Domestic Pollution and Sewage

Domestic pollution is the stuff that runs down household drains along with the tap water. That means sewage—850 billion gallons of which gushed untreated into waterways in 2004. But it also means chemicals like detergents, lotions, and even drugs that our bodies don’t absorb fully. Scientists are only beginning to record what happens when those substances reach marine animals.

When sewer systems overflow, as they do during many rainstorms, untreated sewage runs into rivers and out to beaches. Dangerous levels of bacteria mean beaches have to be closed to swimmers. Even so, the Environmental Protection Agency recorded an estimated 3,500 to 5,500 illnesses from polluted water in 2004.

WHOI News Releases

Predicting Beach Bacterial Counts
Environmental Science and Technology, August 15, 2005
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New Orleans' Toxic Flood Lifts Lid on Urban Pollution
Eurekalert.org, September 19, 2005
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In the News

Scientists Call for Better Monitoring of Beach Pollution
The lag time between sampling a beach for pollution and closing it to protect swimmers is too long, scientists say
National Public Radio, June 25, 2004
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Animals' Sexual Changes Linked to Waste, Chemicals
When chemicals that resemble sex hormones reach the water, they can muddle animals' development
National Geographic News, March 1, 2004
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Sewage Limits "Harm Swimmers' Health"
A report to the United Nations deems some limits on coastal sewage are too high
BBC News, November 25, 2001
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Potomac's Intersex Fish a Puzzle for Scientists
Washington Times, July 22, 2005
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Area Faces Rivers of Bacteria
Washington Times, August 4, 2005
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Beach Reopens a Day after 40,000 Gallon Sewage Spill
San Luis Obispo (California) Tribune, August 4, 2005
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Science Publications

Anderson, P. D., V. J. D'Aco, P. Shanahan, S. C. Chapra, M. E. Buzby, V. L. Cunningham, B. M. DuPlessie, E. P. Hayes, F. J. Mastrocco, N. J. Parke, J. C. Rader, J. H. Samuelian, and B. W. Schwab. 2004. Screening analysis of human pharmaceutical compounds in U.S. Surface Waters. Environmental Science and Technology 38:838-849 [DOI: 10.1021/es034430b].

Buerge, I. J., T. Poiger, M. D. Muller, and H.-R. Buser. 2003. Caffeine, an anthropogenic marker for wastewater contamination of surface waters. Environmental Science and Technology 37:691-700 [DOI: 10.1021/es020125z].

Glassmeyer, S. T., E. T. Furlong, D. W. Kolpin, J. D. Cahill, S. D. Zaugg, S. L. Werner, M. T. Meyer, and D. D. Kryak. 2005. Transport of chemical and microbial compounds from known wastewater discharges: potential for use as indicators of human fecal contamination. Environmental Science and Technology 39:5157-5169 [DOI: 10.1021/es048120k].

Goldman, L. R., W. M. Eichbaum, R. W. Howarth, R. J. Huggett, A. J. Mearns, and J. B. Rose. 1993. Managing Wastewater in Coastal Urban Areas. National Academies Press, Washington, DC.

Kolpin, D. W., E. T. Furlong, M. T. Meyer, E. M. Thurman, S. D. Zaugg, L. B. Barber, and H. T. Buxton. 2002. Pharmaceuticals, hormones, and other organic wastewater contaminants in U.S. streams, 1999-2000: a national reconnaissance. Environmental Science and Technology 36:1202-1211.

National Research Council. 1999. Hormonally Active Agents in the Environment. National Academies Press, Washington, DC.

Other Sites We Recommend

Federal Agencies and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs)

Office of Wastewater Management — Environmental Protection Agency
EPA’s Surf Your Watershed — helping people locate, use, and share information about the watershed they live in. With links to EPA databases recording air quality, water quality, pollution, and cleanups by watershed
Coastal Ocean Modeling — graphical models show how sewage circulates in Boston Harbor. USGS Woods Hole Science Center
Eye in the Sky: Ozone and Pollution — National Geographic feature with video and links
Parasite in Cats Killing Sea Otters — when cat litter washes down a drain or sewer, otters can get sick. Source: NOAA Magazine, January 2003

Labs and Research Groups

David Sedlak Laboratory — University of California, Berkeley

Advocacy Groups

State of the Beach 2005 — Comprehensive report on beach pollution, erosion, and access in the U.S., from the Surfrider Foundation
National Association of Clean Water Agencies — policy arm of local water/sewer utilities
America’s Living Oceans: Charting a Course for Sea Change — 2003 report by the Pew Charitable Trusts

Fact Sheets

The Beach and Your Coastal Watershed —Environmental Protection Agency
Do’s and Don’ts Around the Home —Environmental Protection Agency
Managing Nonpoint Source Pollution from Households —Environmental Protection Agency
Vessel Sewage Discharge Program—Environmental Protection Agency
Predicting the Impact of Relocating Boston’s Sewage Outfall — United States Geological Survey
Sewage Contamination near the 106-Mile Dumpsite off New Jersey — United States Geological Survey

Personal Care Products in Our Wastewater

Fish on Prozac — Discover Magazine
Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products as Environmental Pollutants — National Exposure Research Laboratory, Environmental Protection Agency
Origins and Fate of Personal Care Products in the Environment [PDF] — illustrated poster produced by the National Exposure Research Lab

Last updated: October 9, 2009

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