Ongoing Research to Characterize the Complexity of Chemical Mixtures in Water Resources—Urban Stormwater Completed
Inside a Debris Cage at a Stormwater Outfall
One of 21 Stormwater Outfalls Sampled
A Stormwater Discharge Pond
This Pond Receives Stormwater Runoff from a Residential Landscape
A multiagency reconnaissance study of chemicals in urban stormwater, sampled from pipes or ditches during 50 runoff events at 21 sites in 17 states across the United States, demonstrated that stormwater runoff contains complex mixtures of chemicals including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, pesticides, and pharmaceuticals that are indicative of multiple sources in the watershed.
Municipalities and water-management agencies are increasingly using stormwater control measures to reduce the amount of stormwater runoff and minimize contaminant transport to receiving waterbodies. Stormwater ponds provide aquatic habitat, serve as recreational locations in urban setting, and are sometimes used as a water source for irrigation in surrounding landscapes. However, little is known about the contributions of complex chemical mixtures from stormwater runoff to receiving surface and groundwaters.
To address this data gap, the U.S. Geological Survey and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, in collaboration with municipalities, completed a national-scale study of 21 sites in 17 states during storm events across the United States to better understand contaminant contributions from stormwater to receiving surface waters (stormwater ponds, infiltration ponds, and directly to streams) and groundwaters. Samples were collected from August 2016 to December 2017, and analyzed for 438 organic (for example, biogenic hormones, halogenated chemicals, household/industrial chemicals, methylmercury, pesticides, pharmaceuticals, and semivolatile organic chemicals) and 62 inorganic (for example, anions, cations, rare-earth elements, trace metals, and total mercury) elements or chemicals.
Study results indicate that stormwater transports complex mixtures of organic and inorganic chemicals that are associated with different watershed sources. For example, the number of organic chemicals detected in a single stormwater sample ranged from 18 to 103 (median=73) and about one-half (215) of the chemicals analyzed were detected among all samples. Eleven organic contaminants were pervasive across all samples (greater than 90 percent detection): N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide (DEET; insect repellent), nicotine (alkaloid stimulant), caffeine (psychoactive stimulant), carbendazim (broad-spectrum fungicide and benomyl metabolite), methyl-1H-benzotriazole (corrosion inhibitor), p-cresol (wood preservative), cotinine (nicotine metabolite), desulfinyl fipronil (fipronil-insecticide metabolite), bisphenol A (plastic component, paper receipts, and epoxy resin production), and fluoranthene and pyrene (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons). Concentrations of the 215 detected organic chemicals spanned over 6 orders of magnitude from less than 1 to more than 100,000 nanograms per liter.
This national-scale reconnaissance study provides a comprehensive snapshot of urban stormwater mixed contaminant profiles during sampling that can be useful as a baseline to indicate the chemicals to which wildlife could be exposed in surface waters receiving stormwater runoff. The baseline data could also be useful to understand chemicals that may enter groundwater through infiltration from stormwater ponds.
This research was funded by the USGS Environmental Health Program (Toxic Substances Hydrology and Contaminant Biology) and the Office of Research and Development of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency through Interagency Agreement DW-14-92448001-0.
More Information
Green Infrastructure and Urban Stormwater Impacts, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Related research is listed below.
Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Science Team
Assessing stormwater reduction using green infrastructure: Gary City Hall (Gary, Ind.)
Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Science Team
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Commonly Used Chemicals Transported to Agricultural Field through Municipal Biosolids Application
USGS develops novel approach to assess efficiency of stormwater management practices
Study Highlights the Complexity of Chemical Mixtures in United States Streams
- Overview
A multiagency reconnaissance study of chemicals in urban stormwater, sampled from pipes or ditches during 50 runoff events at 21 sites in 17 states across the United States, demonstrated that stormwater runoff contains complex mixtures of chemicals including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, pesticides, and pharmaceuticals that are indicative of multiple sources in the watershed.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media DetailsInside a debris cage, which is used to prevent pipe blockages, at one of 21 stormwater outfalls that was sampled prior to discharge to streams or stormwater ponds. Municipalities and water-management agencies are increasingly using stormwater control measures to reduce the amount of stormwater runoff and minimize contaminant transport to receiving waterbodies. Stormwater ponds provide aquatic habitat, serve as recreational locations in urban setting, and are sometimes used as a water source for irrigation in surrounding landscapes. However, little is known about the contributions of complex chemical mixtures from stormwater runoff to receiving surface and groundwaters.
To address this data gap, the U.S. Geological Survey and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, in collaboration with municipalities, completed a national-scale study of 21 sites in 17 states during storm events across the United States to better understand contaminant contributions from stormwater to receiving surface waters (stormwater ponds, infiltration ponds, and directly to streams) and groundwaters. Samples were collected from August 2016 to December 2017, and analyzed for 438 organic (for example, biogenic hormones, halogenated chemicals, household/industrial chemicals, methylmercury, pesticides, pharmaceuticals, and semivolatile organic chemicals) and 62 inorganic (for example, anions, cations, rare-earth elements, trace metals, and total mercury) elements or chemicals.
Study results indicate that stormwater transports complex mixtures of organic and inorganic chemicals that are associated with different watershed sources. For example, the number of organic chemicals detected in a single stormwater sample ranged from 18 to 103 (median=73) and about one-half (215) of the chemicals analyzed were detected among all samples. Eleven organic contaminants were pervasive across all samples (greater than 90 percent detection): N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide (DEET; insect repellent), nicotine (alkaloid stimulant), caffeine (psychoactive stimulant), carbendazim (broad-spectrum fungicide and benomyl metabolite), methyl-1H-benzotriazole (corrosion inhibitor), p-cresol (wood preservative), cotinine (nicotine metabolite), desulfinyl fipronil (fipronil-insecticide metabolite), bisphenol A (plastic component, paper receipts, and epoxy resin production), and fluoranthene and pyrene (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons). Concentrations of the 215 detected organic chemicals spanned over 6 orders of magnitude from less than 1 to more than 100,000 nanograms per liter.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media DetailsA stormwater pond that receives runoff from a residential landscape. U.S. Geological Survey scientists analyzed samples of stormwater runoff collected during 2016 and 2017 at 21 sites for 438 organic chemicals and 62 inorganic elements. This national-scale reconnaissance study provides a comprehensive snapshot of urban stormwater mixed contaminant profiles during sampling that can be useful as a baseline to indicate the chemicals to which wildlife could be exposed in surface waters receiving stormwater runoff. The baseline data could also be useful to understand chemicals that may enter groundwater through infiltration from stormwater ponds.
This research was funded by the USGS Environmental Health Program (Toxic Substances Hydrology and Contaminant Biology) and the Office of Research and Development of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency through Interagency Agreement DW-14-92448001-0.
More Information
Green Infrastructure and Urban Stormwater Impacts, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
- Science
Related research is listed below.
Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Science Team
The team studies toxicants and pathogens in water resources from their sources, through watersheds, aquifers, and infrastructure to human and wildlife exposures. That information is used to develop decision tools that protect human and wildlife health.Assessing stormwater reduction using green infrastructure: Gary City Hall (Gary, Ind.)
The effectiveness of green infrastructure (rain gardens and decreased impervious surface) at reducing stormwater runoff and capturing dissolved chloride is being assessed at a redevelopment project at Gary City Hall (Gary, Indiana). This study will evaluate pre- and post-construction hydrologic conditions using data collected by monitoring storm-sewer flow, groundwater levels, soil moisture, and...Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Science Team
The team studies toxicants and pathogens in water resources from their sources, through watersheds, aquifers, and infrastructure to human and wildlife exposures. That information is used to develop decision tools that protect human and wildlife health.GLRI Urban Stormwater Monitoring
The GLRI Urban Stormwater Monitoring effort brings together the expertise of the USGS with local and national partners to assess the ability of green infrastructure to reduce stormwater runoff in Great Lakes urban areas.Commonly Used Chemicals Transported to Agricultural Field through Municipal Biosolids Application
Commonly used chemicals (including fragrances, detergents, fire retardants, plasticizers, and antibacterials) transferred to wastewater treatment plants were detected in municipal wastewater biosolids applied to agricultural field plots and subsequently detected in the runoff transported from the plots during precipitation events.USGS develops novel approach to assess efficiency of stormwater management practices
Issue: Urban stormwater runoff is a rapidly increasing source of pollutants to Chesapeake Bay. It contributes on average 16 percent of the nitrogen, 16 percent of the phosphorus, and 25 percent of the sediment load to the bay annually. Urban stormwater best management practices (BMPs) (fig. 1) have been used in an effort to reduce the volume and improve the quality of stormwater runoff entering...Study Highlights the Complexity of Chemical Mixtures in United States Streams
A new study highlights the complexity of chemical mixtures in streams and advances the understanding of wildlife and human exposure to complex chemical mixtures. - Data
- Publications