EUTROPHICATION

 EUTROPHICATION

·       Eutrophication (from Greek eutrophos, "well-nourished") or Hypertrophication is the gradual increase in the concentration of phosphorus, nitrogen and other nutrients such as phosphates in an aquatic ecosystem such as a lake.

· Eutrophication is often induced by the discharge of nitrate or phosphate -containing detergents, fertilizers, or sewage into an aquatic system.

EFFECTS OF EUTROPHICATION

1)    Increasing biomass of phytoplankton resulting in 'algal blooms'.

2)    Hypoxia (reduced Dissolved oxygen content of a body of water).

3)    The algae may use up all the oxygen in the water, leaving none for other marine life. This results in the death of many aquatic organisms such as fish, which need the oxygen in the water to live.

4)    The bloom of algae may also block sunlight from photosynthetic plants under the water surface.

5)    The water can have a bad taste, color and odour which has a negative impact on tourism.

6)    Decline or loss of species biodiversity (commercially important species may disappear).

7)  Abundance of inorganic chemicals such ammonia, nitrites, hydrogen sulphide etc. that in the drinking water treatment plants induce the formation of harmful substances such as Nitrosamines suspected of Mutagenicity.

8)    Some algae even produce toxins that are harmful to higher forms of life. This can cause problems along the food chain and affect any animal that feeds on them.

9) Some phytoplankton species produce toxins that cause severe symptoms such as diarrhea, memory loss, paralysis and in severe causes death.

CONTROL OF EUTROPHICATION

1)    Restore shellfish populations, such as Oysters and Mussels. They remove Nitrogen from the water column and filter out suspended solids, subsequently reducing the likelihood or extent of harmful algal blooms.

2) Seaweeds also absorbs Phosphorus and Nitrogen, and Seaweed farming is useful to remove nutrients from over fertilized parts of the Aquatic ecosystem.

3)    Improvement of the purifying performance of Waste water treatment plants, installing Tertiary treatment systems to reduce Nutrient concentrations.

4)    Implementation of effective filter ecosystems to remove nitrogen and phosphorus present in the run-off water (such as phyto-purification plants).

5)    Reduction of phosphorous in detergents.

6)    Rationalisation of agricultural techniques through proper planning of fertilization and use of slow release fertilizers.

7)    Use of Biofertilizers in agricultural fields to limit the use of Chemical fertilizers.