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Nutrients

Nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, occur naturally in the environment and play a key role in a healthy aquatic system. But problems start to develop when everyday human activity introduces additional nitrogen and phosphorus into our waterbodies through sources such as municipal wastewater, fertilizers, soaps, and detergent—and in some cases even the products used to treat our water. These excess amounts can throw off the natural balance, prompting excessive algal growth, hypoxia, and other negative effects on the water supply.

While regulations designed to maintain this natural balance are set using the best available knowledge, as new health data, analytical methods, or treatment technologies become available, these regulations can become more stringent and more difficult to achieve. 

For more information, contact Stephanie Fevig.

Topic Overview (PDF)
132 Projects 8 Web Tools 21 Webcasts
Cyanobacteria & Cyanotoxins
Resource Recovery
Nitrogen
Phosphorus
Project #4973

Guidelines for Optimizing Nutrient Removal Plant Performance

$464,681
In Progress

Project Highlights

As water resource recovery facilities (WRRFs) continue to face nutrient management challenges, there is a need for guidance on the wide range of nutrient control techniques. Through this project, a road map will be developed to assist WRRFs in optimizing...

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Principal Investigator
J.B.
Neethling
Research Manager
Ms. Stephanie Fevig, PE

Understanding Biological Nutrient Removal

This video provides information on the science behind biological nutrient removal (BNR) along with utility perspectives. The video features Dr. James Barnard, who has worked in the field of BNR for decades and has consulted on the design of water reclamation plants around the world. Also featured are experts from Centennial Water and Sanitation District and City of Boulder.

Nutrients Removal Challenge

Efficient, Cost-Effective Nutrient Removal from Wastewater—also referred to as the Nutrient Removal Challenge—was launched in 2007 to further develop the science of nutrient removal and assess technology performance to address increasingly stringent nutrient limits. The Nutrient Removal Challenge prompted the investigation of a wide range of issues

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tractor with tank that can directly inject liquid manure into the ground for optimum nutrient placement and odor control

Recent Updates

Project #4973
Guidelines for Optimizing Nutrient Removal Plant ...

Reporting Period: January 1, 2020 to June 30, 2020. During this period, the research team completed...

Project Update
08/04/2020
Project #4973
Guidelines for Optimizing Nutrient Removal Plant ...

Reporting Period: January 1, 2021 - August 15, 2021. A series of twelve webinars (one webinar...

Project Update
12/31/2021
Project #4973
Guidelines for Optimizing Nutrient Removal Plant ...

Reporting Period: July 1, 2020 - December 31, 2020. During this project period, the research team...

Project Update
02/11/2021
Project #5083
Advancing Low Energy Biological Nitrogen and ...

Reporting Period: March 2021 - August 2021. During this period, kick-off meetings with Project Advisory Committee...

Project Update
01/14/2022
Project #5095
Mainstream Deammonification with Biological Phosphorus...

Reporting Period: October 2020 – March 2021. During this project period, a 360 L mainstream nitrogen...

Project Update
07/16/2021
Project #5095
Mainstream Deammonification with Biological Phosphorus...

Reporting Period: October 2021 to March 2022

Project Update
07/14/2022
Project #4914
Utility Responses to Cyanobacterial/Cyanotoxin Events: Case Studies and...

Reporting Period: June 1, 2019 – September 1, 2020. During this period, the team created an...

Project Update
03/19/2021
Project #4914
Utility Responses to Cyanobacterial/Cyanotoxin Events: Case Studies and...

Reporting Period: December 2021 – April 2022. The research team interviewed individual participating utilities remotely, using...

Project Update
08/19/2022
Project #4914
Utility Responses to Cyanobacterial/Cyanotoxin Events; Case Studies and...

Reporting Period: December 2020 – March 2021. During this project period, the planned in-person World Café...

Project Update
05/28/2021
Project #4975
Practices to Enhance Internal Fermentation of Side-Stream Secondary...

Reporting Period: January 2020 - June 2020. The focus of WRF project 4975 during the previous...

Project Update
08/12/2020

News

The Water Research Foundation Funds Three New Projects

Press Release
07/16/2021

The Water Research Foundation (WRF) is seeking volunteers for three additional funded projects and will soon post Requests for Proposals (RFPs) under our Research Priority Program. This strategic research program...

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Resources

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Related Topics

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Resource Recovery

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Cyanobacteria & Cyanotoxins

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Source Water Protection

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Source & Receiving Waters

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