Agricultural sources generate large sediment and nutrient loads. Urban drainage systems contribute nutrients, heavy metals, and organic substances that deplete oxygen. Flow reductions also have a great impact on streams, limiting dilution of salts, minerals, and pollutants. Ground Water Quality Nevada lacks comprehensive ground water protection legislation, but the State does have statutes that control individual sources of contamination, including mining, underground storage tanks, septic systems, handling of hazardous materials and waste, solid waste disposal, underground injection wells, agricultural practices, and wastewater disposal. Land use statutes also enable local authorities to implement Wellhead Protection Plans by adopting zoning ordinances, subdivision regulations, and site plan review procedures.
Local authorities can implement certain source control programs at the local level.
Water Quality Nevada s Nonpoint Source Management Plan aims to reduce NPS pollution with interagency coordination, education programs, and incentives that encourage voluntary installation of best management practices. In 1994, the State updated the Handbook of Best Management Practices and supported NPS assessment activities in each of the State s six major river basins. Nevada s Wellhead Protection Program was finalized during January of 1994. Programs to Assess Water Quality Several State, Federal, and local agencies regularly sample chemical and physical parameters at over 100 sites in the 14 hydrologic regions of the State. Nevada hopes to add biological monitoring at several routine sampling sites after the State adapts rapid bioassessment protocols to the arid conditions in Nevada.