Nutrients
Human activities have drastically increased the amount of
nutrients (especially nitrogen and phosphorous) that reach rivers, lakes and
coasts. Excess levels of nutrients promote the growth of algae, often resulting in noxious, foul-smelling algal blooms. These blooms limit light penetration, reducing growth and health of aquatic plants, and the algae eventually
dies and are decomposed by bacteria. This process consumes oxygen and when the
demand exceeds the supply, the oxygen levels can lose the ability to support aquatic
life and are considered “hypoxic" or even "anoxic" dead zones. This can lead to massive fish kills. In addition to lowered oxygen levels,
increased algal production adversely affects aquatic vegetation and the
populations that depend on it, causing changes to food webs. Some algal blooms can even be harmful - cyanobacteria (commonly known as blue-green algae) releases dangerous toxins into the water and poses a serious public health risk.
Nutrients can come from a number of non-point sources, including fertilizers, stormwater runoff and sediment, or from point sources including wastewater treatment plant effluent. Some of the negative impacts associated with excessive nutrient levels in water bodies include:
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How do nutrients affect us locally?Renfrew County, with its strong agricultural sector and dominance of rural communities, faces some challenges when it comes to nutrient management. These challenges are not unique to Ontario or Canada, and with the sharing of information, adoption of sustainable approaches and the implementation of best management practices, our community can move forward.
Areas like the Muskrat River Watershed are known to be impacted by failing septic systems and agricultural runoff. The community is heavily invested in seeking sustainable solutions, implementing technologies and improving the local state of the environment. A reduction in the number of beach closures and algal bloom outbreaks is a realistic and achievable goal. Nutrient management is also a key requirement in the development of compost and during waste treatment processes, both activities which are ongoing in our community at a variety of locations. Our community and its partners are committed to mitigating the impacts of nutrients and our students are heavily invested in contributing to the development and implementation of those solutions. Examples of Local InitiativesWays You Can Help!
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Helpful Resources
Further information about eutrophication
Facts about cyanobacteria
http://www.cdc.gov/hab/cyanobacteria/pdfs/facts.pdf
Bishop Water Technology
http://www.bishopwater.ca/
Facts about cyanobacteria
http://www.cdc.gov/hab/cyanobacteria/pdfs/facts.pdf
Bishop Water Technology
http://www.bishopwater.ca/