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Nutrient pollution management by coordination networks and recovery technologies considering environmental geographic information
Citation:
Ruiz-Mercado, Gerardo J., M. Martin, AND V. Zavala. Nutrient pollution management by coordination networks and recovery technologies considering environmental geographic information. International Congress on Sustainability Science & Engineering, ICOSSE, Virtual, Virtual, August 03 - 05, 2020.
Impact/Purpose:
Nutrient pollution, primarily consisting of nitrogen and phosphorus, is one of the most widespread water quality problems facing the U.S., which originates from excess nutrient runoff from agricultural land, improperly managed farming operations, and other anthropogenic activities. This conference presentation describes a multi-scale framework for the prevention and control of nutrient pollution and ecosystem responses (e.g., harmful algal blooms (HABs)) by implementing on-site nutrient recovery technologies and coordination network strategies. Thus, stakeholders will be able to design more efficient time-location nutrient source management actions and programs to aid in reducing nutrient pollution, and subsequent effects on watersheds and waterbodies. This framework has the potential to be a key asset for state and regional partners to develop nutrient pollution and ecosystem integrated responses at regional spatial resolution.
Description:
The uncontrolled release of nutrients (e.g. phosphates) into the environment from anthropogenic activities such as livestock management triggers eutrophication, harmful algal blooms (HABs), and other undesired ecosystem responses. Particularly, HABs pose severe health threats and ecological impairments due to the release of toxins and the appearance of hypoxia in water bodies, and economic losses since they affect tourism, recreational and commercial activities. Therefore, it is necessary to ease more efficient time-location nutrient source management actions and programs to aid in reducing nutrient pollution, and subsequent effects on watersheds and waterbodies. This contribution describes a multi-scale framework for the prevention and control of nutrient pollution and ecosystem responses (e.g., HABs) by implementing on-site nutrient recovery technologies and coordination network strategies. The first framework part aids in the evaluation and selection of the most suitable nutrient recovery technology for livestock facilities. It is based on geospatial environmental sensitivity to nutrient pollution caused by legacy and new inputs of nutrients at watershed resolution. Also, the framework can provide a customized cost-effective solution for individual livestock facilities by evaluating different state-of-the-art nutrient recovery technologies together with power and biofuels generation as an additional source of revenue. The second framework part incorporates a coordination network strategy to identify optimal locations for nutrient-rich waste (manure) storage and transportation, nutrient and energy recovery technology evaluation for revenue generation, a nutrient transport model which captures time and location of nutrient flow from agricultural lands to water bodies, and assesses nutrient impact ecosystem responses across scale (e.g., HABs). This framework has the potential to be a key asset for state and regional partners to develop nutrient pollution and ecosystem integrated responses at regional spatial resolution.