EUTROPHICATION The term 'eutrophic' means well-nourished, thus, 'eutrophication' refers to natural or artificial addition of nutrients to bodies of water

and to the effects of the added nutrients.

Factors causing eutrophication Eutrophication occurs when inorganic nutrients and organic material enter a river or a lake. Inorganic nutrients and organic material that come from many sources such as fertilisers, which is mostly of nitrates and phosphates from agricultural fields, sewage treatment plant discharges and run-off animal waste. Process of eutrophication The increased nutrients promote rapid growth of algae when they are deposited in rivers, lakes and streams. This excessive growth of algae is often called an algal bloom.

 The densely populated algae cover the water surface and block the sunlight from entering. Unable to carry out photosynthesis the aquatic plants die. When those plants die, aquatic animals lose their food sources and eventually die. Subsequent decomposition of the dead organisms by bacteria lead to a depletion of oxygen in water as the bacteria use oxygen. The rapid growth of the microorganism causes biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) to increase as the dissolved oxygen in water decreases.

Effects of eutrophication Anoxia (no oxygen present) which kills fish and invertebrates and also leads to release of unpleasant and injurious gases Production of toxic substances by some species of blue0green algae High concentration of organic matter which if treated with chlorine can create carcinoginec compounds

 Deterioration of recreational value of a lake or reservoir due to decreased water transparency Restricted access for fishing, angling and recreational activities due to plant accumulation Decreased number of species and diversity of plants and animals. Shifts in fish species composition from more to less desirable species Decreased fish yields caused by significant oxygen depletion in the water column and bottom water layers of lakes and reservoirs.

Algal bloom in a lake