WasteWater Operator Certification - Grade 1 Practice Test

Excessive nutrient discharge into water bodies, particularly nitrogen and phosphorus, is a significant environmental issue. When these nutrients are present in high concentrations, they can lead to a phenomenon known as eutrophication. This process encourages excessive growth of aquatic plants and algae, creating dense algal blooms. While these blooms may seem beneficial at first, they can have dire consequences for aquatic ecosystems.

As the algal blooms die off, they decompose, a process that consumes oxygen in the water. This depletion of dissolved oxygen creates hypoxic conditions, which can be detrimental to fish and other aquatic organisms that rely on oxygen for survival. The severe drop in oxygen levels can lead to fish kills and a decline in aquatic biodiversity. Thus, the correct answer highlights a crucial environmental concern about excessive nutrient discharge by establishing a direct link between nutrient overload and the deterioration of water quality due to increased plant growth and subsequent oxygen depletion.