EUTROPHICATION
Eutrophication is a process whereby water bodies, such as lakes, estuaries, or slow-moving streams receive excess nutrients that stimulate excessive plant growth (algae, periphyton attached algae, and nuisance plants weeds). This enhanced plant growth, often called an algal bloom, reduces dissolved oxygen in the water when dead plant material decomposes and can cause other organisms to die. Some lakes also demonstrate the reverse process , becoming less nutrient rich with time. That reverse process is called Meiotrophication.[REF 1]
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TYPES OF EUTROPHICATION
Natural Eutrophication is the process by which lakes gradually age and become more productive due to enrichment with nutrients (Nitrogen and Phosphorus). It normally takes thousands of years to progress.
Cultural Eutrophication
Cultural Eutrophication is the result of excess nutrients-primarily nitrogen and phosphorous delivered to lakes, estuaries and rivers caused by the activities of human beings. This can occur in a matter of one or two generations.eg in the Barotse Floodplain of the Zambezi river, the first floodwaters of the rainy season are usually hypoxic because of material such as cattle manure and previous decay of vegetation which grew during the dry season. These so-called "red waters" kill many fish[ref 2]
Point sources
Wastewater effluent (municipal and industrial). Runoff and leachate from waste disposal systems. Runoff and infiltration from animal feedlots. Runoff from mines, oil fields, unsewered industrial sites. Overflows of combined storm and sanitary sewers. Runoff from construction sites less than 20,000 m (220,000 ft). Untreated sewage.
Non point sources
Runoff from agriculture/irrigation. Runoff from pasture and range. Urban runoff from unsewered areas. Septic tank leachate. Runoff from construction sites >20,000 m. Runoff from abandoned mines. Atmospheric deposition over a water surface. Other land activities generating contaminants.
Oligotrophic lake with a low level of nutrients.
Artificial input of nutrients from run-off and
discharge of effluent
Eutrophic
lake with a high level of nutrients. Phosphorus is usually the bio-limiting element in freshwater lakes
Rapid growth of algae and other biomass resulting in a decrease in the concentration of dissolved oxygen.
Turbidity (cloudiness) of water increases as does rate of sedimentation
Increased growth of rooted plants such as reeds.
Increased algal booms
Development of anoxic conditions and release of noxious gases such as hydrogen sulphide and ammonia
ACCELERATED EUTROPHICATION
The process of eutrophication is greatly augmented by increased supply of nutrients through various human activities. This triggers the algal growth at a much faster rate, thus, increasing the speed of eutrophication, which otherwise would have been a slow natural phenomenon.
Causes of Eutrophication
Increase in nutrient content in water. Temperature of water. Mean depth of water. Retention period of water.
PROBLEMS AND EFFECTS
1.The water can be injurious to health. 2. The acceptance of the water may decline. 3. Increased vegetation may impede water flow and navigation. 4.Commercially important species of fish may disappear. 5.Treatment of drinking water may be difficult and supply can have an unacceptable taste or odour.
CONTROL OF EUTROPHICATION
Removing nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorous before discharging the sewage into water bodies i.e. better wastewater treatment. Elimination of phosphate from detergents to reduce the contribution of phosphorous in domestic wastewater being discharged into water bodies Effective disposal of organic matter as sludge and removal of the algal blooms by dredging. Applying solutions of chemicals like copper sulphate (an algicide) and chlorine on the surface of the water bodies susceptible to eutrophication.
Macrophyte harvesting
References
1.Walker, I. R. 2006. Chironomid overview. pp.360-366 in S.A. EIias (ed.) Encyclopedia of Quaternary Science, Vo1. 1, Elsevier. 2.Barotse floodplain, Zambia local economic dependence on wetland resources Case Studies in Wetland Valuation #2: IUCN, May 2003. 3.Wikipedia. 4.Google images.
