Notwithstanding the negative impact of human actions on global fresh water resources, there are steps people can take to minimize and even reverse some of these consequences.
Water pollution
Once eutrophication has occurred in water bodies, the simple reduction of nitrogen and phosphorous runoff does not eliminate the negative consequences from eutrophication. Therefore, we must find new strategies to mitigate the consequences or stop our use of harmful fertilizers completely. Geo-engineering can assist with managing eutrophication and its consequences. Geo-engineering materials are used in an attempt to minimize the buildup of cyanobacteria in surface waters and to prevent the release of phosphorous into the water. This will ultimately help water bodies recover from the consequences of eutrophication (Lürling et al. 2016).
However, Lürling et al. argue that not all geo-engineering solutions that aim to take phosphorous out of the water are feasible due to the expensive materials. They recommend the best course of action when combatting eutrophication is to first undergo a system analysis. This way solutions are considered from many aspects and the most efficient decision is made. Figure 1 below demonstrates an example of a good system analysis.
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