Non–Point Source Pollution

Why is some water too dirty for swimming, fishing or drinking? Many of America’s most popular beaches are contaminated by floating slicks of garbage, raw sewage, oil spills, fecal bacteria, toxic algal blooms.

The United States has improved aquatic environments by controlling point source pollution. Point source pollution enters rivers, lakes and coastal waters from identifiable “sources” or “points” such as outfall pipes from industries and sewage treatment plants.

Unfortunately, we do not do enough to control pollution from nonpoint, sources. Non-Point Source pollution is deposited into waterways by run-off. As rainwater washes over roads, construction sites, animal lots and industrial areas, it picks up oil, salt, grease, pesticides and other pollutants. This runoff usually ends up in a city’s storm drains and is released directly into waterways without treatment. It's the main reason that approximately 40 percent of our surveyed rivers, lakes, and estuaries are not clean enough for basic uses such as fishing or swimming.

The most common non-point source pollutants are fertilizer, pesticides, pathogens (bacteria and viruses), salts, oil, grease, toxic chemicals, and heavy metals. Beach closures, destroyed habitat, unsafe drinking water, fish kills, and many other severe environmental and human health problems result from non-point source pollutants.

Adapted from: http://water.epa.gov/polwaste/nps/outreach/point1.cfm