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This link is about how and why ponds and lakes are being polluted by careless people a fact from the source is "it will ruin algae growth and control methods."

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Lake and Pond Management Services | Aquatic Environment Consultants

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There's no bigger threat to a pond's health and its natural beauty than garbage. Human trash is known to accumulate in many ponds and other water bodies across the mid-Atlantic region.

Why is Trash an Issue for Ponds?

Trash will clog the flow of water moving into and out of ponds. This is often the cause of many flooding issues when dense groups of garbage block the drains and redirection routes that the water travels through. Instead, pond water will spill across the grass or into the streets.

Some trash items infuse unwanted nutrients or contaminants into the water. The pollutants can harm or even kill fish and waterfowl and cause many other problems. A high concentration of organic waste can create significant algae growth, which can only be curbed with algae control methods .

In extreme cases, trash can become such a problem for the water that it's deemed unsafe. Nobody prefers spending the time and cost to drain a pond and clean up the garbage.

How Does Trash Usually Enter the Pond?

There are several prevalent sources of trash pollution around ponds:

In some cases, there are no trash receptacles located close to the pond. In this scenario, pedestrians tend to leave their trash behind on a bench or on the ground instead of transporting it home for disposal.

There are also some careless or malicious people who intentionally toss or dump their garbage into a pond or other body of water, hoping their trash will be washed away. Unfortunately, the trash usually gets stuck and ends up plaguing the pond and its inhabitants for a long period of time.

Trash tends to affect more ponds that are located in developed areas. Many homeowners associations are developed with ponds built into the landscape. The ponds provide stormwater retention before sending the water downstream.

As part of the stormwater management, inlets are placed in streets and along sidewalks throughout many communities. All the water from the community is funneled directly to the pond. In the process, debris and trash are carried through storm drains into the culverts and deposited in the pond. Not to mention, when there are large storm events, trash can flow from upstream water sources.

Some pond owners also place trash receptacles in close proximity to the pond for convenient waste disposal. However, these containers are not regularly emptied and often do not have a lid. On a day with high winds, the trash will easily blow out of the receptacle and into the pond.

On a community's trash day, homeowners and businesses place their receptacles out in the street for pick-up. Wind and rain can easily carry away any unsecured trash.

What Types of Trash Are Found in Ponds?

Plastic Bags and Containers

Plastic products are everywhere these days and don't break down easily, making them one of the biggest components of pond trash. Water bottles and other plastic drinking containers tend to float, so they are often transported easily in flowing water and high winds. Plastic grocery bags and other small plastic wrappers also tend to be transported into ponds.

Plastic dog-waste bags are also a contributor to pond trash. These bags often blow out of their dispensers and onto the street and into ponds. In addition, when dog owners don't place the filled bags into the proper trash receptacles, the waste can find its way to the pond.

Newspapers and Paper Products

Newspapers seem to show up quite a bit in ponds as well. The papers that are left on the doorsteps of homes are often washed from the street during storm events. The same goes for letters and magazines that blow away.

Other Sources of Refuse

Here is a list of other waste items commonly found in ponds:

athletic balls

fertilizer bags

construction debris

packaging materials

fishing line

soda cans

Stopping the Problem of Pond Waste

It's understandable that some amount of unintentional trash will enter ponds. However, if more care is taken to secure trash, the amount that ends up in ponds can be significantly reduced. It helps to remind the community members who use the pond to watch their garbage carefully, such as posting signs or distributing flyers.

Whether or not your pond faces regular trash troubles, routine water maintenance is critical. Water quality testing helps monitor the pond for contaminants introduced from waste.

Aquatic Environment Consultants Manages Ponds and Lakes of All Sizes

With over a century of combined experience in professional water management, AEC is the group of experts you can rely on with comprehensive services, including water restoration . We specialize in customized assessments suited for your property and budget. Contact us today to schedule a consultation with our team.

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Why Is There So Much Trash In My Pond? Aquatic Consultants

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There's no bigger threat to a pond's health and its natural beauty than garbage. Human trash is known to accumulate in many ponds and other water bodies across the mid-Atlantic region. Trash will clog the flow of water moving into and out of ponds.

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This link talks about how the chemicals, nutrients ,pesticides etc. depletes the oxygen in the water while overtime will kill the fish in that body of water.

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How Are Fish Affected by Water Pollution? | The 71 Percent

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Fishing is a beloved pastime of many Hoosiers, with 663,000 Indiana residents considering themselves anglers.

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this talks more about how many metals and chemicals that go into the water ruining it and contaminating it.

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Abstract

Potentially harmful substances-e.g. pesticides, heavy metals and hydrocarbons-are often released into the aquatic environment. When large quantities of pollutants are released there may be an immediate impact as measured by large-scale sudden mortalities of aquatic organisms, e.g. fish kills resulting from contamination of waterways with agricultural pesticides. Lower levels of discharge may result in an accumulation of the pollutants in aquatic organisms. The end results, which may occur long after the pollutants have passed through the environment, include immunosuppression, reduced metabolism, and damage to gills and epithelia. However, the link between adverse water quality and fish diseases is not proven. Alleged pollution-related diseases include epidermal papilloma, fin/tail rot, gill disease, hyperplasia, liver damage, neoplasia and ulceration. Many surveys have indicated a greater proportion of diseased fish in polluted compared to non-polluted marine sites. Yet, the value of such surveys may be questioned. Specific examples of fish diseases thought to reflect the effects of pollution include surface lesions attributed to Serratia plymuthica, fin and tail rot caused by Aeromonas hydrophila and Pseudomonas fluorescens, gill disease resulting from the actvity of Flavobacterium spp., vibriosis as caused by Vibrio anguillarum, and enteric redmouth (causal agent, Yersinia ruckeri). Research indicated that some of the diseases caused by Aeromonas, Flavobacterium and Pseudomonas resulted from generally adverse water quality, i.e. higher than usual quantities of organic material, oxygen depletion, changes in pH values and enhanced microbial populations. Some infections with Serratia and Yersina may well have reflected contamination of waterways with domestic sewage, e.g. leaking septic tanks. At least one outbreak of vibriosis was linked to high concentrations of copper, which may have debilitated the fish making them more susceptible to disease.

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Studies on biomarkers of oxidative stress and associated genotoxicity and histopathology in Channa punctatus from heavy metal polluted canal.

Javed M, Ahmad I, Usmani N, Ahmad M. Javed M, et al. Chemosphere. 2016 May;151:210-9. doi: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2016.02.080. Epub 2016 Mar 15. Chemosphere. 2016. PMID: 26943742

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national center for biotechnology information

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The effects of pollution on fish health - PubMed

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Potentially harmful substances-e.g. pesticides, heavy metals and hydrocarbons-are often released into the aquatic environment. When large quantities of pollutants are released there may be an immediate impact as measured by large-scale sudden mortalities of aquatic organisms, e.g. fish kills resulti ...

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This talks about how sewage is an effect on aquatic ecosystems.

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Wastewater and sewage enter aquatic systems from sources ranging from surface runoff and septic systems to wastewater treatment facilities and storm drain outfalls. Every year about 3.5 million Americans get sick from recreational activities like swimming and boating because the water is contaminated. Many don't connect their illness with the water they touched. The impact of water pollution on aquatic ecosystems extends far beyond human illness, however.

Sewage can be defined as the waste liquids and solids usually carried away by sewers. According to the "International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health," wastewater can be "defined as any storm water runoff, as well as industrial, domestic or commercial sewage or any combination thereof carried by water."

The four main types of wastewater are domestic, industrial, agricultural and urban. Domestic wastewater consists of black water containing human and animal fecal matter as well as gray water from household activities like bathing, washing, cooking and gardening. Industrial wastewater consists of industrial waste like pulp, paper, petrochemical runoff, chemicals, salts and acids. Agricultural wastewater comes from agricultural activities, contaminated groundwater and farming techniques, especially related to fertilizers and pesticides. Urban wastewater is defined as a combination of domestic and industrial wastewaters combined with sewage infiltration and rain water.

Wastewater treatment has three phases. The first phase or primary treatment places the wastewater in holding ponds. Solid waste settles at the bottom, and low-density materials like fats and oils float to the top. These materials can then be removed. The second phase or secondary treatment removes dissolved and suspended biological material. Most secondary treatment systems use aerobic bacteria to consume organic material in the wastewater. Tertiary or third-phase treatment further cleans wastewater that will eventually be released into sensitive environments. Tertiary treatment can be accomplished by several methods, depending on the remaining contaminants. Sand filtration removes particulate matter. Phosphates may be removed using bacteria called polyphosphate accumulate organisms. Nitrifying bacteria can be used to remove nitrogen. A method called lagooning stores the water in a lagoon where plants, bacteria, algae and zooplankton consume the remaining contaminants through natural processes.

The solid waste called sludge removed during primary treatment receives secondary treatment as well. The sludge may be treated with bacteria. Sometimes the bacteria generate enough methane to be used as fuel. Or, the sludge can be incinerated. Another method to treat the sludge starts by condensing the sludge, heating it to disinfect it and then finally using the treated sludge as fertilizer.

Despite the Clean Water Act of 1972 requiring secondary treatment of wastewater, some U.S. municipalities filed and received exemptions. Around the world, an estimated 2.5 billion people lack improved sanitation facilities. Increasing populations, aging infrastructure and natural disasters also impact the effectiveness of wastewater treatment systems.

Domestic wastewater contains pollutants ranging from biologic hazards and microplastic particles to soaps and fats. Agricultural wastewater contains biologic hazards, salts, pesticides and fertilizers. Urban wastewater includes domestic and industrial wastewater but also contains runoff from storm drains. Storm drains carry pollutants from yards and parks (dirt, pet waste, pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers) as well as from streets and parking lots (oil, gasoline, dirt and trash). Industrial wastewater contains a wide range of chemicals that include petrochemicals and other chemicals, acids, radioactive materials and salts. Recent findings show that a variety of drugs also contaminate wastewaters.

The University of Michigan notes that in a 2018 report, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) stated that "53% of river and stream miles, 71% of lake acres, 79% of estuarine square miles, and 98% of Great Lakes shoreline miles that have been assessed are classified as impaired (unacceptable for at least one designated use)."

Biologic hazards found in wastewater include bacteria, fungi, parasites and viruses. Bacteria and bacterial diseases range from E. coli, typhoid fever, salmonella, cholera and shigellosis. Fungi include aspergillus. Parasites include cryptosporidium, giardia and roundworms. Viruses like hepatitis A can also be found in wastewater. Health problems caused by sewage pollution impact an estimated 3.5 million Americans each year. An estimated 50 percent of the wastewater entering the Mediterranean is untreated sewage. Biologic waste from farms, houses, parks and beaches cause health problems that impact more than humans.

Bacteria and other organisms in freshwater use oxygen to metabolize the sewage they accompany. While breaking down the sewage, these micro-organisms can cause hypoxic (oxygen-depleted) dead zones. These dead zones lack oxygen that fish and other native organisms need to survive. Shellfish infected with sewage-related bacteria sicken people around the world. In marine environments, human gut bacteria can infect coral and cause coral bleaching disease. When coral lose their natural bacteria and algae, they die, resulting in zones where the coral ecosystem, from bacteria to fish populations, dies.

Drugs ranging from hormones (which affect reproductive development in fish and amphibians) to legal and illegal amphetamines to antidepressants have entered aquatic ecosystems. Some of the drugs pass into the sewage system in the urine and feces of users while some of the drugs have been flushed down the drain. One controlled study of the effects of amphetamines on aquatic organisms showed accelerated insect reproduction, decreased algae populations and changes in diatom and microbe diversity.

Nutrient-rich materials from fertilizers, especially nitrogen and phosphorus, and waste material cause eutrophication in both fresh and marine ecosystems. Algal blooms from the excess of nutrients decreases light transmission in the water, impacting plants and plankton while reducing the amount of oxygen in the water. As the algae dies, decomposer bacteria consume even more of the dissolved oxygen. In extreme cases, the loss of oxygen results in large dead zones. Runoff of fertilizer and nutrient-rich material from the midwestern United States has caused a 7,728-square-mile oxygen-depleted dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico.

Industrial wastes often pass through the same sewer treatment facilities as domestic wastes. Industrial waste often contains a variety of chemicals and may also contain heavy metals like lead, mercury, cadmium and arsenic. Not all of these chemicals are completely removed in sewage treatment plants, so the chemicals are released into rivers, lakes and marine waters. In addition, some waste may be released or spilled into aquatic ecosystems without any treatment. The effects of sewage pollution on marine life impact organisms throughout the food chain.

Heavy metals build up in fish tissues as the fish consume plankton, algae and smaller prey containing the metals. This process is called biomagnification. As other animals, including humans, eat these fish, the heavy metals can reach sufficient concentrations to poison the consumer. These heavy metals may accumulate in toxic amounts for fish as well.

Control of releases of industrial sewage like petroleum products, radioactive waste and persistent organic pollutants has improved, with oily wastes reduced by 90 percent between the 1980s and 2006. These pollutants caused immediate and long-term effects on ecosystems by poisoning or smothering plankton, plants and animals.
Air Pollution and Aquatic Ecosystems
Industrial soot and smoke also impact aquatic ecosystems. For example, sulfur dioxide combined with water vapor forms sulfuric acid or acid rain. Acid rain and runoff decrease aquatic pH, which interferes with the ability of fish to absorb oxygen, salts and nutrients. A low pH also interferes with calcium absorption. Improper calcium balance for many fish means their eggs do not develop properly, becoming too brittle or weak. Calcium deficiency also causes weak spines and bones in fish and weak exoskeletons for crayfish. Acid rain also leaches aluminum from soils, interfering with reproduction in crustaceans and fish. Furthermore, when pH drops below 6, insects like mayflies and stoneflies can't survive, impacting the food chain.

Urban sewage includes litter washed into storm drains and eventually into waterways. An estimated 70 percent of this litter ends up on the seabed, about 15 percent lands on beaches and about 15 percent is floating in the ocean. Most of the litter, 70 percent, is plastics with metal and glass making up the majority of the remaining 30 percent. Studies show that more than 1,200 aquatic species interact with the litter by eating it, living in or on it, or getting tangled up in it. Much of the plastic is in the form of microplastics, tiny pieces from the breakdown of larger plastics. Animals as diverse as mammals, fish, crustaceans and others are impacted by this litter.

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The Effects of Sewage on Aquatic Ecosystems

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Sewage and wastewater disposal severely impact aquatic ecosystems, including disruption of food chains, alteration of reproductive cycles and habitat disruption. Sewage comes from domestic, agricultural, industrial and urban sources. Hazards include biologic, chemical, nutrients and litter.

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This is a way I could help solve littering and pollution from fishing anglers.

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Union County, NJ - The mild fall weather continues to attract anglers to lakes and ponds in Union County parks, and now they have a convenient way to safely dispose of used fishing line. Specially designed "Reel in and Recycle" bins are now located at several popular fishing spots throughout the County parks system.

The new bins are part of an effort to reduce litter in local waterways. They are designed to collect monofilament fishing line, the most commonly used form of fishing line on the market today.

"The new Reel in and Recycle bins provide anglers with a convenient place to dispose of unwanted monofilament fishing line, enabling them to help keep local waterways clean and free of debris that can harm marine life," said Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski. "In addition, the line will be collected and recycled into new products."

Either by accident or through neglect, monofilament line frequently makes its way into local lakes, ponds, and streams, where it entangles fish, turtles, birds and other wildlife. Monofilament fishing line can take more than 600 years to decompose, making it one of the most persistent forms of pollution in waterways.

"The Reel in and Recycle program will help reduce the harm caused by discarded fishing line and improve the habitat for wildlife, while providing an opportunity for the public to learn about the hazards of monofilament line," said Freeholder Chair Kowalski. "We hope the new bins will inspire visitors in County parks to learn about the impacts of litter in our parks and understand how they can be part of the solution."

The new Reel in and Recycle bins are being installed at Briant Park (Summit), Cedar Brook Park (Plainfield), Echo Lake Park (Mountainside), Lenape Park (Cranford), Nomahegan Park (Cranford), Milton Lake Park (Rahway), Sperry Pond (Cranford), Seeley's Pond (Mountainside), and Warinanco Park (Roselle).

The collected fishing line will be will be sent to the Berkeley Conservation Institute. Since 1990, the organization has recycled more than 9 million miles worth of fishing line into raw plastic pellets, which can be used to make new products including tackle boxes, spools for line, and fish habitats.

Reel in and Recycle is part of Union County's comprehensive portfolio of recycling programs. For information on all recycling events and initiatives organized or supported by Union County, visit ucnj.org/recycling.

For quick links to all Union County environmental activities and services, including a directory of County parks, visit The Green Connection at ucnj.org/green-connect.

Please note that fishing in Union County parks is governed by New Jersey Division of Fish & Wildlife regulations. A state-issued fishing license is required for those 16 and older.

Photo caption: Union County Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski joined Union County Engineering, Public Works & Facilities Management Director Joseph Graziano and Union County Recycling & Planning Bureau Chief JoAnn Gemenden at a recently installed "Reel in and Recycle" bin at the fishing dock in Nomahegan Park in Cranford. The new bins in Union County parks are part of an effort to reduce litter in local waterways. They are designed to collect monofilament fishing line, the most commonly used form of fishing line on the market today. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

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For all Union County programs and services visit , call the Public Info Line, 877-424-1234, email info@ucnj.org or use the online Contact Form.

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"Reel in and Recycle" to Reduce Litter in Local Waterways

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Union County, NJ - The mild fall weather continues to attract anglers to lakes and ponds in Union County parks, and now they have a convenient way to safely dispose of used fishing line. Specially designed "Reel in and Recycle" bins are now located at several popular fishing spots throughout the County parks system.