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S G C L Subhawickrama
National Water Supply and Drainage Board
Eutrophication
is a process whereby
water bodies receive
excessive amounts of
nutrients, which
results in excessive
plant growth.
Fig.1
Compare these 2
ponds, the bottom
one experiencing
eutrophication.
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Fig.2
Before Eutrophication After Eutrophication
When water bodies such as lakes, streams and rivers are over
fertilized, excessive production of aquatic organic matter can
become a water quality problem.
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As a result, the Eutrophication process can be enhanced.
Causes for Eutrophication
Excessive use of agro chemicals in agriculture
A higher vulnerability in eutrophication of stagnated fresh water bodies.
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Eutrophication is a natural process. However,
humans in their everyday activities can
exacerbate the process.
Point sources
Sewage treatment plant discharges
Storm sewer discharges
Industrial discharges
Non-point sources
Atmospheric deposition
Agricultural runoff (fertilizer, soil erosion)
Septic systems
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Level of Eutrophication (Trophic State)
Since the early part of the 20th century, lakes have been
classified according to their trophic state.
Oligotrophic
Mesotrophic
Eutrophic
Total Secchi
Chlorophyll-a Total Nitrogen
Trophic Class Phosphorus Depth
(g/l) (mg/l)
(mg/l) (m)
Oligotrophic <8 0.01 0.2 0.4 <30
Mesotrophic 8 - 25 0.01 0.035 0.4 - .06 30 - 60
Eutrophic 25 - 75 0.035 1.00 0.6 1.5 >60
Source; Organization for Economic Cooperation
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Objectives
1. To investigate the available raw water quality data on algae of
Dambulu Oya lake.
496 23614
58 20462
40 44922
38 18700
171 21987
24564
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Data: T-N (Total Nitrogen in mg/l)
SGS ITI UOSJ
June, 2012 July, 2012 Oct, 2015
0.36 0.36 0.23
0.00 0.00 0.29
0.36 0.27
0.37 0.32
0.70 0.21
0.00 0.37
0.00
0.00
0.85
0.06
0.08
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0.00
Results
Coefficient Of Variance of CHl-a is better than Algal
cell count than T-P.
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Results (cont.)
The possibilities for the lake status during the study
period were calculated.
Oligotrophic 08 15
Mesotrophic 42 05
Eutrophic 08 78
Hyper-Eutrophic 42 02 16
Conclusion
Dambullu Oya is mostly in the transient status between
Mesotrophic towards Eutrophic .
(The chlorophyll-a levels for Mesotrophic and Eutrophic are
8-25 g/l and 25-75 g/l respectively).
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Recommendation
Use Chlorophyll-a measurements to
determine the raw water quality against algae.
classify into ranges for lake status and
predict possible future occurrences from the
percentages on possibility in existence.
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