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Homepage > Living Laboratory Cape Cod > What we do at BCWC > Nutrient Overload 101

Nutrient Overload 101

October 29, 2020 In What we do at BCWC

Barnstable Clean Water Coalition has been working to improve local water quality. But why are such efforts necessary?

For both fresh and saltwater, the main problem is excess nutrients, more specifically nitrogen and phosphorus. Their existence is not a problem. In fact, nitrogen and phosphorus are keys  to a healthy aquatic ecosystem. Issues arise, however, when excessive amounts of these nutrients cause algae to grow in abundance. Nitrogen and phosphorus are two key ingredients in fertilizer used to help your grass grow thick and lush. In aquatic ecosystems, it has the same impact on algae.

How are nutrients getting into these ecosystems? It starts underground, at Cape Cod’s sole source aquifer. Any water that falls eventually gets to one of three places – our drinking water, our ponds, or our estuaries. As it travels, most often underground, it brings contaminants and excess nutrients along for the ride.

Most homes on Cape Cod process their wastewater via septic systems (as opposed to municipal sewage treatment). Traditional Title 5 septic systems are extremely effective at removing pathogens like E. coli. Unfortunately, these systems were never designed to remove nutrients. Water from our septic systems, laden with nitrogen and phosphorus, leaves the system and enters groundwater with every flush. Then it is only a matter of time before it reaches our drinking water, ponds, or estuaries. When it reaches our ponds and estuaries, it acts as a fertilizer and causes excessive growths of algae called algal blooms. While these blooms may not seem like such a big problem, the truth is that they have wide ranging human and ecological impacts. To learn more about those impacts, be sure to read our next post!

Previous StoryLawsuit seeks major steps to stem septic pollution
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Barnstable Clean Water Coalition

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Recent Posts

  • Want to know more about PFAS? Drop in for a community forum in Barnstable on Saturday (3/23/23) Friday, 24, Mar
  • For the first time, EPA moves to limit ‘forever chemicals’ in drinking water (3/14/23) Tuesday, 14, Mar
  • Proposed septic tax credit would save Cape and Islands residents thousands. Here’s how. (3/7/23) Tuesday, 7, Mar
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  • Proposed septic tax credit would save Cape and Islands residents thousands. Here’s how. (3/7/23) posted 3 weeks ago
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  • Barnstable Clean Water Coalition needs help counting fish. Why, and what you can do. (3/7/23) posted 3 weeks ago
  • Ban bill aims to slow spread of PFAS damage (3/4/23) posted 3 weeks ago
  • For the first time, EPA moves to limit ‘forever chemicals’ in drinking water (3/14/23) posted 2 weeks ago

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