Brian Barton
Stormwater runoff is a significant contributor to water pollution, as it can carry pollutants from the land surface into water bodies. This occurs when rainfall flows over impervious or semi-permeable surfaces such as streets, parking lots, and rooftops, picking up pollutants like trash, chemicals, fertilizers, and sediments along the way. These pollutants can then be transported through the soil and into groundwater, potentially impacting drinking water supplies and surface water quality. Contaminated sites with known or potential soil or groundwater contamination pose a particular challenge, as infiltrated runoff can mobilize and transport contaminants. To address this issue, management strategies such as surface capture and treatment or infiltration techniques that prevent contact between runoff and contaminated soils are employed. Homeowners can also play a role in reducing stormwater pollution by implementing green infrastructure and minimizing irrigation runoff.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Soil erosion | Sediment from soil erosion can smother stream habitats, alter stream flow, and increase nutrients to harmful levels |
| Nutrient pollution | Nitrogen and phosphorus from fertilizers, pet and yard waste can cause plant and algae blooms, lower oxygen levels, and pose health risks |
| Toxic compounds | Pesticides, winter salt, gas, oil, and antifreeze leaks can contaminate stormwater |
| Littering | Trash and litter can end up in waterways, harming wildlife and clogging stormwater systems |
| Infiltration | Stormwater infiltration through contaminated soil can transport pollutants into groundwater and surface water |
| Urbanization | Urban soils with poor drainage contribute to increased stormwater runoff, leading to potential flooding |
| Cyanide contamination | Cyanide-containing compounds can leach into the soil and impact groundwater |
| Particulate pollutants | Total suspended solids (TSS) and metals can be filtered out through infiltration practices |
| Soluble contaminants | Chloride and other soluble pollutants can travel long distances and reach the groundwater table |
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What You'll Learn
Contaminated soil and groundwater
Soil and groundwater contamination is a pressing issue that has been exacerbated by industrialization, urbanization, and high-intensity agriculture. Contaminants can enter the soil through various pathways, such as landfill and open dumping sites, where toxic substances from batteries, electronics, plastics, and organic waste can leach into the soil. Industrial activities, including dry cleaning, leaking heating oil tanks, and the improper use and storage of hazardous materials, can also lead to contaminated soil and groundwater. Once in the soil, these contaminants can be carried by rainwater, irrigation, or stormwater runoff into larger water bodies, affecting drinking water resources and causing illnesses in nearby populations.
One of the primary ways to determine if soil is a pollutant in stormwater is to understand the sources and pathways of contamination. Soil erosion, caused by stormwater washing away bare soil, is a significant contributor to stormwater pollution. Nutrients, particularly phosphorus, attach to sediment particles and enter water bodies, causing harm to local ecosystems. Excess fertilizer on lawns and croplands is another source of pollution, as the nutrients and chemicals in fertilizers can be washed into waterways.
To mitigate soil erosion and reduce stormwater pollution, it is essential to slow down stormwater and prevent it from washing away bare soil. This can be achieved by covering bare soil with garden mulches or crop residues. Proper waste management and disposal practices are also crucial in preventing trash, such as litter and loose garbage, from entering stormwater systems and clogging them. Additionally, the use of organic fertilizers, compost, and mulch can reduce the impact of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, which are known contaminants of soil and water.
Green infrastructure techniques, such as rain gardens, pervious pavement, rain barrels, and green roofs, can effectively manage stormwater runoff. These techniques slow down and spread out stormwater, allowing plants to naturally filter out pollutants as the water infiltrates the ground. Implementing green infrastructure can reduce the impact of stormwater on the environment and help prevent water pollution.
To address contaminated soil and groundwater, collaboration between science and engineering is essential. Sustainable remediation methods, such as the use of microorganisms for bioremediation and minerals to immobilize heavy metals, offer cost-effective and environmentally friendly solutions. By developing and implementing innovative technologies, it is possible to mitigate the negative impacts of contamination and work towards restoring soil and water quality.
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Stormwater runoff and pollutants
Stormwater runoff is rain that falls on streets, parking lots, rooftops, and other developed land. It is unable to soak into the ground and instead flows directly into nearby water bodies, such as streams, rivers, and oceans, carrying with it a variety of pollutants. Urban and suburban areas produce much more stormwater runoff due to the high amount of paved and hard surfaces.
One of the key pollutants in stormwater is sediment from soil erosion. Soil erosion occurs when stormwater washes bare soil into streams, smothering stream habitats, altering flow, and increasing nutrient levels to harmful extents. To prevent soil erosion, it is important to slow down stormwater by covering bare soil with garden mulch or crop residues.
Another major source of stormwater pollution is the nutrients nitrogen and phosphorus, primarily from fertilizers. These nutrients can cause harmful plant and algae blooms in water bodies and lower oxygen levels, posing risks to aquatic life and unsuspecting swimmers or pets. To mitigate this, it is essential to apply fertilizers sparingly and only during the right season, avoiding areas near waterways, sinkholes, and wells.
Everyday compounds, when overused or misused, can also contaminate stormwater. These include pesticides, excess road salt, and automotive fluids like oil, gas, and antifreeze. To prevent this type of pollution, it is crucial to use these products sparingly, follow instructions, store them safely, and properly dispose of any leaks or spills.
Additionally, stormwater runoff can carry trash and litter, including plastics that can leach toxins like arsenic and lead into the soil and water. To address this, it is essential to properly dispose of waste in covered trash cans and recycle whenever possible. Yard waste, such as clippings and pet waste, should also be collected and disposed of properly to prevent drain blockages and water contamination.
Green infrastructure techniques, such as rain gardens, pervious pavement, rain barrels, and green roofs, can effectively manage stormwater runoff and remove pollutants by slowing down and infiltrating runoff, allowing plants to filter out contaminants.
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Nutrients and pollutants
Nutrients are chemical compounds that are essential for the growth and maintenance of life. The three primary macronutrients required for plant growth are nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Other secondary macronutrients or micronutrients, such as calcium, magnesium, sulfur, and zinc, are also necessary but in smaller quantities. Plants derive these nutrients from the soil in which they grow. The soil's mineral composition, rock content, and decaying plant matter all contribute to the availability of these nutrients.
When it comes to stormwater, the primary pollutants are often the nutrients nitrogen and phosphorus. These nutrients can enter stormwater through various human activities, such as the overuse of fertilizers on lawns and croplands. When nitrogen and phosphorus are not fully utilized by plants, they can be washed from the soil into nearby waterways during rain or snowmelt events. This excess nitrogen and phosphorus can harm water quality, leading to eutrophication of water bodies, resulting in "dead zones" that negatively impact aquatic life and decrease biodiversity.
Additionally, soil erosion plays a significant role in stormwater pollution. When soil is left bare, stormwater can wash it away, carrying adsorbed nutrients and depositing them into waterways. This sedimentation process contributes to both sediment and nutrient pollution in our streams, rivers, lakes, and ponds. To prevent soil erosion and reduce the impact on water quality, it is essential to cover bare soil with garden mulches or crop residues, a practice known as conservation tillage.
Another source of nutrient and soil pollution is the repeated application of pesticides. Pesticides can lower soil biodiversity and resilience and contaminate food and feed. The European Union's Zero Pollution Action Plan aims to reduce the use of chemical pesticides and their associated risks by 50% by 2030. Similarly, excessive nutrient application is targeted for a 50% reduction by the same year.
To address stormwater runoff and nutrient pollution, implementing green infrastructure techniques is essential. This includes utilizing rain gardens, pervious pavement, rain barrels, and green roofs. These practices slow down stormwater, allowing plants to filter out pollutants as the water infiltrates the ground. Additionally, proper waste management, such as collecting yard clippings and disposing of them in covered trash cans, can prevent drain blockages and reduce the impact on local waterways.
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Soil erosion
Water erosion occurs when bare-sloped soil is exposed to rainfall, and the rainfall intensity exceeds the rate of soil intake, leading to soil-surface runoff. This runoff can worsen due to human activities, collecting nitrogen and phosphorus pollutants from fertilizers, pet and yard waste, and chemicals. As stormwater flows over hard surfaces, it enters water bodies or storm drains without passing through soil or plants, which would typically filter out pollutants.
Wind erosion occurs when land is devoid of ground-covering plants, leaving the soil susceptible to being swept away. Overgrazing by farm animals and deforestation can contribute to this by reducing ground cover. Climate changes, such as fluctuations in rainfall and temperature, can also impact soil erosion.
To mitigate soil erosion, various conservation practices can be implemented. These include agronomic, cultural, and structural measures. Structural practices involve physical changes to the land's shape and topography. Improving the soil infiltration rate through techniques like covering bare soil with mulch or crop residues can reduce surface runoff and, consequently, soil erosion. Sustainable land use, such as implementing green infrastructure, can also help reduce the impacts of agriculture and slow down stormwater.
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Green infrastructure solutions
Stormwater runoff is a significant contributor to soil pollution, carrying pollutants such as excess fertilizer, trash, chemicals, and bacteria into local waterways. This occurs when water from rain or snowstorms, unable to be absorbed by the ground, flows over hard surfaces and directly into water bodies or storm drains.
Green infrastructure offers a cost-effective and sustainable solution to managing stormwater runoff and reducing its negative impact on soil and water quality. Here are some green infrastructure techniques and solutions to address soil pollution:
Rain Gardens and Absorbent Gardens
Rain gardens are designed to capture stormwater and allow it to slowly infiltrate the ground. They are often constructed with a mix of organic matter and soil, helping to filter and remove pollutants through adsorption, filtration, and plant uptake. These gardens can be implemented in urban spaces, such as roadside plantings, to capture stormwater runoff and prevent it from overwhelming storm sewers.
Pervious Pavement and Green Roofs
Pervious pavement, also known as porous pavement, allows stormwater to infiltrate the ground rather than flowing into storm drains. This helps to slow down and reduce the volume of runoff, preventing soil erosion and flooding. Green roofs, on the other hand, are vegetated rooftops that capture and retain rainwater, reducing the amount of runoff and providing additional benefits such as carbon sequestration and improved urban climate resilience.
Constructed Soils (Technosols)
Technosols are engineered soils created by mixing organic and mineral waste. They are designed to meet specific requirements and are particularly useful in urban contexts, where natural soils may be unsuitable for green infrastructure. Technosols contribute to sustainable environments by supporting plant growth, infiltration, and biological activities that maintain air and water quality.
Waste Management and Proper Disposal
Proper waste management and disposal practices are crucial for preventing soil pollution. This includes collecting and properly disposing of yard clippings and waste in covered trash cans to prevent them from washing into local waterways. Additionally, using organic fertilizers like compost and mulch can reduce the introduction of pollutants into the soil, and minimizing the use of pesticides and harsh chemicals can help prevent their entry into storm drains and, subsequently, the soil.
Restoration of Natural Spaces
Restoring natural spaces, such as wetlands and floodplains, provides a cheaper and more effective alternative to building new water treatment infrastructure. These natural spaces not only help with flood prevention but also offer habitats for wildlife, contribute to carbon sequestration, and enhance biodiversity.
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Frequently asked questions
Stormwater is water from rain or snow storms that flows over streets, parking lots, and roofs and into a water body or storm drain.
Stormwater can infiltrate through contaminated soil and transport pollutants. As stormwater travels across the land surface, it can pick up pollutants and deliver them to the subsurface, including the soil.
Common sources of pollutants in stormwater include excess fertilizer on lawns and croplands, eroded soil, trash, harmful bacteria, and chemicals.
To prevent soil contamination from stormwater, it is essential to manage stormwater at contaminated sites through surface capture and treatment or infiltration techniques. Homeowners can also introduce opportunities for rainfall to infiltrate the ground, such as planting rain gardens and keeping soils covered with vegetation.
