Groundwater Quality, Flow, and Nitrogen Pollution at the Southern Foot of Mt. Fuji

Water samples (number of samples=52) were collected from the vicinity of the southern foot of Mt. Fuji, central Japan, and were analyzed for major elements (Si, Al, Fe, Mg, Ca, Na, K, Cl-, HCO3-, NO3-, etc.) and other chemical properties (pH, EC, ORP, etc.). The results show that major element concentrations increase with decreasing elevation, particularly at a lowelevation site. In the Yoshihara area, located at the southwestern foot, anion and cation concentrations vary widely and increase from west to east. In this area, water samples with a high total concentration tend to contain a high NO3concentration, suggesting NO3pollution of the groundwater. By contrast, in the southeastern area, NO3pollution was not recognized. Based on nitrogen isotopic and ionic concentration data, the high NO3concentration in the southwestern area is considered to be due to inorganic fertilizer (e.g. (NH4)2SO4) used at tea farms. Analytical results show two groundwater flows in a high-elevation area along the Urui River and in the direction from a high-elevation site at the southwestern foot toward Susono City, and that they mix together at a low-elevation site. In the southeastern foot area, two groundwater flows derive from a high-elevation site on Mt. Fuji along the Gotenba mudflow and the Mishima lava flow. The latter groundwater mixes with groundwater derived from Ashitaka and the Hakone mountains.