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Pollutants of Concern
The most effective stormwater management programs are tailored to protect the community's assets while solving its problems and meeting its particular needs. Designing our stormwater management program to fit our specific circumstances required gathering information about existing stormwater problems and potential sources, as well as identifying natural resources, watersheds, and geographic areas that are valuable and potentially vulnerable to impacts from stormwater.
Pollutant of Concern | Description | Potential Impacts | Probable Local Sources | |
Floatables
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Litter and debris that floats on the surface or is near the surface of waterbodies.
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Litter in waterbodies may be contaminated with toxic chemicals and bacteria, are unattractive to look at, and can cause death to aquatic animals and birds. Commonly observed floatables may include paper, cigarette butts, plastic containers, wrappers and cans.
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Shopping centers
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Silt and Sediment
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Soil/dirt particles that quickly fall to the bottom of waterbodies.
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Large amounts of silt and sediment, when dislodged and deposited in water bodies, can disrupt ecosystems by interfering with photosynthesis, respiration, growth, reproduction, and oxygen exchange in water bodies.. Storm water runoff that contains sediment can deposit harmful amounts of silt in sensitive areas such as wetlands, streams and lake bottoms harming habitat needed by aquatic insects and plants. Sediment can also transport other pollutants that are attached to it including nutrients, trace metals, and hydrocarbons.
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Urban/Stormwater Runoff, CSO's, Industrial, Municipal
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Phosphorus
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A nutrient typically found in fertilizer, excrement and detergents.
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Phosphorus promotes weed and algae growth in lakes and streams. Excessive weed growth clogs waterways and blocks sunlight. When algae die, they sink to the bottom and decompose in a process that removes oxygen from the water. Fish and other aquatic organisms can't exist in water with low dissolved oxygen levels.
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Urban/Stormwater Runoff, Agriculture, Municipalities
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Pathogens
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Bacteria and viruses include infectious agents and disease producing organisms normally associated with human and animal wastes, leakage from sewers and seepage from septic tanks.
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These organisms can cause disease in humans and animals when present in drinking water and through direct contact with water. Common biological contaminants in stormwater may come from litter, organic matter and animal/human waste.
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Industrial, Municipalities, Contaminated Sediment, Urban Runoff
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Oxygen-Demanding Organics
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Bio-degradable materials that consume dissolved oxygen in water as they decay.
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Natural decomposition of these materials may deplete dissolved oxygen supplies in surface waters. Dissolved oxygen (DO) may be reduced below the threshold necessary to maintain aquatic life, impairing or killing fish and other aquatic plants and animals.
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Urban/Stormwater Runoff
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| Waterbody of Concern |
Pollutant of Concern |
Sources |
| Onondaga Lake and Outlets |
Primary: Pathogens
Additional: Organics, Metals, Ammonia, Nutrients, Silt, Sediment, Oxygen Demand and Aesthetics |
Industrial, Municipal Contaminated Sediment, Urban Stormwater Runoff, Agriculture |
| Onondaga Lake |
Primary: Phosphorus
Additional: Ammonia, Pathogens, Mercury, Sediment and Salt |
CSOs, Municipal Urban Stormwater Runoff, Industrial |
| Oswego/Seneca River |
Primary: Salts
Additional: Organics, Metals, Ammonia, Nutrients, pH, Silt/Sediment, Oxygen Demand, Pathogens, and Aesthetics |
Industrial, Municipal Urban Runoff, CSO's Contaminated Sediments |
| Geographic Area of Concern |
Specific Locational Information |
Additional Detail |
| Ley Creek |
Town of Dewitt line to Onondaga Lake |
Sediment, Pesticides, Petroleum Products, Road Salt, Fertilizers |
| Sawmill Creek |
Town of Clay line to Onondaga Lake |
Sediment, Pesticides, Petroleum Products, Road Salt, Fertilizers |
| Bloody Brook |
Center of Town, adjacent to Village of Liverpool to Onondaga Lake |
Sediment, Pesticides, Petroleum Products, Road Salt, Fertilizers | The following non-stormwater discharges are typically exempt from the need for SPDES permit coverage. However, the State has determined the following types of discharges to be substantial contributors of pollutants to this particular MS4. As such, the identified discharges are considered illicit and must be addressed by following the illicit discharge minimum control measure ("MCM") requirements.
Even if these non-stormwater discharges are determined not to be substantial contributors of pollutants, the MS4 has elected to address the following types of discharges in their stormwater management program ("SWMP").
- Lawn and landscape watering runoff provided that all pesticides and fertilizers have been applied in accordance with the manufacturer’s product label;
- Water from individual residential car washing
- Dechlorinated swimming pool discharges
In the broadest sense, how the community will address pollutants of concern and specific areas of concern is accomplished through the Stormwater Management Program Plan as outlined within this website. More specifically, to address these issues it is necessary for the MS4 to undertake several critical stormwater management tasks such as, but not limited to:
- Defining community goals for stormwater management practices
- Tailoring local laws to meet stormwater management goals and objectives
- Supporting land use planning and decision making to accomplish the best methods for managing stormwater in developed or developing areas
- Providing for community education and public participation, and managing municipal operations in a way to reduce pollutants in stormwater.
To assist regulated communities in accomplishing all necessary tasks associated with stormwater management, New York State has required MS4s to meet specific components within six Minimum Measures. For each Minimum Measure, the MS4 must set goals and select specific activities that will reduce pollutants of concern to the maximum extent practicable. Specific elements associated with these six Minimum Control Measures are described further in the website under the headings of:
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