Point sources are basically wastewater treatment plants. Non-point source pollution includes golf courses, lawns, septic tanks and animal waste. Under animal waste there is dry litter and liquid waste. The impact of phosphorus on soil and water is complex and research continues on this subject. He stated that the public needs to coexist with the confined animal industry for reasons of economics and the food produced.
Most manure is used in land application.
One innovative solution to the manure problem is reducing the amount of phosphorus in the feed. It has been found that phosphorus moves in the environment. The scientific community cannot provide a threshold value number. There is no research funding presently to determine the appropriate level of phosphorus. Dr. Daniel stated that a buffer strip worked well.