Meghan Hodges
Puget Sound, a waterway in Washington, has been contaminated by human activities for decades. The first steam-driven mill was built on the Sound in 1853, and by 1883, almost all the surrounding timber had been removed. The introduction of new technology by Europeans enabled the exploitation of resources at an unprecedented level, and in a few decades, almost all the forests had been cut down, and many animal populations were in decline. Puget Sound was also used as a dumping ground for waste. Today, the major legacy pollutant in Puget Sound is stormwater runoff, which washes about 2 million pounds of toxic chemicals into the water every year.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Legacy Pollutant | Toxic chemicals |
| Source | Everyday activities, industrial facilities, oil spills, stormwater runoff, sewage, fossil fuel production, logging, consumer products, and industry |
| Impact | Harm to human health, animals, and the environment; impairment of development, reproduction issues, disruption of body chemistry, and cancer |
| Contaminants | PCBs, PBDEs, PAHs, copper, lead, zinc, DDT, dioxins, pharmaceuticals, and personal care products |
| Action | Pollution prevention, management of toxic chemicals, research, and development of control strategies |
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Stormwater runoff
In Puget Sound, stormwater runoff has been identified as a major contributor to the decline of salmon populations. Studies have shown that stormwater can kill coho salmon within just three hours of exposure. The rainwater that becomes polluted with contaminants can flow untreated into the Salish Sea, impacting not only the fish but also the humans who consume them.
The contaminants found in stormwater runoff come from various sources, including everyday activities such as lawn fertilization, pet waste, vehicle emissions, and improper disposal of household chemicals. These pollutants can include heavy metals such as lead, zinc, copper, and mercury, as well as persistent bioaccumulative toxins (PBTs) like polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and flame retardants.
To address the issue of stormwater runoff, organizations like Puget Soundkeeper Alliance work to enforce pollution permits, develop policies, and educate the public about best practices to reduce stormwater pollution. They have successfully challenged highway stormwater permits and advocated for low-impact development to prevent polluted runoff from damaging water quality and public health.
Additionally, the creation of rain gardens and the implementation of green infrastructure aim to mitigate the impacts of stormwater runoff. By converting pavement into runoff-filtering gardens, cities can capture and filter stormwater, improving water quality and providing habitats for wildlife. These efforts not only benefit the environment but also enhance urban spaces, making them more resilient and livable.
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Industrial pollution
The introduction of steam-powered mills and the subsequent deforestation for fuel and industry led to a rapid increase in hydrocarbon pollution. By the early 1900s, sediments showed signs of "combustible hydrocarbons," resulting from burning coal or petroleum. Between 1900 and 1940, hydrocarbon pollution increased significantly, peaking around 1943 before declining with the transition to more efficient fuel sources.
In addition to hydrocarbons, Puget Sound has been contaminated by heavy metals such as lead, zinc, copper, and mercury. Lead levels, for instance, began to increase around 1890, reaching their peak in the mid-1960s before declining with the introduction of unleaded gasoline. Contamination by these metals was at its worst in the early 1960s and has since declined to pre-war levels.
The issue of industrial pollution in Puget Sound has not gone unnoticed. In 1945, Washington established the Pollution Control Commission, and in 1985, the Puget Sound Water Quality Authority was formed to address water quality issues. While progress has been made, the legacy of industrial pollution persists, and new sources of contamination, such as stormwater runoff carrying toxic chemicals from everyday products, continue to pose challenges.
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Sewage and wastewater
Population growth in the Puget Sound region has placed immense pressure on wastewater treatment systems, and this pressure is expected to intensify with a predicted addition of 1.8 million people by 2050. The failure to adequately treat wastewater can have serious environmental and health consequences. For example, in 2017, a pump failure shut down the West Point wastewater treatment plant, resulting in the discharge of approximately 260 million gallons of wastewater into Puget Sound. In 2019, a similar incident led to the release of 3 million gallons of untreated sewage into the Sound, prompting state officials to investigate and express concern about "power reliability."
Municipal sewage treatment plants have been identified as the biggest human source of Puget Sound's nitrogen problem. While technology exists to control nitrogen pollution at these plants, contributing factors such as pet waste, residential stormwater, and agricultural pollution must also be addressed. To protect water quality and public health, the Clean Water Act requires any facility discharging wastewater directly into surface water to obtain a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit. This permit sets limits on the amount of effluent discharge, which includes liquid pollutants and sewage.
Some facilities must also have an NPDES permit to discharge into municipal sewer systems or groundwater. Puget Soundkeeper, an environmental watchdog group, tracks NPDES permit compliance and advocates for strong permit requirements to safeguard local waterways. They have successfully filed lawsuits under the Clean Water Act to stop pollution from entering Puget Sound. In addition to their legal efforts, Puget Soundkeeper is dedicated to improving regulations and infrastructure to prevent wastewater contamination from destroying habitats and impairing waterways.
The legacy of sewage and wastewater pollution in Puget Sound is long-standing, with sediments from the late 19th century showing low levels of lead, copper, arsenic, and other metals. Hydrocarbon pollution, resulting from the burning of coal or petroleum, was also detected in sediments from before 1900. Between 1900 and 1940, hydrocarbon pollution increased significantly, peaking around 1943 before declining due to the transition from coal to oil and the adoption of clean hydroelectric power. Lead pollution, largely from car exhausts, followed a similar pattern, with a dramatic decline after the introduction of unleaded gasoline in the late 1960s. While overall water quality in Puget Sound has improved, with contamination by heavy metals declining to pre-war levels, sewage and wastewater remain significant contributors to the pollution of this fragile ecosystem.
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Oil spills
In 2010, the Puget Sound Partnership assembled a Cross-Partnership Oil Spill Work Group to address the growing concerns. This group worked in conjunction with the Harbor Safety Committee, bringing together various stakeholders, including representatives from maritime industries, environmental organisations, and government agencies. Their efforts led to the development of policies and strategies to prevent and manage oil spills, with a focus on regional collaboration and participation in forums dedicated to oil spill planning and prevention.
One notable incident occurred when a tank barge overfilled with heavy fuel oil, resulting in approximately 4,700 gallons of oil spilling into Puget Sound. The oil coated beaches, killed seabirds and a harbour seal pup, and disrupted shellfish harvesting for months. The cleanup cost $4.5 million, and the responsible company was compelled to pay for it, in addition to state penalties.
Another incident involved a tank barge capsizing and sinking in Rosario Strait with over 327,000 gallons of heavy cycle gas oil. While most of the oil sank, endangering marine life, salvage crews managed to recover a significant portion. The salvage operation cost the federal government over $1.1 million.
The increasing ship traffic in the region, coupled with the planned expansion of ports, exacerbates the risk of oil spills. While measures such as lower speed limits for ships, onboard monitoring, and double hull fuel tank protection are proposed to mitigate the risks, the threat of accidents persists.
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Heavy metals
The presence of heavy metals in Puget Sound can be attributed to various human activities, including industrial processes, stormwater runoff, and historical logging and mining practices. Lead, for example, was commonly found in car exhausts until the introduction of unleaded gasoline in the late 1960s. Copper and zinc, on the other hand, are often released into the environment through building roofing, siding, chain-link fencing, and streetlights.
Studies have found that sediment cores taken from the bottom of Puget Sound contain high levels of heavy metals, indicating a long history of pollution. These metals can have toxic effects on marine life, with researchers observing liver tumors in English sole, a bottom-dwelling flatfish, as early as 1975. The tumors were linked to exposure to fossil fuels and their by-products, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).
Heavy metal pollution in Puget Sound has also impacted human health, with infants and children being especially vulnerable. Exposure to these toxic chemicals can impair development, affect reproduction, disrupt body chemistry, and cause cancer. Furthermore, heavy metals can bioaccumulate in the fatty tissue of people and animals, leading to long-term health issues.
While efforts have been made to reduce heavy metal pollution in Puget Sound, it remains a challenging issue. The complex nature of stormwater runoff, which carries various contaminants from residential areas, makes it difficult to characterize, evaluate, and control the pollution. However, public awareness and policy changes have led to a decrease in certain heavy metals, such as DDT and PBDEs, providing hope that further improvements can be made.
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Frequently asked questions
The major legacy pollutants found in Puget Sound include PCBs, DDT, lead, copper, zinc, mercury, and other heavy metals. These pollutants were introduced into the environment through industrial activities, stormwater runoff, sewage, and fossil fuel production.
These legacy pollutants have had significant impacts on the ecosystem of Puget Sound. They have contaminated the water, sediment, and marine life, including fish, birds, and mammals. Some of the effects observed include tumors in bottom-dwelling fish, declines in salmon populations, and disruptions to the shellfish industry.
Various actions are being undertaken to address the legacy pollution in Puget Sound. The Puget Sound Water Quality Authority was established in 1985 to monitor and improve water quality. Efforts have been made to reduce stormwater runoff, manage wastewater discharges, and promote the use of safer alternatives to toxic chemicals. The Toxics in Aquatic Life Vital Sign initiative aims to reduce contaminant levels and protect species and human health by setting targets for the coming decades.
