| Abstract |
The report proposes that steps be taken immediately to reduce the rate of eutrophication of lake waters and streams in the Great Lakes Basin. Reducing the limiting nutrient phosphorus input appears to be the soundest measure toward reducing this rate and with present technology, the only readily controllable source of phosphorus input is sewage effluent. While treatment plants will remove phosphorus, they have not met design expectations consistently and in many cases, construction has lagged because of lack of funds. An immediate phosphorus reduction would be realized if phosphorus were banned in detergents. This is now economically and technically feasible and practical based on actual experience in areas where bans have been in effect. Substitutes for phosphorus are available that are safe and environmentally more acceptable. Therefore, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region V, is now recommending that detergent phosphorus bans be adopted in all the states in the Great Lakes Basin. |
