Surface Water Pollutants

Surface water is a body of water such as an ocean or lake where water collects. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, surface water can become polluted by hazardous materials that dissolve or mix into the water. There are a variety of sources that can contribute to the contamination of water sources.

Types of Sources

• Industrial and municipal sewage plants are examples of potential point source contamination.

  There are two forms of water pollutants. One is point source and the other is nonpoint source. A point source pollutant can be a substance that flows directly into surface water. An example of this would be the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil disaster. A nonpoint source occurs when a pollutant is introduced via an indirect environmental change. This can include fertilizer contaminating a stream as a result of being carried out by the rain.

Fertilizers

• Using natural, rather than chemical, fertilizers can reduce or stop eutrophication.

  Fertilizers can contain nutrients that include nitrates and phosphates. While these nutrients may not be particularly toxic, they can cause irrevocable damage to water sources. According to U.S. Geological Survey, or USGS, a process known as eutrophication occurs when nitrates and phosphates develop algae blooms. These blooms decrease the oxygen in water, which results in dissolved oxygen as the blooms decompose and affects the respiration of animals that reside in water sources.

Waste Materials

• Coastal waters are often polluted by pesticides, ocean-based dumping and excess sediments.

  Waste materials refer to untreated sewage, septic tanks, storm drains or runoff from farms that enter water sources. Waste materials can be toxic to all forms of life as organisms such as bacteria and viruses can be introduced. This can cause the spread of disease as well as the death of animals and humans.

Suspended Sediment

• Suspended sediment is silt and soils that enter a water source. According to USGS, suspended sediment is dangerous because it affects the clarity and turbidity of the water and contributes to the distribution of toxic materials. This can affect wildlife, such as fish feeding behavior.

Other Sources

• Some fish contain higher levels of mercury than others, such as tilefish and albacore tuna.

  Other sources of pollutants include organic pollutants, heavy metals and radioactive materials. Detergents are a type of organic pollutant. Heavy metals can be dangerous since these metals can be ingested by animals. Heavy metals include mercury, arsenic and cadmium. If a fish ingests heavy metal, the metal is stored in the fish's fat supply. When you eat fish containing heavy metal, adverse health effects can result. Lastly, radioactive substances are formed from nuclear power plants, industrial, medical and scientific use of radioactive substances.