Pollution is the contamination of our air, land or water in a way that is harmful to life. It can occur naturally such as when an erupting volcano emits sulfur dioxide, but the term usually refers to negative effects from human activities such as industry, agriculture, and a growing population.

Pollution monitoring is especially important because its levels are excellent indicators of ecosystem health and the health of organisms and humans. Pollution monitoring and control is a complicated task, particularly in a large metropolitan area like Miami-Dade County.

In a given area, there can be 2 major sources of pollution. Point source pollution originates from a well-defined source such as discharge from an industrial plant. Non-point source pollution is material that stems from various sources such as agricultural fields or highways.

DERM is committed to protecting the air, land, and water in Miami-Dade County by monitoring all sources of pollution, making and enforcing pollution laws, and issuing permits to control pollution. Educating businesses, municipalities and residents on pollution prevention has also become an important element in pollution control in Miami-Dade County.

Information about the different types of pollution in Miami-Dade County and what you can do to help can be found under the subject areas below:

Air

At DERM, we work to protect air quality for everybody. This includes monitoring air pollution, making and enforcing air pollution laws, and issuing permits to control air pollution.

Sources of air pollution include paint and body shops, dry cleaners, funeral homes, gas stations, and air conditioning service repair shops.  But not only industry is to blame, everybody contributes to air pollution: when you drive your car, start up that lawn mower or weed trimmer, top off when fueling up, fire up the barbecue, or use a can of spray paint.  Together we must work together to ensure the air we breathe remains clean and healthy.

Land

At DERM, we work to protect the quality of our lands for everybody. This includes monitoring, making and enforcing laws, and issuing permits to control pollution on our lands.

Sources of land pollution include both solid wastes and liquid wastes that spill on the ground. An important consideration in Miami-Dade County's unique environment is that anything that spills on the ground can contaminate our source of drinking water, the Biscayne Aquifer, which is located just below the ground surface.

Many of these contamination sources are industrial facilities. However, even you contribute to this type of pollution when you improperly dispose of used engine oil, throw litter out the car window, or don't take the time to recycle. Together we must work together to ensure that the land and the groundwater we share remains clean and healthy.

Water

At DERM we are constantly working to ensure the quality of our surface water, groundwater, stormwater runoff and drinking water for our community.  This includes a variety of activities such as promulgating regulations, maintaining permit programs, and participating on local advisory committees.

Sources of water pollution can be wastewater, other liquid wastes, stormwater runoff or even solid wastes that contaminate or even obstruct our waterways and conveyance systems.

An important consideration in Miami-Dade County's unique environment is that anything that spills on the ground could contaminate our source of drinking water, the aquifer, which is located just below the surface.

Many of these sources may be industrial or pretreatment facilities, however industry does not bear all the responsibility for this type of pollution .  Even you contribute to this type pollution when you pour your used engine oil in the backyard, throw litter out the car window, or use too much fertilizer or pesticides at home.

Together we must work together to ensure that the water bodies, groundwater, and drinking water that we share will be clean and healthy.