Sediment pollution is an result for human health, animal health, and environmental health. (Courtsy Photo)

By Fort Belvoir Ecology Partition

Sediment pollution is an upshot for human being health, animate being health, and environmental health.

What is Sediment and Sediment Pollution?

Sediment is the loose sand, clay, silt and other soil particles that settle at the bottom of a body of h2o. Sediment is dislodged by rainwater and transported past stormwater runoff towards bodies of water through the process of erosion. Whatever soil that is non protected from rainfall or runoff may be vulnerable to erosion and become a source of sediment pollution. Sediment pollution affects water quality by increasing turbidity (cloudiness) that tin can inhibit plant growth, animal development, and prevent clean drinking h2o.

A Pollution Carrier

Other pollutants such as nutrients, heavy metals, organic chemicals, bacteria, and pathogens can attach to sediment particles and be carried into streams and rivers via stormwater runoff. Some pollutants may dissolved into the water and wash downstream chop-chop, while others may remain stuck to sediment on the bottom of the stream bed for years.

Consequences of Sediment Pollution

Sediment pollution tin can alter water quality, stormwater infrastructures, and h2o ecosystems. Excessive amounts of sediment may clog storm drains and cause flooding. Drinking water contaminated with sediment is more expensive to care for. Sediment can clog fish gills, reducing their resistance to affliction, lowering fish growth rates, and affecting fish egg and larvae development. Nutrients carried by sediment into the h2o may accelerate the growth of bluish-green algae that release toxins and affect humans and wildlife health.

Things you can exercise to prevent Sediment Pollution

  1. Pick up your pet's waste matter. Pet waste material is rich in nitrogen. When it rains, sediment carrying these nutrients may pollute stormwater.

  2. Sweep sidewalks and driveways instead of hosing them off. Washing these areas results in sediment and other pollutants running off into streams, rivers, and lakes.

  3. Keep tempest drains clear and never sweep grass clippings or leaves into storm drains. Leaves and chiliad clippings left on the street will launder into storm drains. Every bit they decompose in the water, they volition contribute to nutrient pollution and may cause eutrophication (toxic algal blooms).

  4. Wash your car at the car wash. This will prevent detergents and chemical or sediment residues washing off your vehicle from condign stormwater pollutants.

  5. Reduce the amount of fertilizers you use. Limit or stop all utilise of fertilizers in your lawn or garden. If you need to use fertilizer, utilise non-phosphorous fertilizer and check the weather before you apply it. Do not employ fertilizers right before it rains. Not only will you be contaminating stormwater, just your plants will non go the nutrients y'all are trying to provide. Make sure you follow the application instructions on the fertilizer container to ensure you are not overusing the fertilizers.