Nutrient Removal Study

Nutrient Removal Study Dashboard

 

Key Links:

Nutrient pollution, caused by excess nitrogen and phosphorus in water, is one of America's most widespread, costly, and challenging environmental problems. As part of a national study, the EPA administered the voluntary National Study of Nutrient Removal and Secondary Technologies (Nutrient Removal Study) Screener Questionnaire to 16,500 publicly owned treatment works (POTWs) between 2019 to 2021. The questionnaire was intended to identify efficient and cost-effective approaches to nutrient removal and more than 2,000 POTWs across the United States responded.

The Nutrient Removal Study Dashboard provides the public an easy-to-use summary of POTW types and the effluent nutrient levels they have achieved. The National Study Resources webpage provides information on how to modify plant operations for improved nutrient removal.

The Dashboard displays results for the nearly 1,700 POTWs that reported a population served of at least 750 individuals and/or a design capacity flow of at least 1 million gallons per day (MGD). POTWs in this size category could answer questions related to nutrient effluent quality and capital and operation changes for nutrient reduction.

Data Disclaimers:
- Data are from a voluntary study.
- Data reflects operations in 2018 at nearly 1,700 POTWs.
- More details in About the Data.