Determining the origin of Al in the outflow from a forest watershed of a suburban forest in Japan by analysis of size distribution

This study clarified the origin of Al in spring water and stream water by analyzing the size distribution of Al of ground water, spring water, stream water, and soil extracts obtained by batch and column experiments using samples from a suburban secondary forest on granite bedrock in Aichi Prefecture. The high concentration of dissolved Al (Al_0.45; fraction through 0.45-μm filter) in water samples obtained from this study site was divided into completely dissolved and small colloidal forms (<0.20 μm; Al_0.20) and large colloidal forms (0.20–0.45 μm). More than 50% of dissolved Al (Al_0.45) in spring water existed in large colloidal form. By comparing the size distribution and concentration of various elements including Al in the samples from soil batch and column experiments, we suggest that the high concentration of Al in spring water is caused by the release of Al from surface soils when ground water emerges as spring water.