Reducing Nitrogen and Phosphorus Pollution and Protecting Drinking Water Sources

摘要

Working with states, local communities, water associations, and other interested stakeholders, the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) has reinvigorated its focus on efforts to reduce the amount of nitrogen and phosphorus (N/P) entering US waters. The degradation of water quality associated with excess N/P levels has been extensively studied and documented, including in a recent report by senior state and USEPA water quality and drinking water officials and managers (USEPA, 2009). N/P pollution from urban storm-water runoff, municipal wastewater discharges, air deposition, agricultural livestock activities, and row crop agricultural runoff is increasing and will continue to increase as the US population grows.