Table A1 contains information about possible contaminants that may arise from a given activity. Note that this is not an exhaustive tabulation either of all possible activities or of all contaminants that could arise. Activities could produce contaminants that are not included in the table. Also, the specific details of an activity will determine whether all or only some of the contaminants listed may be a concern.
This table is therefore a good starting point for determining which contaminants may arise from an activity, but is only a guide. The details of each specific activity should be determined in each case to gather a complete understanding of the possible contaminants.
The table includes indirect contaminants as well as those arising directly from the activity. For example, where the activity could introduce nutrients into a water source, cyanotoxins are potential indirect contaminants arising from the growth of algae encouraged by the nutrients. (Cyanotoxins have not been listed where the quantities of nutrients being released seem likely to be relatively small.)
Note that the table includes a wider list of contaminants as well as determinands. (Determinands are listed in the DWSNZ 2005 and are subject to regulation under the NES).
The information contained in Table A1 can be augmented by information from the Ministry for the Environment’s Hazardous Activities and Industries List.
Abbreviations used in Table A1:
DBP Disinfection by-products
NOM Natural organic matter
PAH Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
PCB Polychlorinated biphenyls
TPH Total petroleum hydrocarbons
Notes to the table
1. Superscript ‘I’ indicates indirect contaminants not introduced by the activity but which develop in the water as the result of other contaminants from the activity.
2. The term ‘pesticides’ refers to pesticides and herbicides. The term ‘herbicides’ is expressly used when only herbicides is meant.
Table A1: Possible contaminants from activities grouped by land use
| Activity | Contaminating material | Contaminants | Comment | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chemical | Microbiological | |||
| Land-use category 1. Agriculture | ||||
| Use of pesticides | Range of pesticides, metals | Pesticides, zinc, copper, cadmium, manganese |
|
|
| Use of artificial fertilisers | Range of artificial fertilisers | Ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, urea, phosphate, potassium, sulphate, calcium, magnesium, cadmium, manganese, cyanotoxinsI |
| Under suitable conditions the introduction of nutrients into source water may lead to algal growth and the presence of cyanotoxins, and taste and odour compounds. |
| Use of manure as fertiliser | Manure | Ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, copper, zinc, cyanotoxinsI | Bacteria, viruses, protozoa | The period of manure storage before use will affect the microbial risk. |
| Fuel storage and use | Petrol, diesel | Benzene, toluene, xylene, ethylbenzene, TPH |
|
|
| Silage production | Silage leachate | Ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, cyanotoxinsI, NOM | Bacteria, viruses, protozoa | Acids formed in the silage may influence the pH of the water. |
| Dairy shed operation | Wash water | Ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, phosphate, cyanotoxinsI, chlorine, chloramines, DBPs | Bacteria, viruses, protozoa | Chlorine could react with organic waste to form chloramines and other DBPs. |
| Spray irrigation of effluent | Effluent | Ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, cyanotoxinsI, turbidity, zinc, copper | Bacteria, viruses, protozoa | The level of microbial risk will depend on the time the manure has been stored before use. |
| Effluent pond operation | Effluent | |||
| Grazing animals | Manure deposited in pasture | |||
| Cultivation (tilling the soil only) | Soil, silt | Turbidity |
| Cultivation close to the water’s edge will weaken and erode the bank. |
| Land-use category 2. Forestry | ||||
| Sewage sludge application | Sewage | Ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, phosphate, metals, cyanotoxinsI, | Bacteria, viruses, protozoa |
|
| Use of pesticides | Range of pesticides | Pesticides |
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|
| Use of poisons (feral animal control) | Poisoned baits | Cyanide, 1080, brodifacoum |
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|
| Use and maintenance of vehicles | Petrol, diesel, oil | Benzene, toluene, xylene, ethylbenzene, TPH |
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|
| Fuel storage | Petrol, diesel | |||
| Land-use category 3. Mining and Quarrying | ||||
| Use and maintenance of vehicles | Petrol, diesel, oil | Benzene, toluene, xylene, ethylbenzene, TPH |
|
|
| Fuel storage | Petrol, diesel | |||
| Ore extraction | Extraction chemicals | Cyanide, metals |
| The metals of concern will depend on the composition of the ore. |
| Collection and treatment of acid mine drainage | Mine drainage | Metals, sulphate |
| The low pH of mine drainage may affect the pH of the receiving water and affect the treatment operation. |
| Open-cast mining and quarrying | Dust | Turbidity |
| Activities requiring use of explosives will eject particulates into the air. |
| Land-use category 4. Industry and Commerce (heavy and light industry) | ||||
| Brewing | Materials used in the process, and process effluent | Detergents, organic matter |
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|
| Ceramics | Glazes | Metals |
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|
| Cold storage | Refrigerants | Ammonia, nitrite, nitrate |
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| Drum reconditioning | Range of organic and inorganic chemicals, degreasers, detergents | Industrial solvents, metals |
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| Electronics | Alkalis, acids, cyanides, solvents, metals | Cyanide, TPH, metals, PCBs, methylene chloride, tetrachloroethene, trichloroethane, acetone, toluene |
| Alkalis and acids in large enough quantities may influence the source water pH, and possibly treatment plant operation. |
| Fertiliser/ | Fertilisers and pesticides | Ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, urea, phosphate, potassium, sulphate, calcium, magnesium, cyanotoxinsI |
| Under suitable conditions the introduction of nutrients into a source water may lead to algal growth and the presence of cyanotoxins, and taste and odour compounds. |
| Fish processing | Process effluent (high in organic waste) | Organic matter |
|
|
| Foundries | Acids, metals, fluxes | Metals, nitrate, chloride, sulphate, phosphate |
| Acids may give rise to nitrate, chloride, sulphate, and phosphate and affect the pH of the source water. |
| Furniture production | Glues, polishes, paints | Toluene, dichloromethane |
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|
| Meat and milk processing | Processing effluent, including cleaning chemicals | Ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, phosphate, chloride, sodium, calcium, magnesium, organic substances, cyanotoxinsI, turbidity, chlorine | Bacteria, viruses and protozoa | Caustic cleaning chemicals can result in high pH effluent. |
| Metal cleaning/ | Cleaning and plating chemicals, metals, acids | Cyanide, metals, industrial solvents, nitrate, chloride, sulphate, phosphate, detergents, editic acid (EDTA) |
| Acids may give rise to nitrate, chloride, sulphate and phosphate and affect the pH of the source water. |
| Paper making | Bleaching chemicals, caustic soda | Chlorate, chlorine, sulphate, DBPs, sodium, NOM |
| The quantities of chlorinated organic compounds (DBPs) should be small in a well-run plant. |
| Printing | Solvents, inks, dyes | Industrial solvents (eg, dichloromethane, toluene, xylene) |
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| Product storage | Fumigants | 1,3-dichloropropene, chloropicrin, cyanide, methyl bromide |
| The nature of the fumigation will determine which fumigants are a concern. |
| Resins | Range of organic chemicals | Formaldehyde, urea, organic acids, esters amines and peroxides |
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| Rubbers and plastics | Solvents, plasticisers, paints and other organic substances | Industrial solvents, cyanide, zinc, formaldehyde, plasticisers |
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| Tanning | Tanning chemicals | Chromium, calcium, sulphate |
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| Wood processing | Preservatives and other treatment chemicals | Pentachlorophenol, copper, chromium, arsenic, boron, industrial solvents, chlorpyriphos, creosote, PAHs |
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| Wool scouring | Degreasing agents, pesticides | Detergents, grease, pesticides (including chlorpyriphos, diazinon) |
| The classes of pesticides likely to be derived from wool are: organophosphates, synthetic pyrethroids and insect growth regulators. |
Note: This should not be considered an exhaustive list of all possible activities, nor of all contaminants that could arise.
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Appendix 4: Activities and Contaminants that may Contribute to Source Waters
May 2009
© Ministry for the Environment