Common pollutants of concern and sources in stormwater runoff
Common pollutants of concern and sources in stormwater runoff. Adapted from USGS, 2014.
Link to this table.
| Contaminant | Contaminant source1 |
|---|---|
| Nitrogen | Naturally occurring from vegetation decomposition. Anthropogenic sources include fertilizers, farm-animal waste, faulty septic systems |
| Chloride | Salts applied to roads and parking lots during the winter; mineral dissolution |
| Copper | Industrial and domestic waste, mining, mineral leaching, automobile parts and fluids |
| Zinc | Industrial waste; automobile parts and fluids |
| Manganese | Found naturally in sediment and rocks; mining waste; industrial waste; automobile parts and fluids |
| Nickel | Naturally occurring; stainless steel and alloy products; mining; refining; automobile parts and fluids |
| Cadmium | Small amounts are naturally occurring; industrial discharge; mining waste; automobile parts and fluids |
| Chromium | Old mining operations; fossil-fuel combustion; mineral leaching; automobile parts and fluids |
| Pesticides | Residential use of lawn care products; commercial landscaping; animal wastes; municipal right-of-ways; agriculture; feedlots |
| Cyanide | Road salt; fertilizer production |
| PAHs2 | Auto emissions; elicit discharge; asphalt pavement (driveways, roadways and parking lots) with coal tar sealants3 |
| VOCs2 | Crude oil; insecticides; varnishes; paints; gasoline products; degreasers; municipal maintenance activities |
| Oil and grease | Gasoline products; plastics; dyes; rubbers; polishes; solvents; crude oil; insecticides; inks; varnishes; paints; disinfectants; paint removers; degreasers; automobile fluids |
| Pathogens including fecal coliform and E. coli | Domestic sewage; animal waste; plant or soil material |
1The list of sources is for stormwater runoff only
2PAHs=polyaromatic hydrocarbons; VOCs=volatile organic compounds
3MPCA, 2014
Source: USGS, 2014, with permission