Table of Contents:
Bacteria and other Pathogens
High concentrations of pathogens in streams can be a threat to public health. Failing septic systems, animal waste, and leaky sewer lines washed into the water can cause high pathogen concentrations.
Not only are these types of pollutants hazardous to our health, but they also reduce the recreational and natural resource value of a stream and increase costs for treating drinking water.
Nutrients
Nutrients such as phosphorous and nitrogen are found in fertilizers, animal wastes, many household detergents, as well as septic system leakage from residential areas. Nutrients are necessary for plant growth, greener lawns, and healthier crops.
Excess nutrients wash into streams and cause excessive growth of algae and aquatic plants.
This eliminates habitat and food supply for aquatic species, reduces water quality, increases water treatment costs, and makes the river less appealing for recreational activities. Pathogens are disease-producing organisms.
Toxics
Toxic contaminants include heavy metals, organic compounds, and pesticides that threaten both aquatic and human health. Many of these substances accumulate as they pass through the aquatic food chain. Game fish, along with animals that feed off the bottom of streams, can accumulate high levels of toxic materials that make then unsafe for human consumption.
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