What is Orthophosphorus
(OP)
Orthophosphorus
is soluble reactive phosphorus and is readily available for biological
uptake.
A particular concern with dissolved orthophosphorus is that it is readily available to algae and under certain conditions can stimulate excess algae growth leading to subsequent depletion of dissolved oxygen.
What are the primary sources of OP in the Minnesota River Basin?
Primary sources of orthophosphorus are wastewater treatment plants, feedlot runoff, and failing septic systems.
Wastewater
Treatment Plants
Photo courtesy of http://www.detroitlakes.org/
Graphic courtesy of EPA
References:
State
of the Minnesota River: 2002 Surface Water Quality Monitoring.
EPA Glossary website - http://www.epa.gov/OCEPAterms/
MPCA Glossary website - http://www.pca.state.mn.us/gloss/index.shtml
For more information about other nutrients, see phosphorus,
nitrate-nitrogen
For more information about orthophosphorus in the Minnesota River Basin,
see publications
mrbdc home | basin overview | water quality overview | pollutants
This page was
last updated 9/15/04
Minnesota River Basin Data Center | Minnesota State University, Mankato
184 Trafton Science Center S, Mankato, MN 56001 | Phone: (507)389-5492
| FAX: (507)389-5493 | Email: mrbdc@mnsu.edu