This activity will require approximately twenty minutes. The amount of phosphates in stream water is an important water quality factor.
Phosphates are also essential compounds used as groups in the formation of DNA and bone tissue.
Phosphates enter the water system from household detergents and from fertilizers. Phosphates and nitrates are important nutrients for algae. An excess of these compounds in warm water may cause an algae bloom. The algae population becomes an extreme and algae dies. Decomposition occurs using much oxygen and other aquatic organisms also die and decompose.