Nine teens from the Santa Fe Girls School decided water quality is so important they used their snow day off from school Tuesday to testify before the state Water Quality Control Commission at the Roundhouse.

The eighth-graders asked the commission to consider establishing a standard for phosphates and ban products, such as detergents, that contain it. They were among the roomful of expert witnesses and members of the public who spoke during the commission's triennial review of New Mexico's pollution standards for surface water. The commission is hearing from environmentalists, the state Environment Department, energy companies, Los Alamos National Laboratory and the Buckman Direct Diversion Board on proposed changes.

Sachiko Cooper DaSilva, who turned 14 Tuesday, found testifying before the state's Water Quality Control Commission at the Roundhouse "intimidating" but worth her birthday time. She and two other girls spoke for the group, leaving enough of their allotted three minutes for questions from the commission.

Phosphate is a mineral needed for plant growth, but too much isn't a good thing, the girls told the commission. Phosphate is used in detergents to soften hard water and as a nutrient in fertilizers. High levels of phosphates prompt algae to grow quickly, die and deplete oxygen in the water, killing fish and other aquatic species. The EPA has a recommended level for phosphate, but there is no state or federal standard.

The school has been cleaning up, restoring and monitoring water quality on nine acres of land along the Santa Fe River below the city's wastewater treatment plant for the last seven years. The students have measured phosphate levels at 2 to 4 milligrams per liter, more than 200 percent higher than the federal levels for cold-water fisheries and more than 2,000 times higher than the federal recommendation for "unpolluted water."

Claire Kendall, 13, said they thought the phosphate might be coming from the wastewater treatment plant and detergents making their way down the Santa Fe River through the city.

The water quality standards are detailed and complex, ranging from what is considered a contaminant to how much should be allowed.

The students said this was the first time they had testified before any commission. "They seemed to sit up and pay attention a lot more than they did with other speakers," said Alex Gentsch, 13. "We were to the point. We didn't complain. We weren't angry like some of the other speakers."

And they brought along examples of detergent with high phosphates to show the commission.

Commissioners said it isn't the first time a group of youth have spoken to the commission about water issues, but that it is rare.

Will Barnes, the Santa Fe Girls School science teacher, said the class didn't get extra credit for testifying. It was something they chose to do after they learned about the water quality hearing.

"If something happens out of this, we'll be excited because we had something to do with it," said Maddy Wiebe, 13.

The commission will continue accepting testimony on the water quality standards until at least Friday.

Contact Staci Matlock at 986-3055 or smatlock@sfnewmexican.com.