Organic -Living matter and by products of living matter. Examples include plants and animal wastes. The route in which the water takes determines the quality of the surface waters. One route for water flow is through seepage into the ground and then to surface waters.
Water also travels a more direct route by storm water drains or the sanitary sewer lines.
If water goes through the storm water drains, it does not receive any treatment. If liquid or debris goes down the storm water drain with the water, then it also goes directly to the surface water. Water sent to the waste water treatment plant, by sanitary sewer lines, is treated and then discharged out to surface waters. However, there are instances in which the waste water treatment plant cannot treat the water due to a liquid or debris in the water. If this occurs, then some of the water could enter the surface waters without adequate treatment.