Causes of eutrophication:
The main causes of eutrophication are
natural run-off of nutrients from the soil and the weathering of rocks
run-off of inorganic fertiliser (containing nitrates and phosphates)
run-off of manure from farms (containing nitrates, phosphates and ammonia)
run-off from erosion (following mining, construction work or poor land use)
discharge of detergents (containing phosphates)
discharge of partially treated or untreated sewage (containing nitrates and phosphates)
In most freshwater lakes the limiting nutrient is phosphorus, so an input of phosphorus in the form of phosphate ions (PO43-) results in an increase in biological activity.
