Table A1: Possible contaminants from activities grouped by land use

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Note: This should not be considered an exhaustive list of all possible activities, nor of all contaminants that could arise.

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.

The term ‘pesticides’ refers to pesticides and herbicides. The term ‘herbicides’ is expressly used when herbicides only is meant.

Contaminants in italics are those for which a maximum acceptable value (MAV) or guideline value (GV) has been assigned in the Drinking-water Standards for New Zealand 2005. Non-italicised contaminants do not have a MAV or GV in the DWSNZ, but are listed here because (i) they may be precursors for contaminants listed in the DWSNZ (eg, phosphate may contribute to the production of cyanotoxins), or (ii) may be undesirable from a health perspective even if they do not have a MAV (eg, brodifacoum, TPH).

Activity	Contaminating material	Contaminants		Comment
Activity	Contaminating material	Chemical	Microbiological	Comment
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 a 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. 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.
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. 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.
Dairy shed operation	Washwater	Ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, phosphate, cyanotoxinsI, chlorine, chloramines, DBPs	Bacteria, viruses, protozoa	Chlorine could react with organic waste to form chloramines and other DBPs. 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.
Spray irrigation of effluent	Effluent	Ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, cyanotoxinsI, turbidity, zinc, copper	Bacteria, viruses, protozoa	Level of microbial risk will depend on the time the manure has been stored for before use. Levels of contaminants from well-operated effluent ponds should be low. 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. Grazing close to the water’s edge will weaken and erode the bank.
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
Use of poisons (feral animal control)	Poisoned baits	Cyanide, 1080, brodifacoum
Use and maintenance of vehicles	Petrol, diesel, oil	Benzene, toluene, xylene, ethylbenzene, TPH
Fuel storage	Petrol, diesel	Benzene, toluene, xylene, ethylbenzene, TPH
Land use category 3: Mining and quarrying
Use and maintenance of vehicles	Petrol, diesel, oil	Benzene, toluene, xylene, ethylbenzene, TPH
Fuel storage	Petrol, diesel	Benzene, toluene, xylene, ethylbenzene, TPH
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 receiving water and affect 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
Ceramics	Glazes	Metals
Cold storage	Refrigerants	Ammonia, nitrite nitrate
Drum reconditioning	Range of organic and inorganic chemicals, degreasers, detergents	Industrial solvents, metals
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 source water pH, and possibly treatment plant operation.
Fertiliser/agrichemical production	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
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. 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.
Metal cleaning/ electroplating	Cleaning and plating chemicals, metals, acids	Cyanide, metals, industrial solvents, nitrate, chloride, sulphate, phosphate, detergents, 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)
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
Rubbers and plastics	Solvents, plasticisers, paints and other organic substances	Industrial solvents, cyanide, zinc, formaldehyde, plasticisers
Tanning	Tanning chemicals	Chromium, calcium, sulphate
Wood processing	Preservatives and other treatment chemicals	Pentachlorophenol, copper, chromium, arsenic, boron, industrial solvents, chlorpyriphos, creosote, PAHs
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, insect growth regulators.
Land use category 4: Industry and commerce (commerce and community)
Car washes	Soaps, detergents, waxes, oil	Detergents, TPH, PAHs
Cemeteries	Embalming fluids, bodies, coffin construction materials, fertilisers	Formaldehyde, arsenic, mercury, lead, copper, zinc, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, chloride, sulphate, phosphate, sodium, potassium, magnesium, cyanotoxinsI	Bacteria, viruses	The properties of the soil and age of the cemetery, inter alia, will influence the nature of contaminants in the groundwater.
Defence establishments	Disinfectants, human waste, chemical dumps, fuel and oil	Chlorine, industrial chemicals, benzene, toluene, xylene, ethylbenzene, TPH	Bacteria, viruses, protozoa
Dry-cleaning	Dry-cleaning chemicals	Tetrachloroethene, trichloroethane, ammonia, phosphate, chloride		The phosphate and chloride originate from phosphoric and hydrochloric acids.
Hospital	Disinfectants, biological waste, radiological waste, other miscellaneous chemicals	Formaldehyde, chlorine	Bacteria, viruses, protozoa	Reticulation of waste disposal should eliminate the hazards associated with this activity.
Laboratories (school, medical and research)	Disinfectants, biological waste, other miscellaneous chemicals	Formaldehyde, chlorine	Bacteria, viruses, protozoa	Viruses and protozoa would not be expected from school laboratories.
Laundromats	Detergents, bleaches, dyes	Chlorine
Offices	Detergents, solvents	Industrial solvents
Photographic processing	Photographic processing chemicals	Cyanide, silver, amines
Prisons	Disinfectants, human waste	Chlorine	Bacteria, viruses, protozoa
Scrap yards	Petroleum products, solvents, metals, acids, alkalis	TPH, metals, industrial solvents, PAHs
Swimming pools	Disinfectants, other pool treatment chemicals, human waste	Chlorine, chloramines, DBPs, lithium	Bacteria, viruses, protozoa	Lithium could arise from lithium hypochlorite – a form of pool chlorine.
Land use category 4: Industry and commerce (transport, storage and utilities)
Airport operation	Fuels, fire-fighting foams, solvents, de‑icing substances, fumigants	TPH, industrial solvents
Electricity	Transformer coolants	PCBs, fluorinated hydrocarbons, silicone oils
Fuel storage and sale	Fuel storage and sale	Benzene, toluene, xylene, ethylbenzene, TPH
Railway operation	Spraying of tracks, diesel and oil leaks, human waste (if toilet effluent is vented onto tracks)	TPH, pesticides, PAHs, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate	Bacteria, viruses, protozoa	Spills of cargo carried by rail may result in a wide range of contaminants being introduced into water if there is a pathway to the source water.
Road transport	Asphalt, fuel and oil leaks, chemicals for roadside weed control, metals	TPH, PAHs, benzene, toluene, xylene, ethylbenzene, herbicides, metals		Spills of cargo carried by road may result in a wide range of contaminants being introduced into water if there is a pathway to the source water.
Sewerage reticulation	Sewage (human waste, trade waste)	Ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, metals, industrial solvents, cyanotoxinsI	Bacteria, viruses and protozoa	A wide range of industrial and domestic contaminants may be present in sewage.
Sewage treatment	Sewage (human waste, trade waste)		Bacteria, viruses and protozoa
Stock effluent and camper van effluent disposal facilities	Animal and human waste	Ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, metals, cyanotoxinsI	Bacteria, viruses and protozoa
Tyre storage	Tyres	TPH, PAHs
Land use category 5: Open space
Car parks	Fuel and oil leaks, asphalt surface	Benzene, toluene, xylene, ethylbenzene, TPH, PAHs
Clay target clubs	Lead shot	Lead, PAHs
Disposal of stormwater run-off	Fuel and oil spills and other contaminants on asphalt road surfaces, faecal material from animals, weed and pest control chemicals, fertilisers, metals	Ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, urea, phosphate, potassium, sulphate, calcium, magnesium, pesticides, benzene, toluene, xylene, ethylbenzene, TPH, metals, cyanotoxinsI	Bacteria, viruses, protozoa
Golf courses	Chemicals used for up-keep of the course (fertiliser, pesticides); fuel storage	Ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, urea, phosphate, potassium, sulphate, calcium, magnesium, pesticides, benzene, toluene, xylene, ethylbenzene, TPH, cyanotoxinsI	Bacteria, viruses and protozoa	The inclusion of microbial contaminants assumes an on-site disposal system.
Recreational parks	Fertilisers, weed control chemicals, fuel and oil from vehicles			Parks without reticulated sewerage will require on‑site sewage disposal systems.
Sports fields	Fertilisers, weed control chemicals, fuel and oil from vehicles			Sports fields without reticulated sewerage will require on-site sewage disposal systems.
Land use category 6: Residential (urban, lifestyle block, rural)
Disposal of household waste	Household chemicals, garden chemicals, petrol, diesel and oil	Metals, TPH, benzene, toluene, xylene, ethylbenzene, industrial solvents, nitrate, phosphate, pesticides, industrial solvents, metals, chlorine		The contamination risk associated with this activity is likely to be small because of their small scale.
Use of fertilisers	Fertilisers	Ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, urea, phosphate, potassium, sulphate, calcium, magnesium
Keeping pets or livestock (lifestyle blocks)	Animal waste, pest control chemicals	Ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, pesticides	Bacteria, viruses, protozoa
Fuel storage	Petrol, diesel, oils	Benzene, toluene, xylene, ethylbenzene, TPH
On-site disposal of sewage	Human waste, detergents	Ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, detergents, cyanotoxinsI	Bacteria, viruses, protozoa
Weed and pest control	Pesticides	Pesticides
Land use category 7: Vacant land
Illegal dumping	Wide range of possible chemicals	Metals, TPH, benzene, toluene, xylene, ethylbenzene, industrial solvents, nitrate, phosphate, pesticides	Bacteria, viruses and protozoa	Acids or alkalis in the dumped material may result in extreme pH values in receiving water.
Land use category 8: Landfill
Disposal of industrial waste	Wide range of possible chemicals	Metals, TPH, benzene, toluene, xylene, ethylbenzene, industrial solvents, nitrate, phosphate, pesticides, cyanide
Disposal of waste from water and wastewater treatment systems	Waste sludge (which includes treatment chemicals)	Metals, cyanotoxinsI, NOM, acrylamide	Bacteria, viruses and protozoa
Disposal of household waste	Household chemicals, garden chemicals, petrol, diesel and oil	Metals, TPH, benzene, toluene, xylene, ethylbenzene, industrial solvents, nitrate, phosphate, pesticides, industrial solvents, metals, chlorine		Which contaminants are present will depend on how well the landfill system is controlled.
Land use category 9: Fishing
Onshore aquaculture	Faecal matter, pesticides	Pesticides, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, phosphorus, pesticides, cyanotoxinsI	Bacteria, viruses and protozoa
Land use category 10: Conservation land
On-site sewage disposal	Human waste	Ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, cyanotoxinsI	Bacteria, viruses and protozoa
Disposal of domestic waste	Tin cans	Metals		Burial of cans if they are not taken off site.
Feral animal control	Poisons	Cyanide, 1080, brodifacoum

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