The Analysis of Nitrate and Phosphate in St.docVIP

Analysis of Nitrate and Phosphate in St. John’s Lakes and Surrounding Areas Kristi Strandberg and Dr. Michael Ross Department of Chemistry Saint John’s University/ College of Saint Benedict St. Joseph, MN 56374 Summer, 2002 Abstract Water samples were collected weekly from several sites surrounding St. John’s University, St. Joseph, and Sartell. These samples were analyzed to determine their nitrate and phosphate levels. The primary focus of this research was to determine the effects of the St. John’s sewage treatment plant on the surrounding ecosystem, and then to compare this to the effects that local farming and agriculture have on the water systems in St. Joseph and Sartell. This research found that only two sites were above the levels recommended by the Environmental Protection Agency (which is 1 ppm for both nitrate and phosphate1). East Gemini Lake, which is where the treated water is initially emptied, was slightly above the recommended level. The stream found at Millstream Park was also slightly above the recommended level. INTRODUCTION Originally St. John’s University operated only with a septic system to treat wastes. However, as the school expanded, the septic system was not capable of handling the increased amount of wastewater. It was because of this growing problem that the sewage treatment plant was built at St. John’s. The East Gemini Lake was also created to help reduce the nitrates and phosphates in the water as it leaves the treatment plant. The water that leaves the plant usually contains high levels of nitrate and phosphate, which can be detrimental to the aquatic life found in lakes and their surrounding ecosystems2. The possibility of eutrophication caused by the overgrowth of algae is of great concern. Large amounts of algae are directly related to high phosphate and nitrate levels. Both East Gemini Lake and the St. John’s wetlands were designed to help lower the levels of nitrate and phosphate. Samples were coll