Examples of Common Industrial Practices

Large Scale Discharge

Discharge from any source - residential developments, commercial lots, or industrial landuses can always create an unfavorable change to the local water source. Industrial discharge, however, may pose a more serious threat to environmental stability and pollutant load over time. Large scale factories and similar operations often use large amounts of water for distilling, cleaning, or flushing machinery and products. This waste water, typically disposed of in large quantities, may often be significantly warmer than the receiving water, and may also contain high particle and/or pollutant loads. Large scale discharge from any land use should be monitored especially during a storm event. Aside from chemicals and solids entering into the system, excess water increases bank erosion and decreases overall stream productivity whereas increased temperature negatively impacts the habitat suitability range of existing plants and animals.

Clear cutting is a common practice for both lumber harvesting and site construction. While both practices are valid in purpose, the clear cutting approach is devastating to the surrounding habitat. When an area is cleared, soil is no longer anchored to the roots of vegetation and is therefore much more susceptible to mass wasting and erosion. Clear cutting should be avoided on areas with incompatible slope characteristics and should be cautioned when this technique is applied near water sources.

Riverfronts are prime sites for industrial development. These areas increase the efficiency of shipping and receiving, especially with raw materials such as salts, silts, and gravels. These operations often function on a river or lake front due to nearby or underwater extraction of buried materials. Boats and heavy machinery needed to move these materials often leak gases and oils into the water and contribute to the overall decrease in productivity of the surrounding system. These facilities also increase soil compaction and bank deterioration over time and contribute to increased runoff from nearby impervious surfaces.