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Reduce Pollutant Sources from all Surfaces
Minimizing Impacts at the Local or Site Level
Non Point Source (NPS) pollution comes from a variety of different sources into water bodies. It is caused by runoff or snow melt that moves over land that has oil, grease and toxic chemical deposits from vehicles, fertilizers applied to lawns and agricultural fields, salt applied to icy roads, sediment from improperly managed construction sites and several other such man deposited and caused pollutants. These pollutants are deposited into lakes, rivers, wetlands, coastal waters and also affects the groundwater supply which eventually affects the quality of drinking water available for consumption. Non point source pollution remains the leading cause of water quality problems in the United States. (EPA, 1997).
Non point source pollution results from a wide variety of activities. Some of which are :
- Excess fertilizers, herbicides and insecticides applied to residential lawns and agricultural fields get carried away by runoff during rain events and pollute receiving water bodies
- Salt applied to roads during winter due to ice on them eventually reaches adjoining water bodies which result in negative consequences for them
- Oil, grease and other toxic chemicals released from transportation modes onto parking spaces and roads and energy production are a major source of NPS pollution
- Sediments from improperly managed construction sites and eroding agricultural land also add to the amount and type of pollutants flowing into water bodies
- Bacteria, e coli and nutrients from live stocks, leaking and faulty septic systems result in negative consequences for the receiving water bodies
The amounts of several non point source pollutants can be reduced, or prevented from getting into storm water, through good management practices. Proper disposal of pet waste and reducing the use of fertilizers and pesticides in lawns, gardens, and golf courses can significantly reduce the nutrients and phosphates in urban runoff. In areas where salt is used to reduce ice on roads, alternative practices such as anti icing, sand, or using chemicals instead of salt, will reduce pollution. http://www.epa.gov/owow/nps/ex-bmps.html gives examples of best management practices that can be used to reduce non point source pollutants from a variety of sources.
Successfull examples of controlling or reducing NPS pollution in various parts of the United States can be found at http://www.epa.gov/owow/nps/Success319/ . Information on how some states, particularly British Columbia have addressed the issue of non point source pollutants in their regions can be found at http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/wat/wq/bmp_c/npsaction.html
Related sites that discuss non point source pollution and watershed protection issues:
- The Center for Watershed Protection http://www.cwp.org/
- The Environmental Law Institute http://www.epa.gov/owow/nps/elistudy/
