Phosphorus and phosphor-you

Phosphorus is usually present in bodies of water as phosphates. In moderate amounts, phosphorus is an essential nutrient for the healthy growth of aquatic plants and animals. Proper levels yield more food for fish and other wildlife.

However, excess amounts of phosphorus in the form of phosphates in bodies of water can negatively affect aquatic environments. When phosphorus is found at levels greater than 0.04 mg/L, it can over stimulate plant growth, causing rapid growth of plants including algae. As the nutrient levels increase there is more plants growing. These plants use up mass amounts of oxygen, thus decreasing the amount of oxygen available for other organisms to use. Fish and other aquatic species can die due to the lack of oxygen. As these plants die and begin to decompose via aerobic bacteria, oxygen concentrations within the water decrease making it hard for other species to live or grow there. After the algae dies, the decomposing algae can wash up along the shore, resulting in a dark, smelly substance coating the shoreline.

From lawns to lakes
Phosphorus occurs naturally in rocks and other mineral deposits; however human activity and weather are other sources of phosphorus. For example, phosphorus levels can become high in aquatic environments following heavy rainfall. This is because rain creates runoff from lawns or agricultural land that has been sprayed with fertilizers containing phosphates. When it rains, varying amounts of phosphates wash away from lawns or farmlands and into nearby waterways. Also, malfunctioning or faulty septic systems can cause high levels of nitrates and phosphates to flow directly into bodies of water. Overflowing systems will result in raw sewage pooling over top of the system and rainfall can easily wash this nutrient rich effluent into waterways. Your leaching bed is designed to filter out harmful nutrients and other contaminants, if it’s not functioning properly, these nutrients will reach aquatic environments. Many household products contain phosphates too, which adds excess phosphates to your septic system that could reach waterways.

Keeping phosphorus out of our waterways
Excess phosphorus causes odors, aesthetic issues, and beach closures. Luckily, homeowners can reduce the chance of excess nutrients reaching our waterways.   Be sure to always maintain your septic system by getting it inspected and pumped out regularly so your system can properly filter out excess nutrients. Also, when purchasing household cleaners, look for phosphate free products to keep our waterways looking beautiful.