Development of a combined isotopic and mass-balance approach to determine dissolved organic carbon sources in eutrophic reservoirs

A combined mass-balance and stable isotope approach was set up to identify and quantify dissolved organic carbon (DOC) sources in a DOC-rich (9 mg L−1) eutrophic reservoir located in Western France and used for drinking water supply (so-called Rophemel reservoir). The mass-balance approach consisted in measuring the flux of allochthonous DOC on a daily basis, and in comparing it with the effective (measured) DOC concentration of the reservoir. The isotopic approach consisted, for its part, in measuring the carbon isotope ratios (δ13C values) of both allochthonous and autochthonous DOC sources, and comparing these values with the δ13C values of the reservoir DOC. Results from both approaches were consistent pointing out for a DOC of 100% allochthonous origin. In particular, the δ13C values of the DOC recovered in the reservoir (−28.5 ± 0.2‰; n = 22) during the algal bloom season (May–September) showed no trace of an autochthonous contribution (δ13C in algae = −30.1 ± 0.3‰; n = 2) being indistinguishable from the δ13C values of allochthonous DOC from inflowing rivers (−28.6 ± 0.1‰; n = 8). These results demonstrate that eutrophication is not responsible for the high DOC concentrations observed in the Rophemel reservoir and that limiting eutrophication of this reservoir will not reduce the potential formation of disinfection by-products during water treatment. The methodology developed in this study based on a complementary isotopic and mass-balance approach provides a powerful tool, suitable to identify and quantify DOC sources in eutrophic, DOC-contaminated reservoirs.

Research highlights
► Mass-balance and carbon isotopic signature of dissolved organic carbon in an eutrophic reservoir.
► Identification and quantification of allochthonous sources relative to autochthonous sources.
► No DOC sources derived from phytoplankton degradation.
► No evidence of organic matter desorption from sediments.