Nonpoint Source Pollution in Kansas, MF-2204 Click on the image above to download a complete copy of this publication in PDF format. Download a free copy of the Adobe Acrobat Reader. Nonpoint Source Pollution in Kansas, MF-2204 Daniel L. Devlin Extension Specialist and Coordinator Environmental Quality Department of Agronomy G. Morgan Powell Extension Natural Resource Engineer Department of Agricultural Engineering Water is one of our most precious natural resources. All of us depend on water for drinking and household use. In addition, we use water for agriculture, industry, and recreation.
Concerns exist in Kansas about the quality of our surface and groundwater.
A report in 1994 by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment indicated 97 percent of streams and 82 percent of lakes in Kansas would not fully support all uses as designated by state statute. Sources of water quality problems include both natural and manmade pollution. Pollution reaches water from many sources and pathways, which can generally be divided into point source and nonpoint source pollution. Point Source Pollution Point source pollution comes from specific, single locations, such as municipal sewage treatment plants, manufacturing plants, or large confined livestock feeding operations. These sources are often easy to identify and control.