Eutrophication

What is eutrophication?
The addition of nutrients to an aquatic
ecosystem which causes an increased
growth of autotrophs.
Why does it occur?
Eutrophication can be a natural process of an
aging lake. It happens when the nutrients
added are greater than the nutrients used.
To be eutrophic means to be full of nutrients.
It is not always a bad thing for a lake to be
eutrophic.

Natural Eutrophication takes centuries to occur!

The Human Effect
When humans add nutrients to a lake, and its
inhabitants eventually suffer, this is called
Artificial/Cultural Eutrophication.
The input of nutrients increases far beyond
what the natural capacity of the lake should
be. Cootes
Paradise
Google Earth
July 2009
Top 4 Artificial Nutrient Sources:
1. Partially treated and untreated sewage
(phosphates)
2. Runoff from agricultural sites (nitrates)
3. Home lawn fertilizer use. (nitrates)
4. Home detergent use (phosphates) and
chemical fertilizers have greatly increased
the amount of nitrates and phosphates
that are washed into our lakes and ponds.
 http://youtu.be/UGqZsSuG7ao 1.29min

The Eutrophication Process

 When phosphates and nitrates are added, the plants
begin to grow explosively and algae takes off, or
“blooms”.
 Plants and algae consume greater amounts of oxygen in
the water, robbing fish and other species of necessary
oxygen.
 The algae dies and falls to the bottom of the lake,
bacteria decompose the plants (which requires oxygen).
 The lack of oxygen results in the death of biotic factors
below the surface of the water.
 The cycle continues until the lake dies and…
The lake eventually fills in.
1. Nutrients added
2. Plants fertilized,
increased growth
3. Plants increase,
causing decreased light
4. Plants die, then decompose,
causing decreased oxygen

5. Low oxygen, animals die

6. More decomposing plants and animals, less oxygen – continues until
The lake is dead except for surface plants
What can we do?
Reducing eutrophication should be a key
concern when considering future laws and
regulations
Sustainable solutions for everyone, including
farmers and ranchers
Use phosphate-free soaps
??? Ideas ???
Canada moves to cut phosphates to fight algae
problem
Last Updated: Saturday, February 16, 2008 | 7:43 PM ET CBC News

The federal government has announced it will further limit the

use of phosphates in household detergents to help control
harmful blue-green algae growth in Canadian lakes and
waterways.

By 2010, all laundry and dishwasher detergents, and "if

warranted" in some general household cleaners sold in Canada,
will contain no more than 0.5 per cent phosphates by weight,
federal Environment Minister John Baird said Friday in Montreal.

At the moment, the phosphorus limit in laundry detergent is 2.2

per cent.