Nonpoint source pollution and effects on water?

Published on by in Social

Can anyone tell me about what is nonpoint source pollution and what are the effects of them on water?

Taxonomy

2 Answers

  1. Judith, thanks for the answer. I got more idea from the topic Eutrophication posted here on the water network. 

  2. Pollution effects on water

    Nonpoint source pollution (NPS) is sometimes called polluted runoff. It may be hard to recognize and is often hard to control. It is pollution or runoff that comes from diffuse sources, rather than from a “point source” like the end of a discharge pipe. Unlike pollution from industrial and sewage treatment plants, nonpoint source (NPS) pollution comes from many diffuse sources. NPS pollution is caused by rainfall or snowmelt moving over and through the ground. As the runoff moves, it picks up and carries away natural and human-made pollutants, finally depositing them into lakes, rivers, wetlands, coastal waters and ground waters. This is becoming a larger problem day by day as the consumption of chemicals are increasing at high rate.  Nonpoint source pollution can include: 1. Excess fertilizers, herbicides and insecticides from agricultural lands and residential areas 2. Oil, grease and toxic chemicals from urban runoff and energy production 3.Salt from irrigation practices  4. Sediment: Sand, dirt, and gravel eroded by runoff usually ends up in stream beds, ponds, or lakes where they can alter stream flow and decrease the availability of healthy aquatic habitat. Poorly protected construction sites, agricultural fields, roadways, and suburban gardens can be major sources of sediment etc. The effects of nonpoint source pollutants on specific waters vary depending upon the type and quantity of pollutant. But certainly it effects the water quality badly.Â