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The effects of polluted runoff are not limited to large lakes or coastal
bays. In fact, chances are you don’t have to look any farther than your
neighborhood stream or duck pond. Water pollution in your town, and
perhaps in your own backyard, can result in anything from weed-choked
ponds to fish kills to contaminated drinking water.
There’s not much chance that you can ignore this problem, even if you
want to. Concern over polluted runoff has resulted in an ever-increasing
number of state and federal laws enacted over the last five years. At the
federal level, a permit program for storm water discharges from certain
municipalities and businesses is now underway. In addition to
implementing this federal program, many states have passed laws altering
local land use (planning and zoning) processes and building codes to
address the problem of polluted runoff. The bottom line is that both
polluted runoff and its management are likely to affect you and your
community in the near future.
The mission of the NonPoint Source Water Pollution Control
Program is to protect water resources and public health from
nonpoint sources of pollution.
• Abbotsford-Sumas Aquifer:
threats to drinking water supplies from nitrogen leachate have incurred
an economic efficiency loss * estimated at $7.8 - $17.4 million
• Brunette River Basin:
long-term degradation of water and recreational opportunities by
urban development — total annual economic efficiency losses * of
$5.4 million.
• Salmon River (Salmon Arm):
approximately half of the 110 km of stream bank requires some degree
of remediation. The total cost of riparian zone restoration is estimated
at $1.9 million.
• Baynes Sound (Vancouver Island):
contamination of shellfish through storm water runoff, on-site sewage
seepage and agricultural runoff total annual economic efficiency
losses * of approximately $400,000.
1. Pathogens
these microorganisms-bacteria, viruses, and protozoa-can cause
waterborne illnesses. While most pathogens come from human
sewage (primarily leaking or aging sewage collection systems,
onsite sewage systems, storm water runoff, and combined sewer
overflows), manure from livestock and wild animal droppings are
also common sources.
3. Nutrients
Organic wastes and fertilizers introduce plant-feeding nutrients,
such as nitrogen and phosphorus, into runoff. When onsite sewage
effluent or runoff enters a water body, nutrients can cause algal
blooms and dense weed growth that disrupt the balance of aquatic
ecosystems and interfere with recreation such as swimming and
boating. When an algal bloom occurs, oxygen in the water is
depleted, which can cause odour problems as well as kill fish and
other organisms.
4. Sediments
Suspended soil particles make water turbid and unpleasant to drink,
and increase water treatment requirements. Sediments also reduce
light available to algae and aquatic plants, kill or injure fish by
damaging their gills, cover spawning gravel and smother fish eggs,
and reduce the quality of recreational activities such as swimming
and boating.
5. Toxins
Substances as ammonia, nitrate, metals, pesticides and a variety of
organic toxins can poison humans, livestock, wildlife, and aquatic
organisms. Some toxins cause cancer. In addition, chloramines — a
comparatively persistent drinking water treatment chemical — can
be very harmful to aquatic life when discharged in fisheries-
sensitive areas.