Phosphate Levels
Nutrient levels in the Severn River are extremely important in understanding the health of the waterway. Phosphates are one of the nutrients studied. Phosphates can be found in fertilizers and decomposed organic matter. It enters into the Severn River through runoff. Phosphates are needed for aquatic plants to grow, however, too many phosphates in a waterway can lead to the accelerated growth of plant life. As plants begin to grow, they block sunlight from other aquatic plants and organisms. Additionally, an overgrowth of plants can lead to eutrophication which results in a reduction of dissolved oxygen. Phosphate levels are recorded in mg/L. View the graph below for historical phosphate level trends. Feel free to use the information below to see the most recent water phosphate level.
HISTORICAL
TRENDS
MAX LEVELS
Max level: 0.05 mg/L
DESCRIPTION OF BASELINES: This baseline is retrieved from the EPA. The max level represents the maximum level of phosphates that is considered acceptable for the Severn River. See the link below for more information about phosphate levels.
Source (EPA):
https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2015-09/documents/totalphosphorus.pdfLOCATION OF DATA COLLECTION:
COORDINATES: (39.00764, -76.50350)
DEPTH: 0.5 meters