Water transit time is now a standard measure in catchment hydrological and ecohydrological research. The last comprehensive review of transit time modeling approaches was published 15+ years ago. But since then the field has largely expanded with new data, theory and applications. Here, we review these new developments with focus on water-age-balance approaches and data-based approaches. We discuss and compare methods including StorAge-Selection functions, well/partially mixed compartments, water age tracking through spatially distributed models, direct transit time estimates from controlled experiments, young water fractions, and ensemble hydrograph separation. We unify some of the heterogeneity in the literature that has crept in with these many new approaches, in an attempt to clarify the key differences and similarities among them. Finally, we point to open questions in transit time research, including what we still need from theory, models, field work, and community practice.

Eutrophication of water bodies has been a problem causing severe degradation of water quality in cities. To gain mechanistic understanding of the temporal dynamics of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) in a groundwater-fed lowlying urban polder, we applied high-frequency monitoring in Geuzenveld, a polder in the city of Amsterdam. The highfrequency monitoring equipment was installed at the pumping station where water leaves the polder. From March 2016 to June 2017, total phosphorus (TP), ammonium (NH4), turbidity, electrical conductivity (EC), and water temperature were measured at intervals of less than 20 min. This paper discusses the results at three timescales: Annual scale, rain event scale, and single pumping event scale. Mixing of upwelling groundwater (main source of N and P) and runoff from precipitation on pavements and roofs was the dominant hydrological process governing the temporal pattern of the EC, while N and P fluxes from the polder were also regulated by primary production and iron transformations. In our groundwater-seepage controlled catchment, NH4 appeared to be the dominant form of N with surface water concentrations in the range of 2-6 mgNL-1, which stems from production in an organic-rich subsurface. The concentrations of NH4 in the surface water were governed by the mixing process in autumn and winter and were reduced down to 0.1 mgNL-1 during the algal growing season in spring. The depletion of dissolved NH4 in spring suggests uptake by primary producers, consistent with high concentrations of chlorophyll a, O2, and suspended solids during this period. Total P and turbidity were high during winter (range 0.5-2.5 mg P L-1 and 200-1800 FNU, respectively, where FNU represents Formazin Nephelometric Unit) due to the release of P and reduced iron from anoxic sediment to the water column, where Fe2C was rapidly oxidized and precipitated as iron oxides which contributed to turbidity. In the other seasons, P is retained in the sediment by sorption to precipitated iron oxides. Nitrogen is exported from the polder to the receiving waters throughout the whole year, mostly in the form of NH4 but in the form of organic N in spring. P leaves the polder mainly during winter, primarily associated with Fe(OH)3 colloids and as dissolved P. Based on this new understanding of the dynamics of N and P in this low-lying urban catchment, we suggested management strategies that may effectively control and reduce eutrophication in urban polders and receiving downstream waters.

Urban areas in coastal lowlands host a significant part of the world's population. In these areas, cities have often expanded to unfavorable locations that have to be drained or where excess rain water and groundwater need to be pumped away in order to maintain dry feet for its citizens. As a result, groundwater seepage influences surface water quality in many of such urban lowland catchments. This study aims at identifying the flow routes and mixing processes that control surface water quality in the groundwater-influenced urban catchment Polder Geuzenveld, which is part of the city of Amsterdam. Geuzenveld is a highly paved urban area with a subsurface rain water collection system, a groundwater drainage system, and a main surface water system that receive runoff from pavement and roofs, shallow groundwater and direct groundwater seepage, respectively. We conducted a field survey and systematic monitoring to identify the spatial and temporal variations in water quality in runoff, ditch water, drain water, and shallow and deep groundwater. We found that Geuzenveld receives a substantial inflow of deep, O ₂ -depleted groundwater, which is enriched in ammonium and phosphorus due to the subsurface mineralization of organic matter under sulfate-reducing conditions. This groundwater is mixed in the ditches during wet periods with O ₂ -rich runoff, and iron- and phosphate-rich drain water. Unlike natural catchments, the newly created, separated urban flow routes lead to mixing of water in the main surface water itself, shortcutting much of the soil and shallow subsurface. This leads to low O ₂ and high ammonia concentrations in dry periods, which might be mitigated by water level management or artificially increasing O ₂ levels by water inlet or artificially aeration of the main water canals. Further research is necessary how to optimize artificial urban systems to deliver a better ecological and chemical status of the surface water.

Compound-specific stable isotope analysis (CSIA) has proven beneficial in the characterization of contaminant degradation in groundwater, but it has never been used to assess pesticide transformation on catchment scale. This study presents concentration and carbon CSIA data of the herbicides S-metolachlor and acetochlor from three locations (plot, drain, and catchment outlets) in a 47ha agricultural catchment (Bas-Rhin, France). Herbicide concentrations at the catchment outlet were highest (62μgL^-1) in response to an intense rainfall event following herbicide application. Increasing δ¹³C values of S-metolachlor and acetochlor by more than 2‰ during the study period indicated herbicide degradation. To assist the interpretation of these data, discharge, concentrations, and δ¹³C values of S-metolachlor were modelled with a conceptual mathematical model using the transport formulation by travel-time distributions. Testing of different model setups supported the assumption that degradation half-lives (DT50) increase with increasing soil depth, which can be straightforwardly implemented in conceptual models using travel-time distributions. Moreover, model calibration yielded an estimate of a field-integrated isotopic enrichment factor as opposed to laboratory-based assessments of enrichment factors in closed systems. Thirdly, the Rayleigh equation commonly applied in groundwater studies was tested by our model for its potential to quantify degradation on catchment scale. It provided conservative estimates on the extent of degradation as occurred in stream samples. However, largely exceeding the simulated degradation within the entire catchment, these estimates were not representative of overall degradation on catchment scale. The conceptual modelling approach thus enabled us to upscale sample-based CSIA information on degradation to the catchment scale. Overall, this study demonstrates the benefit of combining monitoring and conceptual modelling of concentration and CSIA data and advocates the use of travel-time distributions for assessing pesticide fate and transport on catchment scale.