Nutrients Management Research

Excess nitrogen and phosphorus (nutrients) is among the most prevalent cause of water quality impairment in the United States. Research at EPA provides innovative solutions to address the problem of nutrient pollution in the Nation’s air, water and land.  Researchers are:

• Studying the sources of nutrient pollution
• Determining where they go and how they move in the environment
• Evaluating the chemical changes that happen as they move in the environment
• Studying the effects on our environment and health
• Evaluating the benefits and costs associated with different nutrient management choices

How do we protect and sustain our water, land and air and protect our health while also providing the material, food, and energy required by society? To help answer this question, researchers are exploring solutions to:

• Reduce and control nutrient pollution
• Maximize efficient nutrient use
• Promote nutrient removal processes
• Protect people and natural resources

Much of this research supports the development of regulatory limits on nutrient pollution in water resources. At the same time, researchers work to understand the social and economic costs and benefits associated with potential solutions to excess nutrient problems so that optimal solutions for managing water quality over the long term can be achieved.

For an overview of the nutrient pollution problem, its causes, solutions, and what steps you can take to help, visit EPA’s main nutrient pollution webpage:  www.epa.gov/nutrientpollution

Links

Nutrient Management Research Topics:
Nitrogen Mapping
Advanced Nutrient Monitoring
Nitrogen Deposition and Nutrient Modeling
Nutrient Recovery
Climate Change and Nutrient Interaction
Sustainable Watersheds and Nutrient Pollution
Nutrient Management Case Studies
Nutrient-Related Research Tools
Wastewater Treatment Technologies & Water Reuse
What is causing our reactive nitrogen problem?

Additional Links:
Science Matters: Into the Dead Zone
Narragansett Bay Sustainability Pilot, Phase I Report (PDF) (26 pp, 1.4MB) EPA funded study completed by Industrial Economcs, Inc.
Narragansett Bay Sustainability Pilot, Appendices (PDF) (27 pp, 1.2MB) EPA funded study completed by Industrial Economcs, Inc.
Striving for Balance in the Narragansett Bay Watershed: EPA's Triple Value Simulation (3VS) Model (PDF) (2 pp, 571K)
Nutrient Pollution Reports
Featured Story: STAR Fellow Studies the Impact of Nutrient Pollution on Marine Invasive Species
Science Feature: Helping Streams Help Themselves, Naturally
Health and Environmental Effects Research: Nutrients Research