Sources of Nitrogen and Phosphorus in Water Supplies

This report discusses a survey by AWWA Task Group 2610 P of state sanitary engineers, which discovered that the major problem resulting from nutrients was eutrophication or a stimulation of the growth of algae and other aquatic plants in both flowing and impounded surface water supplies. The major water quality problems resulting from the heavy algal growths were taste, odors, and filter clogging. These problems were found in 56 percent of the total U.S. municipal surface water supplies.