| Types of Contaminants | Description |
|---|---|
| Microbial Contaminants (Such as viruses, parasites and bacteria) | May come from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural livestock operations, and wildlife. |
| Inorganic Contaminants (Such as salts and metals) | Can occur naturally or may result from urban stormwater runoff, industrial or domestic wastewater discharges, oil and gas production, mining, and farming. |
| Pesticides and Herbicides | May come from a variety of sources such as agriculture, urban stormwater runoff, and residential uses. |
| Organic Chemical Contaminants (Including synthetic and volatile organic chemicals) | By-products of industrial processes and petroleum production, and can also come from gas stations, urban stormwater runoff, and septic systems. |
| Radioactive Contaminants | Can be naturally occurring or the result of oil and gas production and mining activities. |
