Information about common pollutants

Materials and information on common pollutants found in stormwater.

Common pollutants of concern and sources in stormwater runoff

Common pollutants of concern and sources in stormwater runoff. Adapted from USGS, 2014.
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. Natural sources include 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. Anthropogenic sources include mining waste, industrial waste, automobile parts and fluids
Nickel	Naturally occurring. Anthropogenic sources include stainless steel and alloy products, mining, refining, automobile parts and fluids
Cadmium	Small amounts are naturally occurring. Anthropogenic sources include 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 discharges; 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
Microbes (including fecal coliform, E. coli, and pathogens)	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
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