Portuguese shallow eutrophic lakes: evaluation under the Water Framework Directive and possible physicochemical restoration measures

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2019

Authors

da Silva, MB (Author) Other; Goncalves, F (Author) Other; Ruth Pereira (Author) FCUP

Journal

Title: EURO-MEDITERRANEAN JOURNAL FOR ENVIRONMENTAL INTEGRATION

Vol. 4

ISSN: 2365-6433

Publisher: Springer

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 0 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00Q-AE6

DOI: 10.1007/s41207-018-0090-9

Abstract (EN): Eutrophication has become the primary water quality issue for most of the freshwater ecosystems in the world. It is one of the most remarkable examples of the biosphere's alterations due to agricultural and industrial activities affecting aquatic ecosystems. As eutrophication becomes frequent and many eutrophic ecosystems have difficulties in meeting the EU Water Framework Directive (WFD) criteria, the removal of phosphate gains great importance in water treatment. The objective of this study is to highlight the remediation methods that have been implemented in Portuguese eutrophic shallow lakes to accomplish the WFD requirements, particularly for the control of external loading of nutrients. However, the reduction of external nutrient loads per se often does not result in a change back to the original state, and additional internal lake restoration measures may therefore be needed to decrease the concentration of total phosphorus and increase water quality. In this context, this review paper also describes the chemical approaches available to mitigate the eutrophication of shallow freshwater ecosystems based on phosphate inactivation agents, their capacity and application methods, as well as the results that generically have been obtained. The P-inactivation agents can also be complemented with physical approaches in order to improve the treatment effectiveness. Although these remediation techniques can have significant benefits in reducing the proliferation of cyanobacterial blooms, other potential adverse ecological effects may occur. For this reason, the costs, the application strategy, the potential stressor(s) effect(s), both for human and key species, are factors that should be taken into account before its effective application.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 10