With this freshwater supply comes sediment, nutrients, metals and organic chemicals which can all contribute to the pollution of the Bay. How we manage the land in the Chesapeake watershed largely determines the volume and types of chemicals included in this freshwater discharged to the Bay. Each year, millions of tons of pollutants are dumped into the Bay via the rivers and streams that flow into it. Many of these pollutants are from point sources, that is, sources that are defined as directly contributing to the pollution, such as factories and sewage treatment plants. A major source, however, are non-point sources, ones that cannot be singled out but are known polluters.
Agricultural endeavors can be major non-point sources of Bay pollution.
Farms have typically been assumed to be the largest contributor to nitrate and pesticide pollution, but in recent years it has been found that others, such as nurseries, turf areas and homeowners all are capable of unknowingly contributing to this problem. Since some soils leach more easily than others, turfgrass and landscape professionals need to have a working knowledge of the characteristics of their soil to accurately determine when to fertilize and apply pesticides. Nutrient leaching into groundwater is a problem if the quantity of fertilizer applied exceeds the amount the plant can utilize. Turf managers need to be environmentally aware and take factors such as irrigation, soil structure, nitrogen source and pest identification into consideration before applying nutrients or pesticides. Groundwater and Surface Water Protection.