Phosphates and dissolved oxygen :: essays research papers

Phosphates are express in many natural peeings, such as lakes and streams. Phosphates are essential to aquatic plant evolution, plainly too more than phosphate can leave to the proceeds of algae and results in an algae bloom. Too much algae can cause a decrease in the amount in dissolved oxygen in the water. Oxygen in water is unnatural in many different ways by phosphatesPhosphorus is ordinarily present in natural waters as phosphate(Mcwelsh and Raintree, 1998). Phosphates are present in plant foods and laundry detergents and can enter the water from agricultural runoff, industrial waste, and sewer discharge (Outwater,1996) . Phosphates, like nitrates, are plant nutrients (Phosphates, 1997). When too much phosphate enters a water, plant growth flourishes (Phosphates). Phosphates also stimulate the growth of algae which can result in an algae bloom(World Book Encyclopedia,1999). . alga blooms are easily recognized as layers of green slime, and can last crest the waters surface. As the plants and algae grow, they choke out other organisms. These self-aggrandising plant populations produce oxygen in the upper layers of the water barely when the plants die and fall to the bottom, they are decomposed by bacteria which use a lot of the dissolved oxygen in the woefuler layers (Phosphates). Bodies of water with luxuriously levels of phosphates usually have high biological oxygen demand (BOD) levels cod to the bacteria consuming the organic plant waste and subsequent low dissolved oxygen levels(Hooper,1998). The addition of large quantities of phosphates to waterways accelerates algae and plant growth in natural waters (Hooper), enhancing eutrophication and depleting the water body of oxygen. This can run to fish kills and the degradation of habitat with loss Boyington 5 of species. Large mats of algae can form and in severe cases can completely cover small lakes. Dying plants and algae will create phosphates while decaying, as a result, water can become putrid from decaying organic subject field (World Book Encyclopedia). When the concentration of phosphates rises above 100 mg/liter the coagulation processes in drinking water treatment plants may be adversely affected (World Book Encyclopedia). Manmade sources of phosphate include human sewage, agricultural run-off from crops, sewage from animal feedlots, pulp and paper industry, vegetable and fruit processing, chemical and fertilizer manufacturing, and detergents.Dissolved oxygen is one of the best indicators of the health of a water ecosystem. Dissolved oxygen can range from 0-18 parts per million (ppm), but most natural water systems require 5-6 parts per million to bear out a diverse population (Phosphates).