Brian Barton
The Chesapeake Bay is a body of water that has been significantly affected by pollution. The main sources of pollution are nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment, which come from fertilizers, wastewater, septic tank discharges, air pollution, and runoff from farms, cities, and suburbs. In addition, toxic chemical contaminants from industrial facilities, pesticides, pharmaceuticals, and personal care products also contribute to the pollution of the bay. Climate change has also impacted the bay, with stronger rainstorms increasing pollution levels. Despite recent efforts to reduce pollution and improve water quality, the Chesapeake Bay received a D+ grade in a 2023 report.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Water Quality | Poor |
| Grade | D+ |
| Major Contributors | Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Sediment |
| Other Pollutants | Pesticides, Pharmaceuticals, Metals, Oil, and other Chemicals |
| Toxic Contaminants | PCBs, PFAS, PAHs, and other Toxic Compounds |
| Climate Change Impact | Stronger Rainstorms, Increased Rainfall Intensity |
| Restoration Efforts | $300 million in grants, Agricultural Cost-Share Programs, Sewer System Upgrades, Stormwater Runoff Reduction |
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What You'll Learn
Nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment pollution
Excessive amounts of nitrogen and phosphorus come from fertilizers, wastewater, septic tank discharges, air pollution, and runoff from farms, cities, and suburbs. Stormwater runoff picks up oil, pesticides, fertilizer, and other chemicals as it flows across lawns, roads, driveways, and parking lots, contaminating nearby streams and storm drains. Pharmaceuticals and chemicals from personal care products also end up in wastewater, which cannot be removed at wastewater treatment plants, so they make their way into rivers and the Bay. Air pollution from factories, power plants, cars, and trucks also contributes to high levels of nitrogen.
The federal Clean Water Act (CWA) requires states to identify polluted waterways and list them as "impaired." In 2010, under an Executive Order from President Obama, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) set limits on nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment pollution for the entire 64,000-square-mile Chesapeake Bay watershed. States are accountable for creating and implementing plans to achieve those limits by 2025. Despite these efforts, Chesapeake Bay received a D+ grade in a 2023 report, citing climate change and strong rainstorms as complicating factors.
However, there is some progress in reducing pollution. Between 1995 and 2022, 80.95 million pounds of nitrogen and 2.4 million pounds of phosphorus were reduced through the installation of best management practices. It is estimated that an additional 4.72 million pounds of nitrogen and 1.74 million pounds of phosphorus will be reduced annually due to these practices. Experts are also using a new indicator, the Chesapeake Bay Total Maximum Daily Load Indicator, to better understand how the Bay is responding to management practices and watershed changes while accounting for climate change impacts.
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Industrial facilities and wastewater treatment plants
The Chesapeake Bay is heavily polluted, and wastewater discharged from industrial facilities and wastewater treatment plants is a significant contributor to this issue. Industrial facilities, such as the old Sparrows Point Steel Mill in Baltimore, have a history of violating pollution regulations, releasing toxic chemicals like benzene, chromium, lead, and zinc into local waterways. These pollutants not only foul the water but also impact the surrounding communities and environment.
These toxic chemicals released by industrial facilities can have far-reaching consequences, migrating beyond the immediate facility and contaminated groundwater and sediment. Eventually, these pollutants find their way into local creeks, rivers, and ultimately the Chesapeake Bay. The burning of fossil fuels, vehicle exhaust, and coal-tar pavement sealants also contribute to the pollution in the Bay.
Wastewater treatment plants play a crucial role in treating and managing wastewater before it is discharged into the Bay. However, they face significant challenges in removing certain contaminants. For example, pharmaceuticals and chemicals from personal care products, such as shampoo and cosmetics, end up in the wastewater and subsequently in the Bay because they cannot be effectively removed during the treatment process. This issue is not unique to the Chesapeake Bay, as wastewater treatment plants across the United States struggle with the same problem.
Nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment are identified as the three major contributors to the poor health of the Chesapeake Bay. Excessive amounts of nitrogen and phosphorus come from various sources, including fertilizers, wastewater, septic tank discharges, air pollution, and runoff from farms, cities, and suburbs. High levels of nitrogen and phosphorus lead to excessive algae growth, which blocks sunlight from reaching underwater grasses and creates low-oxygen dead zones, harming both plant and animal life in the Bay.
While there has been some progress in reducing pollution levels, the Chesapeake Bay watershed recently received a D+ grade in an environmental evaluation. Climate change and strong rainstorms also complicate restoration efforts. However, there is ongoing work to address these issues, with grants and funding allocated for restoration, conservation, and the implementation of farm pollution reduction practices.
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Pesticides and pharmaceuticals
Pesticides are a major contributor to the pollution of the Chesapeake Bay. While agriculture accounts for about 75% of all pesticide use, 85% of US households store at least one pesticide at home, with more than half storing between one and five. Pesticides flow into the bay from surrounding farms and private yards via stormwater runoff, which picks up other pollutants such as oil, fertiliser, and other chemicals as it flows across lawns, roads, driveways, and parking lots. This contaminated runoff then makes its way into nearby streams and storm drains, eventually reaching the bay.
One example of a harmful pesticide is the herbicide atrazine, which is used for agriculture and in lawn products. Atrazine is known to disrupt regular hormone function and cause several types of cancer. Although it has been banned in much of the world, atrazine is the second most commonly used herbicide in the US.
Pharmaceuticals are another contaminant of concern in the Chesapeake Bay. Pharmaceuticals and chemicals from personal care products end up in wastewater and cannot be removed at wastewater treatment plants, so they make their way into rivers and the bay. Pharmaceuticals can also appear in landfills, and have been linked to behaviour changes and reproductive disruptions in fish and other species.
To reduce the impact of pesticides and pharmaceuticals on the bay, individuals can take several actions. People can switch to non-toxic pesticides and chemical-free cleaning and personal care products. Additionally, individuals can dispose of pharmaceuticals responsibly by returning unused medicine to a consumer drug return location or fouling it with coffee grounds or cat litter before putting it in the trash.
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Climate change impacts
Climate change is already affecting the Chesapeake Bay, the largest estuary in the United States, and its surrounding region. The bay's health is impacted by warming water temperatures, rising sea levels, and prolonged periods of extreme weather.
The bay's coastal communities are a major economic engine for the region, supporting commercial and recreational fishing, desirable living areas, and recreational opportunities. Climate change poses a threat to these communities and the aquatic life in the bay. The frequency and intensity of storms in the region are increasing, causing dangerous flooding and threatening water quality. More powerful storms increase water pollution from runoff and stream erosion, and the higher temperatures put species at risk by changing water chemistry and underwater vegetation. Warmer water holds less oxygen and can reduce some species of underwater grasses.
The Chesapeake Bay Program released a report about how rising water temperatures could affect species and habitats in the bay. NOAA, which funds research to help fishery managers better understand how to prepare for and adapt to changes in habitat, helps predict changes in environmental conditions through its buoys.
The Chesapeake Bay Foundation is working to mitigate the effects of climate change. Controlling emissions of climate-warming greenhouse gases is urgent to slow climate change, but other measures—including work already being done to improve water quality—can help trap carbon and buffer the bay against its most harmful effects.
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Air pollution
There are four sources of air pollution in the Chesapeake Bay region: stationary and area sources, mobile sources, agricultural sources, and natural sources. Stationary sources, such as power plants, chemical facilities, and manufacturing facilities, are large, consistent sources of air pollution with fixed locations. Area sources, like dry cleaners and gas stations, are smaller sources often clustered near each other. Mobile sources of air pollution, including cars, trucks, and gas-powered lawn tools, move throughout the region. Agricultural sources, such as livestock and poultry operations, contribute ammonia emissions, while natural sources include forest fires and volcanic activity.
Nitrogen oxides (NOx) and ammonia are the primary forms of airborne nitrogen pollution in the Chesapeake Bay. In 2000, nitrogen oxides accounted for three-quarters of airborne nitrogen pollution, with ammonia making up the remaining quarter. By 2017, nitrogen oxides and ammonia contributed equally to airborne nitrogen pollution. These pollutants are produced by machines or processes powered by gas, coal, or oil, such as vehicle engines and building heating systems.
The effects of airborne nitrogen pollution on the bay are significant. Excess nitrogen fuels the growth of algae blooms, which block sunlight from reaching underwater grasses. As the algae die, they decompose, creating low-oxygen "dead zones" that suffocate marine life and reduce biodiversity in the bay.
In addition to nitrogen, other chemical contaminants contribute to air pollution in the Chesapeake Bay region. Mercury, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are among the most common. Mercury is released into the air when coal, oil, natural gas, and hazardous materials are burned. While the production of PCBs has been banned in the United States since 1977, they persist in the environment and contribute to air pollution. PAHs are released into the air when fossil fuels are burned.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, the Chesapeake Bay is polluted.
The three major contributors to the poor health of the Chesapeake Bay are nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment. These enter the bay through wastewater, septic tank discharges, air pollution, and runoff from farms, cities, and suburbs.
High levels of nitrogen and phosphorus fuel unnaturally high levels of algae growth in the water, blocking sunlight from reaching underwater grasses and creating low-oxygen dead zones, which can suffocate plant and animal life. Sediment can also block sunlight from reaching aquatic grasses and smother shellfish.
Efforts to address pollution in the Chesapeake Bay are complicated by climate change, which brings stronger rainstorms that drop more rain in shorter periods. However, there have been some positive developments, such as the inclusion of \$300 million in grants for the restoration and conservation of the bay watershed in the federal Inflation Reduction Act. Additionally, states are working to create and implement plans to reduce pollution and improve water quality in the bay.
