Phosphorus Pollution Control

Phosphorus Pollution Control – Policies and Strategies Deterioration and decline of water resources due to pollution caused by humans and their activities has become a universal health, environmental, social and economic problem. Excess discharges of nutrients, in particular, phosphorus, has been recognized as the most prevalent water pollution problem globally. Moreover, its perpetual occurrence and expansion creates imminent threats to water and food security. Despite extensive research during the past five decades, many key questions in eutrophication science remain unanswered. This book summarizes the most recent policies and strategies for phosphorus removal and recovery from municipal, residential and agricultural wastewater effluents and runoff into a concise and up-to-date volume. The book will be of interest to environmental and water resources scientists and engineers, consultants, policy makers, and practitioners working in the field.

Phosphorus in Fresh Water and the Marine Environment investigates sources of phosphorus in fresh water and the marine environment and the problems it causes. The importance of phosphate precipitation as an inbuilt safety device against overproduction of algae in the oceans is discussed, along with the deposition and absorption of phosphates in sediments. The source of the phosphorus in lakes and rivers is considered in relation to population density and distribution. This book is comprised of 26 chapters and begins with a discussion on natural phosphate sources in relation to phosphate budgets, paying particular attention to eutrophication and soil erosion. The significance of man-made sources of phosphorus, such as fertilizers and farming, detergents and sewage, is then examined. Subsequent chapters focus on the role of phosphorus in the growth of plants and animals in rivers, lakes, and the sea; the hydrogeochemical cycling of phosphorus; phosphorus analysis in sea water; and safety evaluation of substitutes for phosphates in detergents. The microbiology of an activated sludge wastewater treatment plant chemically treated for phosphorus removal is also explored. This monograph will be of interest to policymakers concerned with water pollution control.

Environmental problems in coastal ecosystems can sometimes be attributed to excess nutrients flowing from upstream watersheds into estuarine settings. This nutrient over-enrichment can result in toxic algal blooms, shellfish poisoning, coral reef destruction, and other harmful outcomes. All U.S. coasts show signs of nutrient over-enrichment, and scientists predict worsening problems in the years ahead. Clean Coastal Waters explains technical aspects of nutrient over-enrichment and proposes both immediate local action by coastal managers and a longer-term national strategy incorporating policy design, classification of affected sites, law and regulation, coordination, and communication. Highlighting the Gulf of Mexico's "Dead Zone," the Pfiesteria outbreak in a tributary of Chesapeake Bay, and other cases, the book explains how nutrients work in the environment, why nitrogen is important, how enrichment turns into over-enrichment, and why some environments are especially susceptible. Economic as well as ecological impacts are examined. In addressing abatement strategies, the committee discusses the importance of monitoring sites, developing useful models of over-enrichment, and setting water quality goals. The book also reviews voluntary programs, mandatory controls, tax incentives, and other policy options for reducing the flow of nutrients from agricultural operations and other sources.