|
What is the problem?
Nonpoint source pollution
(or stormwater pollution)
 Non-point
source (NPS) water pollution is pollution that washes off of the landscape when
it rains, or when watered (watering lawns, for example). It may come from
erosion of soils (due to overuse of the land, mining, or construction),
fertilizing (lawns, gardens, or fields), or leaks from automobiles on streets
and driveways. These pollutants contaminate local lakes and streams when it
rains. While this pollution may not be obvious to the naked eye, the
consequences can be serious for our natural resources.
Below are
some pollutants of concern, and some of their sources and associated problems.
SEDIMENT
Some Sources of sediment:
1) Exposed, disturbed soil on landscape (overgrazing, urban construction,
agriculture)
--> exposed soil washes easily into streams compared to well vegetated
landscapes.
2) Decrease in ability of land to soak up water (adding pavement, removing
wetlands and other natural vegetation)
--> causes rainwater to run more quickly to streams (rather than soaking
in) carrying along soils.
3) Increased flow in streams (adding pavement, removing wetlands and other
natural vegetation)
--> causes erosion of banks, scouring of stream bed
Some Problems with
sediments:
1) Pollutants such as pesticides and nutrients (phosphorus) attach to sediments
and ride along with them into streams and lakes
2) Damages fish and aquatic biota habitat.
3) Clogs fish gills, smothers fish eggs, abrades aquatic biota
4) Sediment from upstream mining district contains heavy metals (see
Tar Creek Website)
5) Clogs waterways, ditches, and filters of water treatment plants (increased
cost to taxpayers)
NUTRIENTS (Phosphorus & Nitrogen)
Some Sources of Nutrients:
1) Fertilizer use (lawns in parks, golf courses, private homes; Agricultural
use)
2) Human and animal waste (chicken litter, septic systems / wastewater, animal
access to streams)
3) Soil erosion (Phosphorus attaches to soil particles)
4) Industrial and Food Processing sources
Some
Problems with nutrients:
1) Algal blooms and excessive weedy plant growth (especially when it enters
lakes)
2) Can lead to drop in dissolved oxygen in water --> decline of aquatic life
3) Very high nitrate concentrations --> can be toxic if used for drinking water
4) Often an indicator of other pollutants in the water as well.
5) Poor taste to drinking water
OIL,
GREASE, METALS
Some Sources of Oil,
Grease, Metals:
1) Storm runoff from parking lots, driveways, roadways
2) Heavy metals in sediment and dissolved in water from mining district (see
Tar Creek Website)
Some
Problems with oil, grease, metals:
1) Heavy metals can be toxic or lead to numerous health consequences for fish
and humans
2) Oil/grease toxic to aquatic biota at low concentrations
3) Oil/grease can prevent oxygen from entering water
4) Oil/grease coats fish gills.
Tar Creek Superfund Site
A major source of contamination of the waters within the
Grand Lake Watershed is the Tar Creek Superfund Site and other mining sites.
Please see the following website maintained by the Oklahoma Department of
Environmental Quality for information on what is happening to remediate the Tar
Creek site:
Tar Creek Website.
| 