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Water: Stormwater

Air Pollution and Water Quality

 

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EPA Approves Plan by Northeast States to Lower Mercury Levels in Fish

(ORPHAN)

Estimating Estuarine Pollutant Loading From Atmospheric Deposition Using Casco Bay, Maine as a Case Study

Full Report (PDF) (25 pp, 743K)(ORPHAN) 

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Summary Brochure on Everglades TMDL Pilot Report prepared by Florida Department of Envrionmental Protection, Nov. 2003 (PDF) (ORPHAN)

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(2 pp, 224K)
 

Impacts of Atmospheric Pollution on Aquatic Ecosystems (PDF) (26 pp, 539K) (ORPHAN) 

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Additional Links:

EPA  Coastal Programs http://www.epa.gov/owow/oceans (ORPHAN)

TMDLs http://www.epa.gov/owow/tmdl/ (ORPHAN)

EPA Mercury Homepage http://www.epa.gov/mercury/

EPA Air Programs http://www.epa.gov/ebtpages/air.html


Airborne pollutants from human and natural sources can deposit back onto land and water bodies, sometimes at great distances from the source, and can be an important contributor to declining water quality. Pollutants in waterbodies that may originate in part from atmospheric sources include nitrogen compounds, sulfur compounds, mercury, pesticides, and other toxics.

Both human and natural processes can lead to air pollution. Human, or anthropogenic, sources include the combustion of fossil fuels for power generation and transportation, the release of chemical byproducts from industrial and agricultural processes, and the incineration of waste. Natural processes that can release substantial amounts of pollutants into the air include volcanoes and forest fires.

Airborne pollution can fall to the ground in precipitation, in dust, or simply due to gravity.  This type of pollution is called “atmospheric deposition” or “air deposition.” Pollution deposited from the air can reach water bodies in two ways. It can either be deposited directly onto the surface of the water (direct deposition) or be deposited onto land and be carried to water bodies through run off (indirect deposition). Once these pollutants are in the water, they can have undesirable health and environmental impacts, such as contaminated fish, harmful algal blooms, and unsafe drinking water. 

Atmospheric Deposition Handbook

Downloadable handbook answers basic questions about air deposition and sources, how its significance can be assessed through existing information, monitoring and modeling, and how the information can be used in a management strategy.

 

Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) and Air Deposition

Northeast States' Plan to Lower Mercury Levels in Fish

Minnesota Statewide Mercury TMDL Documents Exit EPA Disclaimer

Listing Waters Impaired by Atmospheric Mercury Under Clean Water Act Section 303(d): Voluntary Subcategory 5m for States with Comprehensive Mercury Reduction Programs -- memorandum signed by Craig Hooks, Mar. 8, 2007

Examples of TMDLs involving mercury from air deposition, as well as pilot projects and technical information to assist in developing TMDLs for air-deposited pollutants

Ochlockonee Watershed Mercury TMDL, Feb. 28, 2002 (PDF) (42 pp, 2.7MB) (ORPHAN)

You will need Adobe Reader to view some of the files on this page. See EPA's PDF page to learn more.



Fact Sheet on Everglades TMDL Pilot Report

Everglades Mercury TMDL Pilot Study Report Exit EPA Disclaimer

 

Other Links

Clean Air Status and Trends Network (CASTNET)

C-MAP: Clean Air Mapping and Analysis Program

National Atmospheric Deposition Program Website (NADP) Exit EPA Disclaimer

 

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