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Many people are familiar with the pollution horror stories of big industries pumping polluted water through a pipe directly into a stream or river. This is known as point source pollution, and because it has received much publicity, it is usually what pops into our minds when we talk about water pollution. You'd be surprised to know however, that point source pollution is not the major contributor to our water quality problems. Nonpoint source pollution (NPS) is the number 1 source of water pollution in the United States and it's the main reason that approximately 40 percent of our rivers, lakes and estuaries are not clean enough to fish or swim in.

NPS pollution originates from rain and melted snow flowing over the land, which is called runoff. Runoff can also originate from irrigation water used in agriculture and in landscaping. As the water flows over land or through the ground, it picks up pollutants such as sediment, oil, and toxics, and deposits them in surface waters or introduces them into groundwater. NPS pollution also includes adverse changes to the vegetation, shape, and flow of streams and other aquatic systems. It is difficult to monitor because it does not come from a single point of entry (thus the name nonpoint).

When talking about NPS, you need to consider the entire area around a waterbody that drains into it. In that respect, it is helpful to first understand what a watershed is (see Ask Pat archive - What is a Watershed?). A watershed is the land that water flows across or under on its way to a stream, river, or lake - in other words, an area of land that drains into a particular body of water. NPS pollution may be found all over the watershed as the result of activities that disturb the land or water. Agriculture, forestry, grazing, septic systems, recreational boating, urban runoff, construction, physical changes to stream channels, and habitat degradation are all potential sources of NPS pollution. In fact, you may even find it in your own backyard!

Three Leading Sources of Water Quality Impairment

Rank	Rivers	Lakes	Estuaries
1	Agriculture	Agriculture	Urban Runoff
2	Municipal point source	Municipal point source	Municipal point source
3	Stream/habitat changes	Urban runoff	Agriculture

Source: National Water Quality Inventory 1994

As you can see from the table above, agricultural activities are the leading polluter of our rivers and lakes, while runoff from urban areas is most harmful to estuaries (areas near the cost where seawater mixes with freshwater).

Common NPS Pollutants

sediment
nutrients
pesticides
pathogens (bacteria and viruses)
salts
oil
grease
toxic chemicals
heavy metals

What has been done to control NPS pollution?

The 1972 Clean Water Act began in earnest the nation's efforts to restore the integrity of America's waters. Section 303(d) of the act established what is now known as the Total Maximum Daily Load - or TMDL - Program directing states to identify impaired water bodies and take actions to restore their designated uses. The TMDL program has most often been associated with end-of-pipe or "point" sources of pollution, however, states have begun to include nonpoint sources in recent years.

The Clean Water Act was amended in 1987 to establish the NPS Pollution Management Program. The program provides states, territories, and tribes with grants to implement NPS pollution controls described in approved NPS pollution management programs. The act was amended again in 1990 to establish the Coastal Zone Act Reauthorization Amendments. Other recent programs on the state and local levels also tackle NPS problems.

In 1991 EPA established the National Monitoring Program to evaluate the effectiveness of NPS pollution control projects. Through this monitoring program, fourteen state-proposed projects will be evaluated over a 6- to 10-year period. The results should help states, territories and tribes to develop more effective NPS pollution controls

How NPs Pollution be managed...

in agriculture?

American agriculture is noted worldwide for its high productivity, quality, and efficiency in delivering goods to the consumer. However, as I noted above, agriculture is the prime culprit in NPS pollution of our rivers and lakes.

What can farmers do to help?

Manage sediment	Sedimentation occurs when wind or water runoff carries soil particles from an area, such as a farm field, and transports them to a water body, such as a stream or lake. Farmers can reduce sedimentation by 20 to 90 percent by applying management measures to control the volume and flow rate of runoff water, keep the soil in place and reduce soil transport.
Manage nutrients	Farmers apply nutrients - phosphorus, nitrogen, and potassium - to enhance production. When applied in excess of plant needs, the excess nutrients wash into water supplies. Farmers can implement nutrient management plans to help maintain their yields while saving money money on the use of fertilizers and reducing NPS pollution.
Manage confined animal facilities	Confining animals to areas or lots is an efficient way for farmers to feed and maintain livestock. However, these areas become major sources of animal waste, and, as a result, polluted runoff. Discharges can be limited by storing and managing facility wastewater and runoff.
Manage irrigation	Crops are irrigated to supplement natural precipitation or to protect them from freezing or wilting. Used inefficiently, irrigation can cause water quality problems. Farmers can improve water use efficiency by measuring crop needs (there is a variety of equipment to do this).
Manage pesticides	Chemicals used to kill pests and control the growth of weeds and fungus can enter and contaminate water through direct application, runoff, wind transport, and atmospheric deposition. Integrated Pest Management techniques based on the specific soils, climate, pest history, and crop for a particular field, can help minimize pesticide movement from the field.
Manage Livestock grazing	Overgrazing by livestock exposes soils and increases erosion, among other things. Farmers can adjust grazing intensity, keep livestock out of sensitive areas, provide alternative sources of water and shade, and revegetate rangeland and pastureland.

in households?

Pollution at the household level is often overlooked. NPS pollution contributed by a single household is incidental, however, at the neighborhood or community level, the effect can be serious. Education is a key to prevention and control here. Households can learn about the causes of NPS pollution and take the appropriate steps to limit runoff and make sure runoff stays clean.

What can households do to help?

Limit paved surfaces	Sidewalks, parking lots, roads and driveways dot urban and suburban landscapes. These impervious surfaces keep water from percolating down into the ground thereby causing runoff to accumulate and funnel into storm drains at high speeds. When quickly flowing runoff empties into receiving waters, it can severely erode streambanks. Paved surfaces also transfer heat to runoff which increases the temperature of the receiving waters. Households can opt for substitutes to pavement when landscaping by: using wooden decks, gravel or brick paths, and rock gardens which keep the natural ground cover intact and allow rainwater to slowly seep into the ground; using grasses and natural ground cover in place of asphalt driveways, walkways and patios; and, incorporating systems of natural grasses, trees, and mulch to limit continuous impervious surface area.
Landscape with nature	Altering the natural contours of yards during landscaping and planting with non-native plants that require fertilizer and extra water can increase runoff volumes, increase erosion, and introduce chemicals into the path of runoff. Using native plants that are well-suited to a region's climate and pests, reduces irrigation and pesticide needs and results in smaller volumes of cleaner runoff.
Properly manage septic systems	Malfunctioning or overflowing septic systems release bacteria and nutrients into the water cycle, contaminating nearby lakes, streams, estuaries, and ground water. Locate septic systems away from trees and the chance of roots cracking pipes or obstructing water flow. Maintaining water fixtures and purchasing water-efficient showerheads, faucets, and toilets to limit wastewater levels and reduce the likelihood of septic system overflow.
Use, store, and dispose of chemicals properly	Household hazardous waste products (i.e. household cleaners, grease, oil) can corrode septic system pipes, interfere with the chemical and biological breakdown of wastes, and may not be completely removed from wastewater during the filtration process. Homeowners should try natural alternatives to chemical fertilizers and pesticides and apply no more than the recommended amounts. There are also safe substitutes for household cleaners. If chemicals are needed around the home, store them properly to prevent leaks and access by children. Beginning in 2002, residents of Clark County, Indiana, will have access to permanent collection facilities for Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) and Motor Oil, Oil Filter, and Antifreeze (MOOFA) products. These facilities will be located at the Clark County Solid Waste Management District office at 9208 Highway 62, Charlestown, IN. Construction is slated to begin in August and should be completed shortly thereafter.

in the community?

Community involvement plays an important role in NPS pollution prevention. Community-based organizations and environmental agencies often have information about how citizens can get involved in NPS control activities:

What can you do to help?

Volunteer Monitoring	By gathering water quality data, volunteer groups can help government agencies understand the magnitude of NPS pollution. Consider joining the Earth Team - the volunteer arm of the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). Anyone 14 years of age or older who is interested in conserving our precious natural resources can join the Earth Team. Schedules and hours are flexible, and you can volunteer as an individual or as a group! Contact the your local NRCS office to sign up.
Ecological Restoration	Restoration efforts focus on degraded waters or habitats that have significant economic or ecological value. Tree planting and bank stabilization are just two of a wide variety of projects that the public can help out with in both rural and urban areas.
Educational Activities	The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and federal and state agencies have a wide variety of materials available for teachers to integrate into their classroom activities. It's highly possible that a primary grade student could begin a NPS control project that would carry through their higher education. The Clark County SWCD also has environmental educational materials available for teachers. Contact our Education Coordinator, Tami Kruer, for more information at (812) 256-2330, ext. 107.
Water Conservation	Water conservation is not a new idea in the United States, however, it seems to be more prevalent when our nation is going through bad times than when the economy is good. It is a good idea to use technologies that limit water consumption in the bathroom, kitchen, lawn, driveway and elsewhere to reduce the demand on existing water supplies and limit the amount of water runoff. Government agencies, utilities, and hardware stores have information about different products that help households conserve water.
Public Meetings and Hearings	Decisions are often made at public hearings regarding stormwater permitting and town planning. These decisions can effect a community's capability to manage NPS pollution. Notices of hearings often appear in the classified section of the newspaper or in government office buildings.
The Internet	A wealth of environmental data and informational materials can be found via the internet. A good place to start is the EPA's web site, www.epa.gov. Citizens can find up-to-date information on agency activities and view air and water quality data specific to their community.

A few last words...

Remember, anything that goes on the land or into the air will eventually end up in the water, and without water, the Earth would be desolate. Without water, plants and animals could not survive. Water, in essence, gives us life.