By Sakshi Kabra Malpani, Publishing Associate: Researcher and Writer at Save the Water™ | December 26, 2024
Edited by Joshua Awolaye, Publishing Associate: Editor at Save the Water™
Nutrient pollution, mainly from nitrogen and phosphorus, greatly affects water bodies around the globe. Overuse of fertilizers in agricultural practices is one major way these nutrients get into aquatic ecosystems. Additionally, it also affects the natural balance, breaks up oxygen levels, and harms aquatic life.
What are the Sources of Nutrient Pollution?
This happens mostly due to human actions. The key sources of this pollution include:
- Farm Discharge: Fertilizers, manure, and pesticides rich in nitrogen and phosphorus, are necessary for plant growth. When used in excess amounts, rainfall or irrigation water carries them into nearby streams, rivers, and lakes. This raises the level of nutrients and causes water pollution.
- Urban Runoff: Sanitary sewer discharges, pet and gardening waste, etc., raise nutrient levels when disposed of in water bodies. Nutrient levels are very high in areas with little green space and vegetation.
- Wastewater Treatment Plants: Municipal and industrial wastewater treatment facilities release various runoffs full of these chemicals. Although treatment processes help reduce the levels of these nutrients, residual amounts are often released into water bodies.
- Atmospheric Deposition: These are nitrogen compounds from the burning of fossil fuels, agricultural by-products, industrial smoke, and waste from power plants. They are deposited on water surfaces and contribute to nutrient pollution in water bodies.
Impact on Water Bodies
When too many nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus enter water, they cause plants and algae to grow super fast. This process is called “eutrophication“. The massive algae growth creates thick, green layers that block sunlight and consume oxygen in the water.
These algal blooms, especially blue-green algae, produce toxins that make water unsafe for animals and humans. Furthermore, as the algae die and decay, they further deplete oxygen, creating “dead zones” where marine life cannot survive. Thus, this affects entire aquatic ecosystems, turning parts of lakes, rivers, and oceans into places where almost nothing can live.
Strategies to Fight Nutrient Pollution
- Better Farming Practices: Modern methods like precision agriculture, contour farming, organic farming, crop rotation, better drainage systems, and reduced use of fertilizers can improve soil health. As a result, this can reduce nutrient runoff.
- Upgrade of Wastewater Treatment Plants: Advanced technologies, such as membrane filters, bioreactors, activated sludge, and denitrification can help reduce the nitrogen and phosphorus content in wastewater treatment plants.
- Runoff Management in Cities: Green solutions can help reduce nutrient run-off into water bodies. This involves the use of rain gardens, permeable pavements, green roofs, rain barrels, and underground drains.
- Using the ‘4R’ Approach: This means
- Reducing sources of nutrient pollution,
- Retention in using these sources,
- Reusing nutrients in farming, and
- Restoring water.
- Rules and Policies: The government should develop rules to limit nutrient pollution from industries, farms, and cities. Financial incentives, like eco-friendly farming subsidies or funding for green city projects, can encourage the public to adopt nutrient-reducing methods. Moreover, a theoretical model designed for river Alde showed that pollution trading is a sustainable solution to improve water quality.
- Monitoring: Regular water testing helps find nutrient pollution sources and levels. It also measures changes over time to see if the solutions are working. Technologies like global positioning systems (GPS), remote sensing, and models collect more precise data for monitoring.
What Can You Do?
Despite efforts to control nutrient pollution, there is still little progress in this matter. We can help by teaching farmers better ways to manage nutrients. Supporting government programs and funding is also important. Additionally, at home, we should check our water quality regularly. Spreading the word about nutrient pollution, its risks, and ways to curb can also make a difference.
