Phosphorus Awareness Project
The Phosphorus Awareness Project (PAP) is an education campaign that
educates the general community about the impact of too many
nutrients in the Swan and Canning River systems and wetlands and how
to reduce those levels.
The PAP aims to see a decrease in nutrient loads and algal blooms
through changes in community and industry behaviour and practices
resulting in biodiverse and sustainable rivers and wetlands
throughout the Perth Metropolitan Area.
The PAP, formally known as the Phosphorus Action Group (PAG), was formed in October 1998 as a sub group
of the Canning Catchment Coordinating Group, now SERCUL.
The Phosphorus Awareness
Project is managed by Project Coordinator, Amy
Krupa, is hosted by SERCUL and is supported by the Swan River
Trust.
Aims
The PAP aims to reduce the amount of nutrients (phosphorus and nitrogen)
people contribute to waterways through stormwater drains,
groundwater and catchment
run-off by:
 Making
the connections for people between their backyards, the stormwater
drainage and groundwater systems and water bodies such as the Swan and Canning Rivers;
Promoting
appropriate fertiliser practises for the soils of the region -
Fertilise Wise. The
lack of general awareness of high nutrient levels in fertilisers is a target
for the campaign;
Educating
householders to use P-free (NP) detergents, particularly in unsewered
areas of the catchment, and to consider the contribution of pet
faeces to nutrient loads in the catchment as well as bread fed to
water birds; and
Through
education the group targets the community, schools, local government
and industry to encourage them to decrease their nutrient outputs.
 The
Algae Problem
The Swan and Canning River systems and many wetlands are in a poor
state of health, judging by the undesirable and sometimes toxic
algal blooms that occur regularly during warmer months.
Algae are plants that grow naturally in our
rivers and wetlands but when they bloom they are undesirable for
many reasons. They:
Kill aquatic
fauna such as fish by starving them
of oxygen,
Can be toxic to humans and animals and can cause skin
irritations,
Are unsightly and foul smelling, and
Prevent recreational
use of the river.
Too Many Nutrients
High levels of phosphorus and nitrogen present in the Swan and Canning
River systems and wetlands are promoting the growth of blue green
and other problem algae, especially in the middle to lower reaches
of the Canning and the middle reaches of the Swan. Algae use excess
phosphorus and nitrogen to grow and multiply rapidly to large numbers,
thriving when the weather is warm and sunny and the water flow is
slow.
Phosphorus and nitrogen, essential plant and
animal nutrients naturally present in our waterways and soils in
very low concentrations, are readily dissolved in water and easily
pass through the food chain. Whilst low levels sustain life, excessive
amounts of nutrients cause serious water quality problems.
Nutrients accumulate in the environment as
a result of human activity. We are using too many nutrients in our
daily living. Nutrients entering the Swan, Canning and wetlands
originate from:
Fertilisers
Grass
clippings
Leaves
(especially deciduous)
Soil
Dog
faeces
Detergents
Leakages
from septic tanks
Bread
fed to water birds
Intensive
agriculture and industrial sources
Garden fertilisers are the largest threat to
our rivers as nutrients added to our sandy soils are easily leached.
Everyone lives in a catchment and contributes
nutrients to river and wetland systems. Nutrients are carried by
water over land through erosion and run-off, through soil by leaching
to groundwater, through smaller creeks and streams and through street
drains, which are connected to the river.
The current nutrient load in the Swan Canning is 251 tonnes of
nitrogen and 26 tonnes of phosphorus per year. We need to
reduce the nitrogen load by 49% and the phosphorus load by 46% to
achieve acceptable river health.
To find out how you can keep our rivers
healthy please refer to our how you can help pages -
In and around your home and
In your garden.
Annual Nutrient Survey for Local
Government Authorities
Every year the Phosphorus Awareness Project surveys the 30 Local
Government Authorities(LGA's) around the Perth Metropolitan Area on
their nutrient practices. The survey aims to raise awareness
of the nutrient problem in our rivers, to determine the level of
nutrient Best Management Practices that LGA's are undertaking and to
provide solutions and resources to improve LGA’s nutrient practices.
 Annual Nutrient Survey for Local Government Authorities 2011 Results
 School
and Community Education
The PAP has a number of free school and community education
programs.
Please browse through the For
Educators section of this site for more
information about these initiatives or contact
Amy
at SERCUL.
Latest Education Newsletter
Education Newsletter (#33)
Downloads
Phosphorous
Awareness Project brochure
Resources
Available for Schools list
Dog
Poo flyer
Don't
Feed the Birds flyer
Phosphorus-Free
Detergents list
Phosphorus-Free
Detergents flyer
Green
Lawns = Green Rivers brochure
Alternative
Cleaners brochure
Washing
your Car flyer
Click here for more downloads
 |
69
Horley Road
9458 5664 
Click
here to email us
