What are sources of phosphorus in groundwater?
Concentrations of phosphorus in rocks may be as much as 1,000 mg/kg (parts per million). Considerable amounts are tied up in vegetation. Human activity has altered the phosphorus cycle by introducing fertilizer, detergents and excess human/animal wastes in the form of sludge. Phosphorus is immobile and will not reach groundwater in appreciable quantities except under certain conditions. -low soil attenuation capacity (ex. Soils with low concentrations of iron, aluminum, and manganese) -preferential transport of phosphorus-containing wastes through soil to ground-water (ex.
