Non-Point Source Pollution
- Non-Point Source Pollution - "Pollution discharged over a wide land area, not from one specific location. These are forms of diffuse pollution caused by sediment, nutrients, organic and toxic substances originating from land-use activities, which are carried to lakes and streams by surface runoff. Non-point source pollution is contamination that occurs when rainwater, snowmelt, or irrigation washes off plowed fields, city streets, or suburban backyards. As this runoff moves across the land surface, it picks up soil particles and pollutants, such as nutrients and pesticides." [Source: U.S. Geological Survey, http://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/dictionary.html]
- A substance that pollutes or degrades water that comes from lawn or cropland runoff, the atmosphere, roadways, and other diffuse sources [Source: U.S. Geological Survey, http://toxics.usgs.gov/definitions/nonpoint_source.html]
