FAQs about Water Pollution and Shortage

8. What are oligotrophization and eutrophication of lakes?

When a lake or a reservoir is low in nutrients it has clear waters, it allows a great penetration of light, which prevents an abundant growth of algae and animal species (oligotrophic waters).

As it accumulates nutrients, the lake becomes eutrophic. The algae begin to reproduce in important quantities, which results in the water becoming cloudy. When the algae and other species decompose, after completing their life cycle, oxygen is consumed from the water due to bacterial activity. This process, called eutrophication, affects the reproduction of fish and other species. In some cases, anaerobic putrefaction occurs, the waters become cloudy and become inadequate for human consumption. In some ecosystems, such as lakes, the main factor in eutrophication is phosphate.

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Planet Water without water

Our planet could have been called “Water” instead of Earth, because of the immense amount of the vital liquid that it houses. For something is blue and not ocher, although the atmosphere also helps paint that wonderful tone…

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