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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)
95 Projects 7 Web Tools 20 Webcasts
Cyanobacteria & Cyanotoxins
Resource Recovery
Nitrogen
Phosphorus
Project #5004

Demonstrating the CalPrex System for High-Efficiency Phosphorus Recovery

$711,103
Completed

Project Highlights

More stringent nutrient regulations for both land application and the sale of biosolids are driving water resource recovery facilities (WRRFs) to evaluate technologies that remove and recover phosphorus in a cost-effective and sustainable manner. This project sought to independently validate...

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Principal Investigator
Menachem
Tabanpour
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 #5071
Demonstration of Progressive Carbon Efficient Nitrogen with...

Reporting Period: December 2021 - May 2022

Project Update
12/22/2022
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 #5071
Demonstration of Progressive Carbon Efficient Nitrogen with...

Reporting Period: May 2021 - December 2021. The ammonia-based aeration control was optimized for the Seneca...

Project Update
04/29/2022
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 #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 #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 #5071
Demonstration of Progressive Carbon Efficient Nitrogen with...

Reporting Period: February 2021 - May 2021. The focus of the project during the first six...

Project Update
08/06/2021
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 #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: December 2021 – April 2022. The research team interviewed individual participating utilities remotely, using...

Project Update
08/19/2022

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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