Oxygen and nutrients in surface water

Sufficient dissolved oxygen (O2) in the water is an important condition for a diverse ecosystem. Phosphorus occurs in water as organically bound phosphorus and as plant detectable phosphate. The organic phosphorus can be converted into phosphate by mineralisation. Both components together are referred to as ‘total phosphorus’. Excess nitrate (NO3) and/or phosphate (PO4) in surface water can lead to excessive algal blooms, for example significantly reducing visibility.