Phosphate Total Phosphate Sources of Phosphorus Impacts of Cultural Eutrophication Sampling Procedure Changes in Aquatic Life Total Phosphate Testing Procedure Reversing the Effects of Cultural Eutrophication Phosphorous is usually present in natural waters as phosphate. Organic phosphate is a part of living plants and animals, their by-products, and their remains. Phosphorus is an essential element for life. It is a plant nutrient needed for growth, and a fundamental element in the metabolic reactions of plants and animals.
Algal blooms are a classic symptom of cultural eutrophication.
Most of the eutrophication occurring today is human caused. Sewage from wastewater treatment plants and septic tanks is one source of phosphorus in rivers. Animal waste containing phosphorus sometimes finds its way into rivers and lakes in the runoff from feedlots and barnyards. Soil erosion can also contribute phosphorus to rivers. The removal of natural vegetation for farming or construction, for example, exposes soil to the eroding action of rain and melting snow.