Nonpoint source pollution doesn’t come from a single source, like a sewage treatment plant or an industrial discharge pipe. NPS pollution occurs largely from stormwater runoff.
When it rains, runoff from farmland, city streets, construction sites and suburban lawns, roofs, and driveways enters our waterways. Heavy rainstorms scour city streets and create flash floods turning our rivers into muddy torrents in a few hours. The force of this runoff sweeps toxic substances, animal wastes, pesticides, fertilizers and loose soil into our rivers at lightning speed.
There are many nonpoint sources of pollution falling into four major categories: sediments, nutrients, chemical or toxic substances and pathogens.
