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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 8, 2026

Optimized Procedure for Determining the Adsorption of Phosphonates onto Granular Ferric Hydroxide using a Miniaturized Phosphorus Determination Method

Optimized Procedure for Determining the Adsorption of Phosphonates onto Granular Ferric Hydroxide using a Miniaturized Phosphorus Determination Method

Published on: May 18, 2018

Irreversible phosphorus sorption in septic system plumes?

W D Robertson¹

¹Department of Earth Sciences, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada N2L 3G1. wroberts@sciborg@uwaterloo.ca

|January 10, 2008

Summary

Phosphorus (P) in septic system plumes can remain mobile for decades, challenging assumptions about secondary attenuation in groundwater. This long-term study reveals P plumes can travel significant distances, impacting lakeshore environments.

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Published on: March 6, 2014

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 8, 2026

Optimized Procedure for Determining the Adsorption of Phosphonates onto Granular Ferric Hydroxide using a Miniaturized Phosphorus Determination Method

Optimized Procedure for Determining the Adsorption of Phosphonates onto Granular Ferric Hydroxide using a Miniaturized Phosphorus Determination Method

Published on: May 18, 2018

Measuring Phosphorus Release in Laboratory Microcosms for Water Quality Assessment

Measuring Phosphorus Release in Laboratory Microcosms for Water Quality Assessment

Published on: July 22, 2019

Laboratory-determined Phosphorus Flux from Lake Sediments as a Measure of Internal Phosphorus Loading

Laboratory-determined Phosphorus Flux from Lake Sediments as a Measure of Internal Phosphorus Loading

Published on: March 6, 2014

Area of Science:

Environmental Science
Hydrogeology
Geochemistry

Background:

Phosphorus (P) mobility in septic system plumes is debated due to its reactivity.
Previous studies offered limited insight into secondary P attenuation in groundwater.

Purpose of the Study:

To monitor a septic system plume over 16 years to understand phosphorus mobility.
To investigate the extent of secondary P attenuation in the groundwater zone.

Main Methods:

16-year monitoring of a septic system plume in Ontario.
Analysis of PO(4)-P concentrations and plume length.
Simulations using an analytical model with first-order solute decay.
Desorption tests on sediment samples to determine the distribution coefficient (K(d)).

Main Results:

A 16 m long P plume developed with PO(4)-P concentrations similar to the source.
Model simulations indicated P attenuation was absent or extremely slow (half-life > 30 years).
Hypothesized secondary P attenuation mechanisms were inactive or too slow to observe.

Conclusions:

Phosphorus in some groundwater plumes can remain mobile and conservative for decades.
Secondary P attenuation mechanisms were found to be inactive in the studied groundwater zone.
This has significant implications for septic systems in lakeshore environments regarding long-term phosphorus transport.