δ(18)OPO4 of the source acid (average = +12.4 or +19.7‰). Dependent upon the source acid used, drinking water δ(18)OPO4 appears isotopically distinct from a number of other phosphorus sources. Isotopic offsets from the source acid ranging from -0.9 to +2.8‰ were observed. There was little evidence that equilibrium isotope fractionation dominated within the networks, with offsets from temperature-dependent equilibrium ranging from -4.8 to +4.2‰. While partial equilibrium fractionation may have occurred, kinetic effects associated with microbial uptake of phosphorus or abiotic sorption and dissolution reactions may also contribute to δ(18)OPO4 within drinking water supplies.
authors.affiliation: †British Geological Survey, Maclean Building, Wallingford, Oxfordshire OX10 8BB, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Daren C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Gooddy
authors.affiliation: †British Geological Survey, Maclean Building, Wallingford, Oxfordshire OX10 8BB, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Dan J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Lapworth
authors.affiliation: †British Geological Survey, Maclean Building, Wallingford, Oxfordshire OX10 8BB, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Matthew J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Ascott
authors.affiliation: ‡Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) Isotope Geosciences Laboratory (NIGL), British Geological Survey, Keyworth, Nottingham NG12 5GG, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Sarah A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Bennett
authors.affiliation: ‡Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) Isotope Geosciences Laboratory (NIGL), British Geological Survey, Keyworth, Nottingham NG12 5GG, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Timothy H E
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Heaton
authors.affiliation: §Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Bailrigg, Lancaster, LA1 4YQ, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Ben W J
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Surridge
mesh_terms: D060766:Drinking Water / Q000737:chemistry*; D017753:Ecosystem; D004739:England; D005843:Geography; D010103:Oxygen Isotopes; D010756:Phosphoric Acids / Q000032:analysis; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000032:analysis*; D010759:Phosphorus Isotopes; D012996:Solutions; D013696:Temperature; D014852:Wales; D014881:Water Supply
chemical_list: D060766:Drinking Water; D010103:Oxygen Isotopes; D010756:Phosphoric Acids; D010759:Phosphorus Isotopes; D012996:Solutions; D010758:Phosphorus; C030242:phosphoric acid