Bronte Wells
Polluted runoff is one of the greatest threats to clean water in the US, with unmanaged stormwater runoff causing serious damage to streams, lakes, and estuaries. This is particularly true in areas where land use changes from rural to urban activities. Sources of polluted runoff include residential, commercial, and agricultural properties, farms, construction sites, automotive facilities, and forestry operations. Atmospheric deposition, transportation, and metallic materials are also major sources of stormwater pollution. In agricultural areas, activities such as fertilizer and manure application, irrigation, and livestock management can contribute to polluted runoff. Urban and suburban areas, with their high proportion of impervious surfaces, are a significant source of harmful nitrogen pollution, which continues to grow in watersheds like the Chesapeake Bay.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Activities causing polluted runoff | Atmospheric deposition, vehicular transportation-related activities, metallic building envelopes, agricultural practices, urban and suburban areas, residential and commercial properties, farms, construction sites, automotive facilities, forestry operations, boating and marinas |
| Pollutants | Fertilizer, oil, pesticides, dirt, bacteria, nitrogen, phosphorus, pet waste, leaves, debris, lawn and garden chemicals, antifreeze, paints, household chemicals, brake fluid, grease, manure, sediment, nutrients, pathogens |
| Effects of polluted runoff | Erosion of streams, death of fish and aquatic life, contamination of drinking water and swimming areas, flooding, reshaping waterways, blocking sunlight from reaching underwater grasses, harming wildlife and residents of the watershed region, closing of shellfish growing beaches, increasing flood damage, deteriorating surface water quality |
| Solutions to reduce polluted runoff | Soaking up the rain, using permeable pavements, planting native plants, trees, grasses and flowering perennials, adopting soil and water conservation practices, implementing regenerative agriculture practices, using drip irrigation, storing livestock manure in protected areas, maintaining septic systems, picking up after pets, reducing impervious surfaces, increasing vegetated land cover, maintaining vehicles, properly disposing of waste and chemicals, driving less, washing cars at commercial car washes or on lawns |
What You'll Learn
Urban and suburban areas
In urban and suburban settings, atmospheric deposition, vehicular transportation, and metallic building materials are the primary sources of stormwater pollution. The transportation sector, in particular, has been identified as a major contributor, with vehicles releasing a range of pollutants into the environment. These pollutants are then picked up by runoff and carried into water bodies.
To address this issue, municipalities are implementing creative strategies to remind residents of their role in reducing nonpoint source pollution. For example, towns bordering the Potomac River and Chesapeake Bay have painted messages like "Drains to the Potomac" and "It Ends Up In The Bay" near storm drains to raise awareness that even small amounts of pollution contribute to the problem.
Additionally, low-impact development practices can play a crucial role in reducing urban runoff and improving water quality. Implementing green roofs, permeable pavements, and native plant gardens can help absorb rainwater and reduce the amount of runoff flowing into streets and local waterways. These measures not only reduce community costs associated with drainage systems but also provide habitats for birds, insects, and pollinators.
Overall, urban and suburban areas significantly impact polluted runoff, and addressing this issue requires a combination of public awareness, sustainable infrastructure, and effective pollution mitigation strategies.
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Vehicular transportation
The impact of vehicular transportation on water quality is also significant. Urban stormwater and snowmelt pollution, which are influenced by transportation activities, contribute to the deterioration of surface water quality. The atmospheric deposition of pollutants from vehicle emissions and the use of metallic materials in the automotive industry are major sources of stormwater pollution. As runoff moves, it collects and transports pollutants to lakes, rivers, wetlands, and coastal waters. This nonpoint source pollution, caused by rainfall or snowmelt moving over the ground, carries away human-made pollutants, ultimately depositing them into water bodies.
The transportation sector is also a substantial contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. In the United States, greenhouse gas emissions from transportation account for about 28% of the country's total, making it the largest contributor. Heavy-duty vehicles, such as trucks and buses, are of particular concern. While they make up only about 10% of all vehicles on the road, they produce more than 25% of global warming emissions from the transportation sector.
To mitigate the environmental impact of vehicular transportation, various strategies can be employed. The adoption of low-carbon fuels, improved vehicle technologies, and the transition to electric vehicles can significantly reduce emissions. Additionally, strategies to reduce the number of vehicle miles traveled, such as carpooling or public transportation, can also lessen the impact on the environment. The SmartWay program by the EPA is an example of an initiative that helps the freight transportation sector improve supply chain efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
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Farms and ranches
Agricultural runoff carries pollutants such as pesticides, fertilizers, and animal manure into nearby water bodies. These contaminants can infiltrate local streams, rivers, and groundwater, degrading water quality and impairing aquatic ecosystems. Increased levels of nitrogen and phosphorus from these sources can stimulate algal blooms, leading to hypoxic conditions harmful to aquatic life and impacting recreational activities. Proper nutrient management practices, such as targeted fertilizer and manure application and drip irrigation, can help minimize runoff risks.
Soil erosion from farms and ranches is another significant factor in polluted runoff. Excessive sedimentation can overwhelm aquatic ecosystems, smother breeding areas, and degrade coastal and marine environments, including coral reefs. Implementing conservation practices tailored to specific farm types, soils, and local conditions can help mitigate these negative impacts.
Additionally, farms and ranches contribute to polluted runoff through improper waste management. Livestock manure, if not properly stored and contained, can contaminate nearby water sources. Implementing measures such as fenced stream crossings and upland storage areas can help minimize the impact on water quality.
Agricultural operations also face the challenge of controlling pollutants during irrigation. Irrigation return flows can carry contaminants into local waterways, further degrading water quality. By adopting efficient irrigation practices and managing cropland drainage systems, farms and ranches can reduce the export of pollutants to streams and other water bodies.
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Construction sites
One of the primary ways construction sites contribute to water pollution is through runoff. When it rains, water can pick up and carry pollutants from the construction site, such as synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, oil, paint, glue, cement, and other toxic chemicals. This polluted runoff then makes its way into nearby drains, streams, rivers, and oceans, contaminating water sources and endangering aquatic life. Construction sites are also sources of nonpoint source (NPS) pollution, where rainfall or snowmelt moves over and through the ground, picking up and carrying away natural and human-made pollutants to nearby water bodies.
To minimize their impact on water pollution, construction sites must follow environmental guidelines and adopt more sustainable practices. This includes properly managing waste disposal, ensuring that materials such as sand and cement don't wash into drains or local water sources, and keeping nearby streets and sidewalks clean to reduce harmful runoff discharge. Construction companies can also treat and repurpose their water waste, as demonstrated by the Western Municipal Water District (WMWD) in California, which found a way to recycle construction site water during droughts.
Additionally, construction sites should pay attention to their indirect water usage, which accounts for about 25% of their total water use. By reducing water consumption and implementing water conservation practices, construction companies can minimize their environmental footprint and contribute to the preservation of freshwater sources, which are essential for food production and supporting life on Earth.
By being mindful of their water usage and implementing sustainable practices, construction companies can play a crucial role in reducing polluted runoff and protecting our precious water resources for future generations.
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Atmospheric deposition
The burning of fossil fuels and various industrial activities release sulfur and nitrogen compounds into the atmosphere, which have significant effects on water bodies. Nitrogen, being an essential nutrient, and sulfur, which can lead to acidification, impact lake waters extensively. The industrial revolution in the 19th century caused a significant increase in sulfur concentrations in European lakes, resulting in acidified waters, particularly in regions with low pH-buffering soils.
Additionally, atmospheric deposition can introduce inorganic nitrogen to surface waters and terrestrial ecosystems, leading to eutrophication. High levels of acidifying air pollutants, such as sulfur, nitrogen, and ammonia emissions from fuel combustion, industrial processes, and agricultural activities, have been dominant contributors to atmospheric deposition in European forests. Deposition monitoring is crucial for understanding the trends in atmospheric deposition and assessing the impact of emission patterns. This information is vital for the development and implementation of effective clean air policies.
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Frequently asked questions
Polluted runoff is when rainwater or snowmelt runs off roofs, driveways, farms, construction sites, and other surfaces, picking up pollutants such as fertilizer, oil, pesticides, dirt, and bacteria as it flows into storm drains and ditches, eventually making its way into streams, rivers, lakes, and oceans.
Polluted runoff has various detrimental effects on the environment and human health. It erodes streams, kills fish and other aquatic life, pollutes drinking water sources and swimming areas, floods homes, and reshapes waterways.
Urban and suburban areas, with their extensive hard surfaces, are significant contributors to polluted runoff. The shift from rural to urban activities has led to increased runoff, as rainwater has limited natural absorption areas and instead flows into gutters and storm drains, carrying pollutants into nearby water bodies.
Urban runoff is influenced by various sources, including atmospheric deposition, transportation-related activities, and metallic building materials. Vehicular emissions, brake linings, and road surfaces contribute to the presence of pollutants in stormwater.
There are several strategies to mitigate polluted runoff:
- Implementing green infrastructure, such as rain gardens and permeable pavements, helps absorb and slow down the flow of stormwater.
- Adopting regenerative agricultural practices, such as nutrient management and conservation techniques, can minimize the runoff of pollutants from farms.
- Properly disposing of household chemicals, maintaining vehicles to prevent fluid leaks, and washing cars at commercial car washes or on grass surfaces can reduce the introduction of pollutants into stormwater.
