EutrophicationEutrophication 4 4AssessingAssessing,, Monitoring and Monitoring and

RemediationRemediation

Alice NewtonAlice Newton

Assessing EutrophicationAssessing Eutrophication

Monitoring Monitoring EUEUtrophication, trophication, EEAEEA

· nutrients: TP (year round and winter), PO4 (winter), TN (year round and winter), NO3 (winter), NO2 (winter), NO3+ NO2 (winter), NH4 (winter),

TN/TP (year round) and SiO3 (winter);

•watershed input: TN, TP and TC entering the water system.

· oxygen level: dissolved oxygen concentration or saturation in bottom water layer;

· transparency: Secchi depths (summer);

· phytoplankton: algal blooms, toxic algae, Phaeocystis sp., diatom/flagellate ratio (spring and summer) and chlorophyll-a (summer);

· benthic vegetation: seagrasses (cover and maximum depth occurrence) and seaweeds (cover and maximum depth occurrence); micro-phytobenthos biomass;

· benthic fauna: macro-zoobenthos biomass;

EUEU

1980’s Environmental Legislation 1980’s Environmental Legislation and Directives and Directives

Nitrate Directive, Nitrate Directive, Urban Waste Water Directive,Urban Waste Water Directive,Drinking Water Directive Drinking Water Directive

Assessment of Impact of EU Assessment of Impact of EU Directives on PDirectives on PPhosphorusPhosphorus concentrations in severely concentrations in severely

affected affected lakeslakes have have decreaseddecreased significantly significantly

Phosphorus concentrations in Phosphorus concentrations in major riversmajor rivers have have decreaseddecreased significantly over the last significantly over the last 15 years 15 years

No clear trend in coastal watersNo clear trend in coastal watersDirectiveDirective: The Urban Waste Water : The Urban Waste Water ActionAction: investment by EEA member : investment by EEA member

countries in nutrient removal countries in nutrient removal

Assessment of Impact of EU Assessment of Impact of EU Directives on NDirectives on NNitrogen pollution has been reduced to a Nitrogen pollution has been reduced to a

far lesser extentfar lesser extentNitrogen surplus from agriculture at the Nitrogen surplus from agriculture at the

same concentration as in 1990 same concentration as in 1990 Nitrate concentrations have remained Nitrate concentrations have remained

constant and highconstant and high. . Nitrate concentrations in many Nitrate concentrations in many

groundwater supplies groundwater supplies exceed limits set by exceed limits set by the Drinking Water Directivethe Drinking Water Directive..

EEA assessment of Nutrients EEA assessment of Nutrients and Eutrophicationand Eutrophication

Late 1990’s Late 1990’s Little or No improvement in N Little or No improvement in N

despite Nitrate Directivedespite Nitrate DirectiveNeed for more comprehensive Need for more comprehensive

Environmental legislationEnvironmental legislation

Water Framework Directive, WFDWater Framework Directive, WFD

2000 WFD 2000 WFD Water Framework DirectiveWater Framework Directive

CISCIS Common Implementation Common Implementation StrategyStrategy

Guidance documentsGuidance documentsGIG GIG Geographical Intercalibration Geographical Intercalibration

Groups e.g. Portugal and Norway Groups e.g. Portugal and Norway belong to belong to NEANEA North East Atlantic North East Atlantic

DPSIR DPSIR assessment framework for assessment framework for eutrophication in coastal eutrophication in coastal EU EU waterswaters

DDriving forcesriving forces, P, Pressuresressures, S, Statetate, I, Impactmpact, R, Responsesesponses

IIndicatorndicator PPolicy issueolicy issue DPSIRDPSIR

N & P in riversN & P in rivers do we see the results of nutrient policies in do we see the results of nutrient policies in rivers?rivers?

statestate

N run-offN run-off what have been the main contributions to the what have been the main contributions to the total load of nitrogen?total load of nitrogen?

pressurepressure

N balanceN balance has agriculture balanced its inputs and ouputs has agriculture balanced its inputs and ouputs of nutrients?of nutrients?

pressurepressure

P loadP load what have been the main contributions to the what have been the main contributions to the total load of phosphorous?total load of phosphorous?

pressurepressure

P from treatment P from treatment plantsplants

what has been the result of the urban what has been the result of the urban wastewater directive and national measures?wastewater directive and national measures?

pressurepressure

wastewater treatedwastewater treated what has been the result of the urban what has been the result of the urban wastewater directive and national measures?wastewater directive and national measures?

responseresponse

NO3 in NO3 in groundwatergroundwater

how often are groundwater quality aims for how often are groundwater quality aims for nitrogen exceeded?nitrogen exceeded?

statestate

P in lakesP in lakes do we see the results of a decrease in do we see the results of a decrease in phosphorous emissions?phosphorous emissions?

statestate

PO4 in coastal PO4 in coastal waterwater

do we see the results of nutrient policies in do we see the results of nutrient policies in coastal waters?coastal waters?

statestate

NO3 in coastal NO3 in coastal waterwater

what has been the result of the urban what has been the result of the urban wastewater directive and national measures?wastewater directive and national measures?

statestate

USA USA National Estuaries National Estuaries AssessmentAssessment

…different approach…different approach1.1.Eutrophication Severity and ExtentEutrophication Severity and Extent

2.2.Symptoms of Eutrophication in EstuariesSymptoms of Eutrophication in Estuaries

3.3.Human Influence on EutrophicationHuman Influence on Eutrophication

4.4.Impaired Uses of EstuariesImpaired Uses of Estuaries

5.5.Potential Management ConcernsPotential Management Concerns

6.6.Future Eutrophic Conditions, 2020Future Eutrophic Conditions, 2020

7.7.Data Gaps and Research NeedsData Gaps and Research Needs

8.8.National StrategyNational Strategy

Simplified Eutrofication

Model of NEEA

Now updated through ASSETS

(Compare these to Cloern)

Expanded Eutrophication Model, Expanded Eutrophication Model, NEEANEEA

Severity and ExtentSeverity and Extent

High eutrophic conditions:44 estuaries,40% of the total estuarine surface area studied.

…Where?all coasts most prevalent in

Gulf of Mexico Middle Atlantic coasts

Moderate conditions : 40 estuaries 25 % of the total estuarine surface area studied.

Matrix for

Determining

Level of

Eutrophication

NEEA

Symptoms of Eutrophication in Symptoms of Eutrophication in EstuariesEstuaries

•82 estuaries•67% of estuarine surface area •moderate to high expressions of the

following symptoms: • depleted dissolved oxygen, • loss of submerged vegetation,• and nuisance/toxic algal blooms.

Eutrophication and Nutrient Eutrophication and Nutrient InputsInputs

44 Estuaries have high levels of eutrophication

Few, 6 /44, have high level N inputs. Half, 22 / 44, have moderate-level N

inputs.

Human Influence on Human Influence on EutrophicationEutrophication

A high level of human influence in 36/44 estuaries with high eutrophic conditions.

NEEA

Estuarine export potential and Estuarine export potential and susceptibilitysusceptibility

25/ 44 estuaries have a high susceptibility to retaining nutrients.

Important observation… according to these results, the physical characteristics of the estuary are often more important than nutrient inputs!

SusceptibilitySusceptibilityAdditional factors may influence Additional factors may influence

susceptibility of a system to susceptibility of a system to eutrophication eutrophication e.g.:e.g.:Tidal flushing and dilutionTidal flushing and dilutionLight regimeLight regimeZooplankton grazingZooplankton grazingBenthic suspension feedersBenthic suspension feedersClimate changeClimate change

NEEA

Impaired Uses of EstuariesImpaired Uses of Estuaries

69 estuaries have human-use impairments related to eutrophication.

Commercial/recreational fishing and shellfisheries most frequently affected in 43 and 46 estuaries, respectively.

Potential Management Potential Management ConcernsConcerns

23 estuaries require greater management effort and longer time, ~ 10% of the estuarine surface area.

10 estuaries should be priorities for preventive management, ~ 3% of the estuarine surface area.

Typical point and nonpoint pollution sources identified as important to target in order to manage nutrient problems.

NEEA

Future of Eutrophication USA Future of Eutrophication USA (2020)(2020)

Most likely worsen in 86 estuaries by the year 2020.

Of the 86 estuaries expected to worsen, 43 exhibit only low to moderate eutrophic conditions.

10 estuaries that exhibit low eutrophic conditions and have high susceptibility are most at risk of future degradation if human-related nutrient inputs increase.

Data Gaps and Research Data Gaps and Research NeedsNeeds Information and knowledge is still inadequate in 48 estuaries

Research to clarify the linkages between eutrophication and impacts on estuarine resources: fisheries, recreation and tourism risks to human health.

Adequately characterize and quantify nutrient pressure on estuaries: total nutrient inputs inputs by source estimators of nutrient pressure (e.g., population, land use). Atmospheric and groundwater inputs are least well quantified.

Better characterization of physical factors, including: basic circulation patterns, effects of weather patterns, climate change, changing land use, resultant effects on nutrient delivery, circulation, and eutrophic conditions.

Defining the relationship between nutrient inputs and toxic blooms Characterization of assimilative capacity Characterization of the effects of seasonal population changes.

National USA StrategyNational USA StrategyContinue AssessmentImplement ManagementContinue MonitoringPreventionResearchIntegrate with regional, state, and local

programs…But then, there was a change of

administration!

RemediationRemediation

RemediationRemediationSewage treatmentSewage treatment (with biological nutrient removal). (with biological nutrient removal).

Smart septic tanksSmart septic tanksRestoring wetlands and riperian vegetationRestoring wetlands and riperian vegetationReduction of nonpointReduction of nonpoint sources of N & P sources of N & PEfficient and intelligent use of fertilizerEfficient and intelligent use of fertilizer inc. timed inc. timed

application & sub soil deliveryapplication & sub soil deliveryTreatment of Treatment of animal wastesanimal wastes and utilization of manure and utilization of manure

as fertilizeras fertilizerDecrease animal protein Decrease animal protein diet diet demanddemandControls on vehicles and industrial Controls on vehicles and industrial atmospheric atmospheric

outputsoutputsNutrient tradingNutrient trading…although CO…although CO22 trading has NOT been trading has NOT been

a successa success home.cc.umanitoba.ca/~vsmilhome.cc.umanitoba.ca/~vsmil

DDischarge of ischarge of P P from water from water treatment treatment in in NW EUNW EU. EEA. EEA

Total phosphorus discharges from urban wastewater treatment plants in north-west European countries have fallen 50-80 % during the past 15 years.

The main reason for this reduction is the upgrading of wastewater treatment plants to include phosphorus removal. The shift to phosphate-free detergents has also contributed.

Impact of Urban Impact of Urban Watewater treatment. EEAWatewater treatment. EEA

Nordic and central European countries have the highest percentage of wastewater subject to tertiary treatment (particularly phosphorus removal)