Latest Phosphorus Stories

By David Fleshler, South Florida Sun-Sentinel Jul. 30--The Environmental Protection Agency and the state of Florida have dismally failed in their duty to protect the Everglades from harmful phosphorus washing off sugar farms, vegetable fields and suburban streets, a federal judge ruled Tuesday. U.S. District Judge Alan Gold found the EPA was wrong to approve Florida's highly controversial decision to grant an extension of at least 10 years to farms, cities and other pollution sources...

By Ian Demsky, The News Tribune, Tacoma, Wash. Jul. 28--Wriggling tadpoles and baby catfish. Basking turtles. Crawling dragonfly nymphs. To scientist Rob Plotnikoff, these tiny, vulnerable forms of life are signs that Wapato Lake is on its way to recovery two days after being treated with chemicals to fight toxic algae blooms. On Saturday, visitors to the South Tacoma park were left agog as hundreds of dead fish washed up on the troubled lake's shores. "I'm all for cleaning up the lake,...

By Ian Demsky, The News Tribune, Tacoma, Wash. Jul. 28--Wriggling tadpoles and baby catfish. Basking turtles. Crawling dragonfly nymphs. To scientist Rob Plotnikoff, these tiny, vulnerable forms of life are signs that Wapato Lake is on its way to recovery two days after being treated with chemicals to fight toxic algae blooms. On Saturday, visitors to the South Tacoma park were left agog as hundreds of dead fish washed up on the troubled lake's shores. "I'm all for cleaning up the lake,...

By Joe Lamp'l Editor's note: This is the second part of a five-part series on gardening mistakes. How many times have we resorted to pesticides or applied fertilizer without really knowing what the problem was? At what point did we decide that every problem in the landscape and garden could be solved with a chemical? In our busy lives it just seems like the expedient thing to do. Americans love a flawless lawn and garden. Unfortunately, our lack of understanding of how, when and...

By Digging In TRACEY HOBSON For the Journal Q. My daughter and I were discussing fertilizers a while ago and she mentioned epsom salts being a fertilizer. Is that true? I've always thought that was a wives' tale. A. It's true. Epsom salts may be applied as part of a balanced diet. Not really a "fertilizer," think of its application as a multivitamin for the plant kingdom. Fertilizers consist mainly of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Those are the three "biggies" for plant needs....

By STEVE PATTERSON Rules to control lawn-watering and fertilizer use will probably become the law in Jacksonville next week, but finding a water cop when you need one could be a problem. At least 12 of the City Council's 18 members voted for the new rules during committee meetings this week. Mayor John Peyton, who filed twin bills six months ago, has tentatively planned a signing ceremony next week. The irrigation bill limits lawn-watering to two days a week most of the year, and once a...

IT CAN be a handful to juggle science - but for youngsters visiting the Glasgow Science Centre this summer it can also be an illuminating experience. The centre is hosting Cirque de Science every day at 11.30am and 2.30pm to introduce anyone aged over eight to the world of the circus through the science that makes it happen. From juggling to stilt walking, the activities have been drawing an excited crowd. Science centre staff showed four-year-old Andrew MacDonald, from Clydebank, how to...

By Hammond, John White, Philip Continuing our series on plant nutrition, John Hammond and Philip White look at the environmental impact of phosphorus pollution from agriculture and consider what can be done to mitigate it The availability of clean water is essential for our sustainable futures. People use large amounts of water in domestic, amenity, agricultural and industrial activities, which increases the nutrient status of rivers and lakes. Increasing the amount of nutrients, especially...

By COLLEEN DISKIN, STAFF WRITER Residents who live near the Oradell reservoir may have noticed that their tap water looked, tasted and smelled a little unpleasant in recent weeks. But the taste and smell caused by troublesome algae blooms in the reservoir should disappear now that United Water has begun treating the water with an additional process, officials said this week. While the tap water might look cloudier than normal and taste earthy or musty, it is safe to drink, said Sonja...

By Szabo, A Takacs, I; Murthy, S; Daigger, G T; Licsko, I; Smith, S ABSTRACT: Batch and continuous experiments using model and real wastewaters were conducted to investigate the effect of metal salt (ferric and alum) addition in wastewater treatment and the corresponding phosphate removal from a design and operational perspective. Key factors expected to influence the phosphorus removal efficiency, such as pH, alkalinity, metal dose, metal type, initial and residual phosphate concentration,...