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HOW CAN I HELP: Phosphorus
Return to How Can I Help?ReWa serves the community by taking the wastewater from our homes and businesses and treating it, then returning the clean and environmentally safe water back into our area rivers, lakes and streams. This process renews our aquatic resources that is depleted by our water use. Help ReWa protect our environment by considering how you can reduce your impact with one of our most common causes of pollution: phosphorus.
Phosphorus (P) is a chemical element that occurs naturally in soil, and human and animal waste. It is also a common ingredient in many household cleaning products and fertilizers. The element is even added to drinking water to reduce the rusting and breakdown of pipes.
Too much phosphorus can be dangerous to water environments because it increases plant and algae growth. When plants and algae die, bacteria consume oxygen that is dissolved in the water as they decompose the algae. When this happens, less oxygen is available for fish and aquatic life that need oxygen to survive.
While treatment plants can remove much of the phosphorus in wastewater, they cannot treat and remove all phosphorus, or account for other uncontrolled sources like septic tanks and lawn fertilizer runoff. The uncontrolled sources - or "non-point sources" - are typically the largest contributors and the most difficult sources to identify and correct. Stormwater is a particular problem source for pollutants entering our waterways. To help combat this problem, ReWa is partnering with Greenville County and the City of Greenville to establish ordinances and to develop programs.
In addition to managing and treating contaminants, the best way to protect the water environments of the Upstate is to PREVENT pollutants, like phosphorus, from initially getting into them. To do that, ReWa needs your help.
Check out the phosphorus-reducing tips and see how you can contribute to improving our community's water. You can also download information on Nutrients and TMDLs, like phosphorus, in ReWa's recent presentation.