Water Pollution
The ocean provides so much for us – food, medicine and much of the oxygen we breathe. Today, the ocean is facing grave threats from pollutants that enter the ocean and not only harm marine life but directly impact humans.
Take Action Against Water Pollution
- Keep trash and chemicals out of storm drains. This includes pet waste. Storm water from storm drains flows into the sea carrying pollutants which can lead to beach closures.
- Plant a native plant garden. Native plants can help you reduce the use of water and fertilizers.
- Avoid use of chemical fertilizers, instead make your own mulch and use organic fertilizers only when needed.
- Recycle used motor oil. Don’t let motor oil spill on the ground because rain will wash it into the storm-water drains, and from there out to sea, where it can harm or kill marine life. Find an oil-recycling center near you.
- Dispose of household cleaners properly. Household cleaning products, paint, pesticides, fluorescent light bulbs, and batteries pose a threat to water quality. Find more information about free collection centers.
- Take the pledge. Return the favor by taking our pledge to protect the ocean.
- Click here for more ways you can take action against water pollution.
Where Does Pollution Come From?
Polluted runoff is the primary source of pollution in California’s ocean. When it rains, when you water your lawn or wash your car, water picks up pollutants and carries them into our storm drains. Unlike the sewer system, most cities do not have treatment plants, or even filters, for this runoff. As a result, the pollutants found on streets, parking lots, buildings, yards and golf courses ultimately enter creeks and rivers, and eventually flow directly into the ocean. The kinds of pollutants found in runoff include motor oil, trash, pet waste, fertilizers, pesticides and dirt. These pollutants harm marine life, endanger human health and lead to costly beach closures.
Localized Source Pollution
Pollution can also come from point sources, or a single identifiable source, such as factories or wastewater treatment facilities. Factories, including oil refineries, and electronic manufacturers typically release one or more pollutants into water they discharge (called effluents). Some factories discharge their effluents directly into a waterbody. Others treat it themselves before it is released, and still others send waste to sewage treatment plants for handling. Sewage treatment plants treat human wastes and send the treated effluent to a stream or river and ultimately the ocean.
Visit the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (USEPA) EnviroFacts Web site to find the facilities near your home. USEPA’s EnviroMapper is an interactive map with the locations of these facilities.
Oil
Oil spills cause enormous damage to the marine environment. The November 2007 Cosco Busan spill on the San Francisco Bay resulted in the death of more than 2,500 birds and the closure of several nearby beaches. However, spills are responsible for only approximately 12 percent of the oil entering the ocean each year. According to a study by the U.S. National Research Council, three times this amount, or 36 percent, of oil enters the ocean as polluted runoff from our streets and parking lots.
What are the Effects of Water Pollution?
Have you ever gone to your favorite beach and found that it has been closed due to high bacteria levels? Pathogens (disease-causing viruses and bacteria) originating from human or animal waste can enter the ocean from polluted runoff and accidental releases from sewage treatment facilities, ranches and farms. For example, runoff from agricultural areas where manure is either generated or spread on fields can be a source of bacteria and viruses which lead to outbreaks of disease. Runoff from urban areas or discharges from improperly maintained sanitary systems on boats also are sources of harmful viruses and bacteria.
Humans aren’t the only ones at risk from bacteria in the ocean. The population of southern sea otters is threatened by a parasitic pathogen, called Toxoplasma gondii, which is hosted by cats and is spread through their feces. Once established, the parasite causes brain damage and often death in marine species.
Harmful Algal Blooms and Shellfish Poisoning
Runoff of farm and lawn fertilizer is a huge problem for coastal areas. The nutrients found in fertilizers, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, cause algal blooms to flourish. When certain species of algae release toxins, the blooms are referred to as harmful algal blooms (HABs). Alarmingly, the number of HAB events, like red tides, is increasing worldwide. Consuming fish or shellfish contaminated with these toxins can make humans and marine mammals severely ill. Marine mammals that have been poisoned by an algal toxin, called domoic acid, display symptoms, such as disorientation and seizures, that often lead to death.
Mercury in Seafood
Ocean pollution can also come from air-borne sources. Coal-fired power plants and chlorine factories release mercury into the air, which eventually settles into the ocean. Mercury is a neurotoxin that can cause damage to the brain and nervous system. Mercury enters the systems of marine organisms and bioaccumulates, or increases, as larger fish eat smaller fish contaminated with mercury. Top predators in the ocean, such as swordfish and tuna, often have the highest concentrations of mercury. For this reason, doctors recommend limiting the consumption of some types of fish. For more information on which fish to avoid, consult the Monterey Bay Aquariums Seafood Guide
What is the State of California Doing?
The State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) is responsible for coordinating and in some cases paying for efforts to monitor quality of those waters. When unhealthy levels of pathogens are detected, the SWRCB works with local health departments to ensure warnings are posted and appropriate cleanup is done. For more information about SWRCB’s monitoring efforts, please click here.
In addition to monitoring our coastal water quality, California is committed to improving and protecting beaches along its coast. California has invested $100 million in Clean Beach Initiative grants to fund local projects that reduce bacterial contamination along the coast. The State has also funded research to develop more rapid detection methods for knowing when to post beach closures, tracking the sources of contamination, and studies to better understand the relationship between bacterial indicators and incidence of disease.
The California Ocean Protection Council passed a resolution in May 2008 to support Low Impact Development (LID) as a way to reduce polluted runoff. LID is a strategy to use permeable surfaces, such as green roofs and bioswales, to reduce the amount of polluted runoff that enters storm drains.
What is the Federal Government Doing?
NOAA’s Coastal Zone Management Program is helping to create special nonpoint source pollution control plans for each coastal state participating in the program. When nonpoint source pollution does cause problems, NOAA scientists help track down the exact causes and find solutions.
For more information:
National Ocean Service: nonpoint source pollution education kit
Factsheet About the Coastal Nonpoint Pollution Control Program — The factsheet provides an overview of the Coastal Nonpoint Pollution Control Program.
EPA, Office of Wetlands, Oceans, and Watersheds — The EPA Office that jointly administers the Coastal Nonpoint Pollution Control Program with NOAA.
NOAA’s Clean Marina Website — The Clean Marina Program is a voluntary, incentive-based program that can help state’s address nonpoint source pollution from marina and boating activities and implement the marina management measures required under the Coastal Nonpoint Program.