Petroleum Refining Industry Contribution to Nationwide Surface Water Nutrient Loadings
Topics & metadata
This publication assesses the contribution of the petroleum refining industry to nationwide surface water nutrient loadings.
Copyright & official sources
This page provides educational summaries and key takeaways. For the official, complete paper text and usage rights, we encourage you to purchase or access the original publication through authorized channels. This supports the authors and publishers who make this research possible.
Research summary
Key Insights: Petroleum Refining Industry Contribution to Nationwide Surface Water Nutrient Loadings
New research from the American Petroleum Institute (API) clarifies the petroleum refining industry's minimal role in nationwide surface water nutrient pollution, emphasizing the need for targeted pollution control efforts.
Research Focus
This study aimed to quantify the petroleum refining industry's contribution to nationwide nutrient loadings (specifically Total Nitrogen and Total Phosphorus) in surface waters. Understanding this contribution is crucial for environmental engineers and regulatory affairs specialists to prioritize pollution control strategies and allocate resources effectively. The research consolidated data from EPA databases, scientific literature, and state reports to provide a national perspective.
What the Research Found
Finding 1: Nonpoint Sources Dominate Nutrient Loads
Nonpoint sources, such as agricultural runoff and urban stormwater, are overwhelmingly the primary contributors to nationwide nutrient loadings, accounting for over 84% of both Total Phosphorus and Total Nitrogen. This highlights that broad-scale nutrient impairment is not primarily driven by industrial point sources.
Finding 2: Municipal Wastewater is a Significant Contributor
Municipal wastewater treatment plants (POTWs) represent the second-largest source of nutrient loadings, contributing approximately 14% of both Total Phosphorus and Total Nitrogen nationwide. This segment represents a more substantial source than industrial discharges collectively.
Finding 3: Refining Industry's Contribution is Negligible
The petroleum refining sector contributes a mere 0.08% to nationwide Total Phosphorus loadings and 0.1% to nationwide Total Nitrogen loadings. This finding positions the industry as a very minor contributor when assessed on a national scale.
Why It Matters for Practice
These findings challenge the assumption that industrial point sources, including petroleum refineries, are the primary drivers of widespread nutrient impairment. It suggests that focusing significant regulatory or capital investment on refinery-specific nutrient reduction technologies for nationwide nutrient control may not yield the most impactful water quality improvements. Instead, it creates an opportunity to refine environmental strategies, aligning them with the actual sources of pollution.
Putting It Into Practice
Based on these findings, professionals should consider:
- • Prioritizing efforts and resources towards managing nonpoint source pollution and municipal wastewater discharges for broader water quality improvements.
- • Evaluating site-specific water bodies to determine if local refinery discharges, while small nationally, might be significant contributors to localized nutrient issues.
- • Engaging in dialogue with regulatory bodies to ensure that nutrient control strategies are data-driven and target the most significant sources.
Limitations to Note
While this study provides a valuable national overview, it's important to recognize that localized conditions can vary. The findings do not preclude the possibility that a specific refinery's discharge could be significant to a particular, smaller water body.