Animal feed lots, dairies, fertilizers and wastewater treatment plants can add phosphorus to streams. 
 
Why Phosphorus Is Important
Phosphorus is one of the key elements necessary for growth of plants and animals. Phosphorus in elemental form is very toxic and is subject to bioaccumulation. Phosphates - PO4 - are formed from this element. Phosphates exist in three forms: orthophosphate, metaphosphate (or polyphosphate) and organically bound phosphate. Each compound contains phosphorous in a different chemical formula. Ortho forms are produced by natural processes and are found in sewage. Poly forms are used for treating boiler waters and in detergents. In water, they change into the ortho form. Organic phosphates are important in nature. Their occurrence may result from the breakdown of organic pesticides which contain phosphates. They may exist in solution, as particles, loose fragments or in the bodies of aquatic organisms.

Environmental Impact
Rainfall can cause varying amounts of phosphates to wash from soils into nearby waterways. Phosphate will stimulate the growth of plankton and aquatic plants which provide food for fish. This increased growth may cause an increase in the fish population and improve the overall water quality. However, if an excess of phosphate enters the waterway, algae and aquatic plants can grow wildly and choke up the waterway. This condition is known as eutrophication or over-fertilization of receiving waters. As the aquatic vegetation dies and decays, microbes consume this detritus and oxygen, leading to decreases in dissolved oxygen levels.

Phosphates are not toxic to people or animals unless they are present in very high levels. Digestive problems could occur from extremely high levels of phosphate.

See this link for information about phosphorus testing field kits.

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