Read MoreNutrient pollution poses a significant health risk to coastal and clean waters.
by Kriss Perras Running Waters | As a result of interdependent factors, the amount of nutrient pollution entering our waters has significantly increased over the past 50 years. It enters our aquatic systems via the air and surface and ground waters. Nitrogen and phosphorus, forms of nutrient pollution released into freshwater and coastal areas, comes from a wide range of sources. "There are many sources of phosphorus, both natural and human. These include soil and rocks, wastewater treatment plants, runoff from fertilized lawns and cropland, failing septic systems, runoff from animal manure storage areas, disturbed land areas, drained wetlands, water treatment and commercial cleaning preparations," reports the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The sources considered here include: fossil fuel combustion; agriculture and industry; urban stormwater runoff, urban wastewater and septic tanks. Read More