What is eutrophication?

Eutrophication refers to the process where water bodies, such as lakes and rivers, become overly enriched with nutrients, particularly nitrogen and phosphorus. This nutrient pollution typically arises from sources like agricultural runoff, sewage discharge, and fertilizers. The excessive nutrients promote rapid algae growth, leading to algal blooms. These blooms can significantly disrupt aquatic ecosystems by blocking sunlight, which adversely affects submerged plants and disrupts the balance of aquatic organisms.

When the algae eventually die off, their decomposition by bacteria consumes dissolved oxygen in the water, potentially leading to hypoxic or anoxic conditions that can result in fish kills and loss of biodiversity. Thus, the phenomenon of excessive algae growth due to nutrient pollution aptly captures the essence of eutrophication, highlighting the critical environmental concern it represents.