2012-08-28_PWETC_AgendaPacket - Laserfiche WebLink

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7 The City will cooperate with other organizations and consider establishment of model interpretative sites for public education. 8 The City will continue to educate elected officials on water resources management needs and issues. 4.5 Pollution Prevention and Maintenance Housekeeping practices, such as removing leaves from streets and storm drains and limiting the use of phosphorus fertilizers, are examples of simple ways individuals (residents) and the City can prevent pollution and make improvements in water quality. Although suspended solids and nutrients are traditionally what come to mind regarding surface water quality pollutants, there are a number of other pollutants that harm surface waters and aquatic ecosystems. The following list summarizes additional water quality pollutants of concern to regional surface waters: • Chloride. Chloride is a main component of most deicing products such as road salt. Once in the water, it is a conservative pollutant making it difficult to remove. It can be toxic to aquatic plants and organisms and can reduce or delay vertical mixing in lakes. Using properly calibrated equipment to apply deicing products is one of the ways City crews reduce the amount of chlorides applied to City streets. • Pathogens. Pathogens are disease causing organisms such as Giardia and Cryptosporidium. They are difficult to identify and thus fecal coliform and E. coli bacteria are used to indicate the possible presence of pathogens. Sources are human, pet, livestock, and wildlife excrement. • Mercury. Mercury is naturally occurring element which finds its way to surface waters primarily through atmospheric deposition. The primary regional source of atmospheric mercury is from burning coal. Once in the water, it is converted to methylmercury which bioaccumulates up the food chain and is a known neurotoxin which impacts the central nervous system. Several of the City's lakes are impaired for mercury resulting in fish consumption advisories. • Other heavy metals (e.g. lead, zinc, copper and cadmium). Heavy metals are primarily found bound to suspended solids in stormwater and surface waters although they are also present in dissolved forms. They can be toxic in certain concentrations to animals and humans. • Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). PAHs are a class of chemicals that harm fish and, with prolonged exposure, pose a risk of cancer in humans. Common sources are coal -tar based sealcoat, petroleum products and oil. A current challenge for many cities, including Roseville, is how to cost - effectively remove sediments from stonmwater ponds that have PAH levels that require disposal at a landfill. • Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). PCBs are a class of chemicals manufactured and commonly used from 1930 to 1979 in electrical and hydraulic products. They do not readily break down in the environrnent and bioaccumulate in organisms, fish, and ultimately humans who ingest the fish. The EPA and other organizations consider PCBs to be probable human carcinogens. • Perfluorochemicals (PFCs). PFCs are a family of chemicals used to make products resist heat, oil, stains, grease, and water. Examples of PFCs are perfluorooctane sulfate (PFOS) and perfluoroocanic acid (PFOA) which are extremely resistant to breakdown in the environrnent and bioaccumulate in animals and humans. In animal studies high Comprehensive Surface Water Management Plan ROSEV120222 City of Roseville Page 22