Terrestrial groundwater travels through subterranean estuaries before reaching the sea. Groundwater‐derived nutrients drive coastal water quality, primary production, and eutrophication. We determined how dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN), dissolved inorganic phosphorus (DIP), and dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) are transformed within subterranean estuaries and estimated submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) nutrient loads compiling > 10,000 groundwater samples from 216 sites worldwide. Nutrients exhibited complex, nonconservative behavior in subterranean estuaries. Fresh groundwater DIN and DIP are usually produced, and DON is consumed during transport. Median total SGD (saline and fresh) fluxes globally were 5.4, 2.6, and 0.18 Tmol yr⁻¹ for DIN, DON, and DIP, respectively. Despite large natural variability, total SGD fluxes likely exceed global riverine nutrient export. Fresh SGD is a small source of new nutrients, but saline SGD is an important source of mostly recycled nutrients. Nutrients exported via SGD via subterranean estuaries are critical to coastal biogeochemistry and a significant nutrient source to the oceans.

This paper evaluates environmental conditions responsible for the high concentrations of trace metals in Indonesian coastal groundwater. Indramayu, which has significant potential groundwater resources, but for which limited information is available regarding its vulnerability, is selected as our study area. Results show that Fe²⁺ and Mn²⁺ are natural contaminants in the groundwater of the study site. The correlations of trace metals with salinity and redox-sensitive parameters verify that saline water has a significant impact upon the dissolution of Fe and Mn. Furthermore, reductive condition is confirmed to be responsible for Fe and Mn dissolution with a less significant correlation compared to salinity. Moreover, the high concentrations of trace metals are coupled with high dissolved organic carbon (DOC), which indicates that reductive environment may arise because of organic-matter decomposition. Finally, the impact of human activity upon Fe and Mn dissolution is identified at the northern tip of Indramayu, where trace-metal contents are significantly elevated. Further, in the southern part, the groundwater condition is relatively more natural; thus, the impact of human activity upon the presence of Fe and Mn is lesser in this region.

The origin of ammonium-nitrogen in Indonesian coastal groundwater has not been intensively examined, meanwhile the elevated concentration remains a concern. This research aims at tracing the potential sources of ammonium-nitrogen in the groundwater of Indramayu, Indonesia where groundwater is vital for livelihood. From results, a combined examination of nitrogen isotope, coliform bacteria, land-use, and geology confirmed the natural and anthropogenic origins of ammonium-nitrogen in the groundwater. In the brackish-water aquaculture region, groundwater has δ¹⁵N_NH4 values from +1.8 to +4.8‰ signifying that ammonium-nitrogen is derived from mineralization of organic nitrogen to ammonium. Furthermore, ammonium has a significantly positive relationship with sodium indicating the exchangeable ammonium is mobilized to groundwater via cation exchange. Meanwhile ammonium-nitrogen from anthropogenic waste was detected in agricultural and residential region. The groundwater has more varied δ¹⁵N_NH4 values, from −2.9 to +16.1‰, which implies attenuation of ammonium-nitrogen from several sources namely manure, mineral fertilizer, sewage, and pit latrines. Also, the presence of E. coli confirms the indication of human and animal waste contamination. However, since ammonium has no relationship with sodium, cation exchange is not feasible and ammonium-nitrogen flows into the groundwater from anthropogenic sources along with liquid wastes.