Nutrient pollution is a widespread, costly and challenging environmental problem. When too many nutrients, mainly nitrogen and phosphorus, enter our waterbodies they cause excessive algal growth, which can have negative impacts on aquatic ecosystems and produce toxins that can harm people, animals and aquatic life.
Representatives from state agricultural, environmental and natural resource organizations formed a committee to develop recommendations for reducing nutrient loads to surface water and groundwater in Missouri. The resulting Missouri Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy recommends actions and prioritizes nutrient reduction throughout the state.
Existing wastewater treatment facilities can reduce nutrient pollution by optimizing their process. Success of any optimization plan depends a great deal on the engagement level of the operators for the optimization project, the support provided at the facility’s management level, the equipment available for and frequency of additional in-plant testing, etc. Operators should be authorized to make operational changes based on an optimization plan.