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Community Water System Reports and Summaries Contaminant Definitions
Pathogens
Disease-causing organisms such as bacteria, protozoa,
and viruses. Sources of pathogens include both point
and nonpoint activities. An example of a point source
of pathogens is a sewer system overflow. An example of
a nonpoint source is runoff from areas where livestock
are kept.
Nutrients
Common types of nutrients include nitrogen and phosphorous.
Nutrients can harm environmental quality, human health,
and the efficiency of the drinking water treatment plant
by encouraging growth of photosynthetic microorganisms
in surface water sources, which alter water characteristics
(eutrophic conditions). Sources of nutrients are point
and nonpoint sources. Effluents from a sewage treatment
plant are a point source of nutrients. Nonpoint sources
of nutrients include discharge from septic fields, areas
where animal waste is stored, and runoff from agricultural
and residential land where fertilizers were used.
Pesticides
Common sources of pesticides include land applications
(nonpoint source) and manufacturing/distribution centers
of pesticides (point source). Pesticides are manmade
chemicals used to control bacteria, fungi, weeds, rodents,
and insects. Examples include herbicides such as atrazine
and insecticides such as chlordane.
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Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)
Common types of VOCs include chemicals that are used
as solvents, degreasers, and gasoline components. VOCs
are manmade compounds and are the most common organic
contaminants in ground water in New Jersey. Sources of
VOCs can be point and nonpoint. Examples of VOCs are
methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE), benzene and vinyl
chloride.
Inorganics (Metals)
Mineral-based compounds that are both naturally occurring
and manmade. Sources of inorganics can be point and nonpoint;
common sources include discharges from manufacturing
plants, releases from contaminated sites, past land uses,
and naturally occurring sources. Inorganics include arsenic,
cadmium, copper, lead, mercury, and asbestos.
Radionuclides/Radon
Sources of radionuclides can be point and nonpoint;
common sources include the decay of naturally occurring
minerals, leaching of subsurface material (for example
rocks and sedimentary materials) into ground water, and
improper disposal of radioactive waste. Radionuclides
are a category of contaminant that is both naturally
occurring and manmade. Radionuclides are radioactive
substances such as radium and radon.
Disinfection Byproduct (DBP) Precursors
Disinfection byproducts are formed when the disinfectants
used to kill pathogens during treatment react with dissolved
organic material present in the water. A common source
of DBP precursors is naturally occurring organic material
such as leaves in surface water. The amount of organic
matter, the type of disinfectant, the concentration of
disinfectant, time of contact, pH, and temperature all
have an effect on the concentration of disinfection byproducts
produced. Chlorine is the most common disinfectant used
in New Jersey.
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