Nutrient Indicators Dataset

Introduction

Water pollution from excess nitrogen and phosphorus (nutrients) is harming the environmental and economic viability of our nation’s waters. Human activities have led to a significant increase in nitrogen and phosphorus in the biosphere, altering biological communities in aquatic ecosystems, impairing drinking water, and threatening the growth of businesses and economic sectors that rely on high-quality and sustainable sources of water such as tourism, farming, fishing, manufacturing, and transportation. Recent estimates suggest that nitrogen and phosphorus pollution in freshwaters costs the U.S. at least $2.4 billion annually (in 2015 dollars), with the greatest losses attributed to diminished property values and recreational uses of water (Dodds et al. 2009; Wurtsbaugh 2019). Additionally, nutrient pollution in coastal areas may lead to annual economic costs of near $100 million in the U.S. (Davidson et al. 2014).

In aquatic ecosystems, nitrogen and phosphorus act as fertilizers leading to eutrophication, or an increase in the rate of supply of organic matter/plant biomass in an ecosystem. This eutrophication includes increased noxious aquatic plant growth and harmful algal blooms which result in the production of toxins that pose a threat to human, pet, and livestock health. Harmful algal bloom events have now been documented in every state, and drinking water pollution, fisheries closures and human health issues are regularly reported throughout the country (Gilbert 2020). Health consequences due to marine-borne pathogens in the U.S. have annual costs on the order of US$900 million. Costs include lost wages, physician and hospital services, and statistical cost of premature death (Ralston et al. 2011).  Eutrophication can also lead to hypoxia, or low dissolved oxygen concentrations, leading to fish kills and decreased biodiversity. Adverse impacts from nitrogen and phosphorus pollution occur in 65% of the nation’s major estuaries (Bricker et al. 2007) and there are 345 eutrophic or hypoxic dead zones in the U.S. (Diaz et al. 2011).

Sources of nitrogen and phosphorus include wastewater treatment plant discharges, fossil fuel combustion, synthetic fertilizer, animal agriculture manure, urban runoff, and landfill leachate. Minimizing contributions from these sources will help reduce nutrient loading to our valued aquatic ecosystems.

As part of EPA’s ongoing efforts to work collaboratively with states and other partners to accelerate nutrient load reductions and state adoption of numeric nutrient criteria, and as outlined in a March 2011 Nutrient Framework memorandum, EPA has developed the Nutrient Indicators Dataset. This Dataset consists of a set of indicators and associated state-level data to serve as a regional compendium of information pertaining to potential or documented nitrogen and phosphorus pollution, impacts of that pollution, and states’ efforts to minimize loadings and adopt numeric criteria for nutrients into state water quality standards. Information on the data source(s) used, the data collection process, and any caveats or assumptions made which should be considered when using the data, are included on each indicator’s individual web page. Other relevant information sources can be found in the References and links to other data sources section in each indicator’s web page. Regions and states could evaluate the data to identify the greatest nitrogen and phosphorus sources and impacts, and focus resources and actions accordingly.

Note that the data are not automatically updated on this website and therefore may not represent real-time information. EPA recognizes that there are numerous additional sources of information on nutrient pollution that may be available on a local or regional basis, as well as individual state efforts to reduce nutrient loadings, which may not be reflected in this Dataset. Users are also encouraged to consult state websites to learn more about how states are working to minimize nutrient pollution.

References and links to other data sources

1. Dodds, W.K., Bouska, W.W., Eitzmann, J.L., Pilger, T.J., Pitts, K.L., Riley,A.J., Schloesser, J.T., and Thornbrugh, D.J. 2009. Eutrophication of U.S. freshwaters: analysis of potential economic damages. Environmental Science and Technology. Vol. 43, no. 1, pp. 12-19.
2. Wurtsbaugh, W.A., Paerl, H.W., and Dodds, W.K. 2019. Nutrients, eutrophication and harmful algal blooms along the freshwater to marine continuum. WIREs Water, 6:e1373.
3. Davidson, K., Gowen, R.J., Harrison, P.J., Fleming, L.E., Hoagland, P., and Moschonas, G. 2014. Anthropogenic nutrients and harmful algae in coastal waters. Journal of Environmental Management, 146, 206–216.
4. Glibert, P.M. 2020. From hogs to HABs: impacts of industrial farming in the US on nitrogen and phosphorus and greenhouse gas pollution. Biogeochemistry 150, 139–180.
5. Ralston, E.P., Kite-Powell, H., and Beet, A. 2011. An estimate of the cost of acute health effects from food- and water-borne marine pathogens and toxins in the USA. Journal of Water and Health 9, 680.
6. Bricker, S., Longstaff, B., Dennison, W., Jones, A., Boicourt, K., Wicks, C., and Woerner, J. 2007. Effects of Nutrient Enrichment in the Nation's Estuaries: A Decade of Change. NOAA Coastal Ocean Program Decision Analysis Series No. 26. National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, Silver Spring, MD.
7. Diaz, R., Selman, M., and Chique, C. 2011. Global Eutrophic and Hypoxic Coastal Systems. Washington, DC: World Resources Institute. Eutrophication and Hypoxia: Nutrient Pollution in Coastal Waters. Eutrophication & Hypoxia Map Data Set.