US EPA

37262 

Technical Report 

Scientific fundamentals of the eutrophication of lakes and flowing waters, with particular reference to nitrogen and phosphorus as factors in eutrophication 

Vollenweider, RA 

1968 

Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development 

Paris, France 

DAS/CSI/62.27 

35 

14-14 

61 

English 

WOS:A1987J648000001 

has comment/response 4442653 BOOK REVIEW. Vollenweider, RA 1968. Water management research: Scientific fundamentals of the eutrophication of lakes and flowing waters with particular reference to nitrogen and phosphorus as factors in eutrophication.

At the request of the O. E. C. D. Committee for Research Co-operation the author has provided a review and assessment of studies on the eutrophication of surface waters, particularly lakes, with special regard to enrichment by phosphorus and nitrogen. Factors considered include the causes and extent of the problem; the physiology of algal growth, with regard to available forms and optimal concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorus; the definition of trophic conditions according to plankton biomass and primary productivity; nutrient concentrations and loading in relation to trophic state, taking into account morphometric factors; estimations of the quantity of nutrients originating from various sources; the feasibility of controlling enrichment of surface waters; and processes for removal of nitrogen and phosphorus from sewage. It is concluded that the problem of eutrophication is of increasing urgency in highly developed countries. Undesirable conditions may develop in lakes if the assimilable phosphorus and inorganic nitrogen contents exceed 10 mg and 200-300 mg per m3, respectively, or the annual loads exceed 0. 2 - 0. 5 g and 5-10 g per m3, respectively, but many factors will influence the effect of such enrichment. Further research is needed to determine maximal permissible loads for nitrogen and phosphorus, the quantity of nutrients introduced by various sources, and the role of trace elements and organic growth factors. Elimination of nitrogen and phosphorus at present entering lakes through outfall sewers could improve conditions, but in many cases an equal quantity of nutrients enters the water from other sources, control of which would be difcult. A separate appendix provides brief details of current studies on eutrophication by the major European and American research organizations, and the literature consulted as a basis for the report is listed in a separate bibliography. 

*EUTROPHICATION; *PHOSPHORUS; *NITROGEN; LAKES; RIVERS; IMPOUNDMENTS; AQUATIC LIFE; PLANKTON; BIOMASS; PRODUCTIVITY; TROPHIC LEVEL; NUTRIENTS; WATER POLLUTION CONTROL; WATER POLLUTION EFFECTS; WATER POLLUTION SOURCES; WASTE WATER TREATMENT; INORGANIC COMPOUNDS; *OECD; *COMMITTEE FOR RESEARCH COOPERATION; AQUATIC BLOOMS; HYDROPHYTES; NUTRIENT SOURCES; NUTRIENT CONCENTRATION