Phosphorus and nitrogen loading to Lake Huron from septic systems at Grand Bend,ON

Groundwater nutrient loading to L. Huron was assessed along a 1.7 km section of beach at Grand Bend, ON, Canada, where septic systems are used for wastewater disposal. The artificial sweetener acesulfame (ACE) was detected in all groundwater samples (7–842 ng/L, n = 78), revealing that the entire surficial aquifer was impacted by septic system wastewater. Nitrate concentrations (3.5 ± 1.4 mg/L, n = 78) were correlated with ACE (r² = 0.54), indicating that septic systems contribute to nitrate loading in the aquifer. Chloride was also elevated (37 ± 11 mg/L, n = 78), but was not correlated with ACE (r² = 0.008), indicating a non wastewater source was dominant, likely road salt. Soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) values were low (5.3 ± 9.3 μg/L, n = 77) and were not correlated with ACE (r² = 0.006). Sediment profiling below two of the septic system drain-fields, showed that the sand grains had distinct secondary coatings containing P, indicating that mineral precipitation reactions played a role in limiting P concentrations present in the aquifer. Groundwater nutrient loading to the lake was estimated at 13,000 kg N/year from NO₃^? and 1.9 kg P/year from SRP. These amounts are insignificant compared to nutrient loading from a stream that drains an agricultural catchment and discharges to the lake at the north end of the study site (Parkhill Creek). This calls into question, in some cases, the rationale of decommissioning properly functioning septic systems as a mitigation measure for reducing nutrient loading to nearby water courses.