11
1 Eutrophication: Challenges and Solutions
Removal of harmful algal blooms by chemical treatments
may also impair the eutrophication. Sun et al. (2004) used
cocamidopropyl betaine (CAPB), a surfactant with high inhibition efficiency, high biodegradability and low cost, to
mitigate harmful algal blooms. The half life of the surfactant
in sea water was less than 1 day and 90 % of the surfactant
degraded in 5 days.
HEM-3D (Hydrodynamic-Eutrophic Model-3-Dimensional) Model is a general purpose modeling package for
simulation of flow field, transport, and eutrophication processes throughout the water column. The excessive loadings
of organic wastes have been found to significantly deteriorate water quality conditions of Korean coastal waters of
Kwang-Yang Bay (Park et al. 2005).
Eutrophication, in Lago Maggiore Lake, Italy, was caused
by industrial and economic development, the use of P-containing detergents and fertilizers, and the disposal of untreated human sewage into the lakes. Total P concentrations in the
lake water increased to 30–35 mg m
−3
, and a twofold increase
in the concentrations of NO 3 –N was recorded (Roggiu et al.
1985). More than threefold increase in phytoplankton production was observed, and nuisance blooms of cyanobacteria
also occurred (de Bernardi et al. 1996). In order to assess
water quality restoration strategies for the lake, Mosello and
Roggiu applied the OECD (1982) modeling framework, and
they concluded that a 67 % reduction in external P loading
would be required to return Lago Maggiore from eutrophic
to oligotrophic conditions.
To analyze point and diffuse sources of nutrients in Marne
river, France over more than 10 years taking into account
the role of exchangeable phosphorus, Garnier et al. (2005),
applied the RIVERSTRAHLER model (Billen et al. 1994;
Garnier et al. 1995; Billen et al. 1998; Garnier and Billen
2002), a generic model of the biogeochemical functioning of whole river systems. Different realistic scenarios of
future reduction of phosphorus load were tested, in various
hydrological conditions (dry and wet years). They reported
that phytoplankton development can be slightly reduced by
a further 85 % decrease of phosphorus in all the wastewater
treatment plants of the basin, but a reduction both of diffuse
and point phosphorus sources would be necessary to further
decrease eutrophication.
1.5.2.4 Public Awareness and Legislations
Public awareness of the environment shapes the ability to
understand the surrounding world, including the laws of the
natural environment, sensitivity to all the changes occurring
in the environment, understanding of cause-and-effect relationships between the quality of the environment and human
behavior, an understanding of how the environment works as
a system, and a sense of responsibility for the common heritage of the Earth, such as natural resources—with the aim
of preserving them for future generations. The awareness
of local people to their surrounding environment and water
sources has an important and lasting impact on the environment, and only a cooperative community effort can more efficiently reduce nutrient inputs to water bodies as in the case
of Lake Washington, where the reduction in detergent use
was the consequence of public awareness. Therefore, it is
an urgent need of the hour to increase public awareness and
the environmental education of citizens and also develop an
integrated strategy to abate eutrophication (Jorgensen 2001).
Australia relied heavily on public education. Two public
education campaigns, one within the Murray-Darling Basin
in its town called Albury-Wodonga and the other within the
Hawkesbury-Nepean Basin in the western suburbs of Sydney, were carried out. The results were positive and it was
concluded that campaigns such as “Phosphowatch” can provide a long-term, cost-effective way of addressing eutrophication if the problem is focused at source and a community
support is created for an integrated strategy (Howard and
McGregor 2000).
There are a number of decision support systems (DSS)
that provide advice on the application of inorganic fertilizers
and organic manure to farmers. It was suggested that DSS
should be based on dynamic models. However, DSS is needed to be developed particularly for organic wastes, grassland
systems, and fruits (Falloon et al. 1999).
In 1998, Netherlands government introduced a new manure policy in order to combat pollution of the environment
by an excess supply of nutrients in agriculture. This policy is
based on a mineral accounting system (MINAS) at the farm
level and is focused mainly on nitrogen. MINAS came into
force by an alteration of the law on fertilizers. In MINAS,
chemical nitrogen fertilizers are included because the use of
these fertilizers contributes in the same order of magnitude
to nitrogen surpluses as the application of animal manure.
It was felt that by implementing MINAS surface waters
may eventually be protected against eutrophication and the
ground water quality could be improved (Van den Brandt and
Smit 1998).
The European Union has taken steps toward the reduction
of nitrogen and phosphorous loads in the environment notably through the adoption of several crucial pieces of legislation. A legislative framework has set out to directly tackle the
problem of eutrophication through three directives: (1) The
Nitrates Directive (1991) aims to protect water quality across
Europe by preventing nitrates from agricultural sources polluting ground and surface waters and by promoting the use
of good farming practices. (2) The Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive (1991) aims to protect the environment from
the adverse effects of urban wastewater discharges and discharges from certain industrial sectors. (3) The Water Framework Directive (2000) lays down a strategy to fight against
the pollution of water, including adopting specific measures
against pollution by individual pollutants or groups of pol-
1 Eutrophication: Challenges and Solutions
Removal of harmful algal blooms by chemical treatments
may also impair the eutrophication. Sun et al. (2004) used
cocamidopropyl betaine (CAPB), a surfactant with high inhibition efficiency, high biodegradability and low cost, to
mitigate harmful algal blooms. The half life of the surfactant
in sea water was less than 1 day and 90 % of the surfactant
degraded in 5 days.
HEM-3D (Hydrodynamic-Eutrophic Model-3-Dimensional) Model is a general purpose modeling package for
simulation of flow field, transport, and eutrophication processes throughout the water column. The excessive loadings
of organic wastes have been found to significantly deteriorate water quality conditions of Korean coastal waters of
Kwang-Yang Bay (Park et al. 2005).
Eutrophication, in Lago Maggiore Lake, Italy, was caused
by industrial and economic development, the use of P-containing detergents and fertilizers, and the disposal of untreated human sewage into the lakes. Total P concentrations in the
lake water increased to 30–35 mg m
−3
, and a twofold increase
in the concentrations of NO 3 –N was recorded (Roggiu et al.
1985). More than threefold increase in phytoplankton production was observed, and nuisance blooms of cyanobacteria
also occurred (de Bernardi et al. 1996). In order to assess
water quality restoration strategies for the lake, Mosello and
Roggiu applied the OECD (1982) modeling framework, and
they concluded that a 67 % reduction in external P loading
would be required to return Lago Maggiore from eutrophic
to oligotrophic conditions.
To analyze point and diffuse sources of nutrients in Marne
river, France over more than 10 years taking into account
the role of exchangeable phosphorus, Garnier et al. (2005),
applied the RIVERSTRAHLER model (Billen et al. 1994;
Garnier et al. 1995; Billen et al. 1998; Garnier and Billen
2002), a generic model of the biogeochemical functioning of whole river systems. Different realistic scenarios of
future reduction of phosphorus load were tested, in various
hydrological conditions (dry and wet years). They reported
that phytoplankton development can be slightly reduced by
a further 85 % decrease of phosphorus in all the wastewater
treatment plants of the basin, but a reduction both of diffuse
and point phosphorus sources would be necessary to further
decrease eutrophication.
1.5.2.4 Public Awareness and Legislations
Public awareness of the environment shapes the ability to
understand the surrounding world, including the laws of the
natural environment, sensitivity to all the changes occurring
in the environment, understanding of cause-and-effect relationships between the quality of the environment and human
behavior, an understanding of how the environment works as
a system, and a sense of responsibility for the common heritage of the Earth, such as natural resources—with the aim
of preserving them for future generations. The awareness
of local people to their surrounding environment and water
sources has an important and lasting impact on the environment, and only a cooperative community effort can more efficiently reduce nutrient inputs to water bodies as in the case
of Lake Washington, where the reduction in detergent use
was the consequence of public awareness. Therefore, it is
an urgent need of the hour to increase public awareness and
the environmental education of citizens and also develop an
integrated strategy to abate eutrophication (Jorgensen 2001).
Australia relied heavily on public education. Two public
education campaigns, one within the Murray-Darling Basin
in its town called Albury-Wodonga and the other within the
Hawkesbury-Nepean Basin in the western suburbs of Sydney, were carried out. The results were positive and it was
concluded that campaigns such as “Phosphowatch” can provide a long-term, cost-effective way of addressing eutrophication if the problem is focused at source and a community
support is created for an integrated strategy (Howard and
McGregor 2000).
There are a number of decision support systems (DSS)
that provide advice on the application of inorganic fertilizers
and organic manure to farmers. It was suggested that DSS
should be based on dynamic models. However, DSS is needed to be developed particularly for organic wastes, grassland
systems, and fruits (Falloon et al. 1999).
In 1998, Netherlands government introduced a new manure policy in order to combat pollution of the environment
by an excess supply of nutrients in agriculture. This policy is
based on a mineral accounting system (MINAS) at the farm
level and is focused mainly on nitrogen. MINAS came into
force by an alteration of the law on fertilizers. In MINAS,
chemical nitrogen fertilizers are included because the use of
these fertilizers contributes in the same order of magnitude
to nitrogen surpluses as the application of animal manure.
It was felt that by implementing MINAS surface waters
may eventually be protected against eutrophication and the
ground water quality could be improved (Van den Brandt and
Smit 1998).
The European Union has taken steps toward the reduction
of nitrogen and phosphorous loads in the environment notably through the adoption of several crucial pieces of legislation. A legislative framework has set out to directly tackle the
problem of eutrophication through three directives: (1) The
Nitrates Directive (1991) aims to protect water quality across
Europe by preventing nitrates from agricultural sources polluting ground and surface waters and by promoting the use
of good farming practices. (2) The Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive (1991) aims to protect the environment from
the adverse effects of urban wastewater discharges and discharges from certain industrial sectors. (3) The Water Framework Directive (2000) lays down a strategy to fight against
the pollution of water, including adopting specific measures
against pollution by individual pollutants or groups of pol-