Why is there so much information in the report about nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorous)? What are the primary sources of nutrients in the Study Unit?
The term “nutrients” sounds like a good thing. Unfortunately, elevated concentrations of nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus) in streams can have substantial environmental and economic consequences, in addition to human health concerns. Ingestion of drinking water with high nitrate concentrations can cause low oxygen levels in the blood of infants, a potentially fatal condition known as methemoglobinemia, or blue baby syndrome. Because of these health concerns, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) set the drinking-water standard for nitrate at 10 milligrams per liter. Elevated nutrient concentrations can lead to excessive and unsightly growth of algae and other aquatic plants, which can clog water-intake pipes and filters and can interfere with recreational activities such as fishing, swimming, and boating. The decay of plants often results in foul odors, bad taste, and low dissolved oxygen concentrations in water (or hypoxia, which can cause fish kills). Excessive growth of
Related Questions
- Why is there so much information in the report about nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorous)? What are the primary sources of nutrients in the Study Unit?
- Can the GreenNRG system use feed water streams that are high in nutrients such as phosphorous and nitrogen?
- How are nitrogen and phosphorous used in the ecosystem?
