 |
Land use |
How contaminants enter waterways |
Potential pollutants |
|
Urban activity |
Stormwater drains run-off from roads, parks and gardens |
Pathogens (bacteria and viruses)
Fuel and oil
Tyre rubber
Heavy metals (e.g. lead from petrol, chromium, cadmium)
Litter
Sediments
Colour (tanins)
nutrients from dog poo, fertilizers |
|
Toilets |
Sewage effluent
Septic tanks seepage entering groundwater |
Nutrients (phosphate, ammonia, nitrite and nitrate)
Suspended solids
Organic matter (measured as biochemical oxygen demand)
Chemicals (e.g. detergents, solvents, grease, soap, disinfectants, fats)
Pathogens (bacteria and viruses) |
|
Garbage and refuse disposal |
Groundwater (leachates) and surface run-off from landfill tips and liquid waste from disposal sites |
Nutrients
Bacteria, especially salmonella, spread by birds, rodents and insects.
Toxic substances
Acids and alkalis |
|
Water storages |
Retention of sediments and nutrients in deep, sheltered water bodies where the wind is unable to mix the full depth of the water column, the surface waters can warm up and lead to chemical changes in the deeper water. |
Nutrients
Metals
Sediments
Dissolved salts
Nitrogen
Oxygen
Algal blooms |
|
Water based and waterfront activities |
Run-off from foreshore recreation areas and marinas, bilge and ballast water from watercraft |
Litter
Nutrients (fertiliser and watercraft discharges)
Pathogens (bacteria and viruses)
Oil and hazardous chemicals in bilge water
Heavy metals (anti-fouling paint)
Oil and petrol from boat exhausts |
|
Forestry and agricultural practices |
Run-off from logging coupes, roads and agricultural land |
sediment
nutrients
pesticides, herbicides |
|
Mining activities |
Run-off from tailings |
heavy metals |
|
