Elevated ammonium concentrations from wastewater discharge depress primary productivity in the Sacramento River and the Northern San Francisco Estuary

Abstract

Primary production in the Northern San Francisco Estuary (SFE) has been declining despite heavy loading of anthropogenic nutrients. The inorganic nitrogen (N) loading comes primarily from municipal wastewater treatment plant (WTP) discharge as ammonium (NH(4)). This study investigated the consequences for river and estuarine phytoplankton of the daily discharge of 15 metric tons NH(4)-N into the Sacramento River that feeds the SFE. Consistent patterns of nutrients and phytoplankton responses were observed during two 150-km transects made in spring 2009. Phytoplankton N productivity shifted from NO(3) use upstream of the WTP to productivity based entirely upon NH(4) downstream. Phytoplankton NH(4) uptake declined downstream of the WTP as NH(4) concentrations increased, suggesting NH(4) inhibition. The reduced total N uptake downstream of the WTP was accompanied by a 60% decline in primary production. These findings indicate that increased anthropogenic NH(4) may decrease estuarine primary production and increase export of NH(4) to the coastal ocean.