Unlike specific points such as some factory discharge pipes, nonpoint source pollution comes from many different spots. From farmlands to suburban lawns, people use the land in ways that cause nonpoint source pollution. Nonpoint source pollutants include nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorus from fertilizers and septic tank systems, sediments from construction and timber harvest sites, pesticides from agricultural lands, salts from winter road treatment, and trace metals and toxic chemicals from inadequately protected landfills. Individually, these pollutants may not be a major concern, but taken as a whole they can result in widespread water quality problems that must be addressed. The Solution Begins With Us.
Pollution prevention is essential to reducing nonpoint source pollution.
Examples of pollution prevention include detention ponds for capturing sediments in stormwater runoff, and buffer strips of vegetation to separate farmed or urban lands from nearby waters. Protect shrubs, vines, and other plants that grow along shorelines. Seed or mulch areas where soil can wash away. Take public transportation, ride in a carpool, and limit driving when possible to reduce air emissions and oil and gasoline runoff, especially from gas service stations. When changing your car's oil, make sure used oil is collected and not disposed on ground.