Besides treated sewage (effluent) and stormwater, is there any other source of pollution to the Bay?
Yes, there are discharges from commercial and industrial facilities, as well as surface run-off that enters directly into Santa Monica Bay. Legacy pollution, i.e., historical deposits of pollutants, continues to be a significant source of contamination. For example, DDT and PCB, which were banned in 1972 when the Clean Water Act was passed, are still found in specific areas of Santa Monica Bay at levels that are harmful to human health and marine animals. A recent study conducted by the Southern California Coastal Water Research Project revealed that aerial deposition of heavy metals has a significant adverse impact on the water quality in the Bay.
