Sediment Pollution

People nowadays have become more and more sensitive to all kinds of pollution. Water pollution, air pollution, and even light pollution have caught more and more eyes of the public. However, today I would like to direct people’s directions to a smaller type of pollution, sediment pollution.

Sediment pollution occurs when sediment enters stormwater and decreases the quality of water for drinking, harming wildlife that depend on it, and lands near water bodies. There are multiple ways sediments can settle within water.

Sediment fills up storm drains and catch basins in the streets of residential neighborhoods, which carry water away from roads and homes and lead to an increased potential for flooding. When a heavy rain event occurs, if the water in our streets has no place to go, it will rise and flood yards, cars, and get into our basements and even our homes.

Sediment pollution causes water to become cloudy, making it difficult for aquatic life to see food, especially in small lakes and ponds. Murky water prevents natural vegetation from growing in water.

Sediment in stream beds disrupts the natural food chain by destroying the habitat where the smallest stream organisms live. In this way, sediment pollution causes declines in fish populations.

Sediment increases the cost of treating drinking water and can result in odor and taste problems.

Nutrients transported by sediment can result in eutrophication, or the process in which excess blue-green algae blooms and can affect wildlife and water quality.

The impact of sedimentary pollution is always not alone, it is associated with mulpitle other factors, mostly Climate Change.

The world’s climate is changing over time in concert with a growing human population and increased human activity. As the climate continues to change, there is evidence that the sedimentation process may be affected by this global shift.

Current research is consistent in projecting an increase in the frequency and intensity of heavy rain events. These changes could result in greater erosion, higher sediment transport in rivers and streams, and a higher likelihood of landslides, primarily as a result of higher soil water content.

Sea level rise is projected for nearly all locations worldwide. Higher seas could increase the rate of erosion and sediment pollution in some coastal areas. In addition to a rise of sea levels, high temperatures can also contribute to erosion and sedimentation by increasing slope instability by enhancing the thermal breakdown of rock, decreasing the viscosity, and thawing frozen ground so more water infiltrates.

Furthermore, vegetation loss from water stress or wildfire can lead to increased soil surface erosion and sediment transport to streams during rain events. Loss of vegetation from fire temporarily reduces the ability of soils to absorb moisture, increases surface runoff, and boosts sediment transport.Finally, an increase in human activity can also cause erosion and sedimentation, including deforestation, increased construction, and the increase in non permeable surfaces such as growth of cities and increase in highways.

What role do human beings play within this cycle?

Construction projects are one of the largest contributors to sediment pollution. When stormwater flows through an active jobsite, it can pick up pollutants from debris, chemicals, and construction materials that will eventually transport to the city’s storm sewers or local waterways.

This runoff can affect plants and wildlife, as well as block drainage lines, requiring costly cleanup. Because of that, as an amendment to the Clean Water Act, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) created the Stormwater Pollution and Prevention Plan (SWPP). The Federal EPA sets the standards for states to follow with their National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) and General Permit from Construction Activities.

These permits and systems regulate stormwater management on site, particularly construction sites. The basic requirement includes any construction project that disturbs more than one acre of land is required to have an SWPPP and permit by the City or State. State and local agencies follow these guidelines and may adapt even more stringent requirements.