Nutrients  Why monitor nutrients? –Plant and algae growth  Carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, oxygen, silica, magnesium, potassium, calcium, iron, zinc, and copper –Health concerns  Reproductive problems  Methemoglobinemia in infants –Global warming  Ozone depletion

Nutrients  Eutrophication –High nutrient concentrations stimulate excessive algal blooms

Nutrients  Phytoplankton blooms –Could cause decrease of SAV –Harmful  Hypoxic  Anoxic

Nutrient Sources  Natural Sources 1.Freshwater running over geologic formations 2.Decomposing organic matter 3.Extraction from the atmosphere

Nutrient Sources  Anthropogenic Sources 1.Atmospheric deposition 2.Surface water 3.Groundwater

Nutrient Levels  Water & Wastewater samples –Milligrams per liter  mg/L –Micrograms per liter  μg/L  Air, soils, sludges, & semisolids –Parts per million  ppm –Parts per billion  ppb

Nutrient Levels  Safe Water Drinking Act –Passed in 1974 –Maximum Contaminant Levels –National Primary Drinking Water Regulations

The Different Forms of Nutrients  Determined by environmental conditions  Nitrogen: –NitrateNO 3 - –NitriteNO 2 - –NO –NO 2 –AmmoniumNH 4 + –AmmoniaNH 3 –UreaOrganic form NO x

The Nitrogen Cycle

Forms of Phosphorus  Phosphorus occurs naturally in rocks –Weathering releases phosphate ions (PO 4 -3 )  Inorganic –Orthophosphates –Polyphosphates (Metaphosphates)  Organic phosphate

Forms of Phosphorus  Orthophosphates –Readily available to the biological community –Typically found in low concentrations in unpolluted waters  H 3 PO 4  H 2 PO 4 -  HPO 4 2-  PO 4 3-

Forms of Phosphorus  Organic –Phosphate bound or tied up in plant tissue, waste solids, or other organic material –When decomposed thru bacterial action, phosphate released and returned to environment

Phosphate Cycle