United States Office of Water (45Q3F) 1994
Environmental Protection Washington, DC 2O46O
Agency EPA841-F-94-005
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H Q: Why are our lakes, rivers, and estuaries muddy and
filled with debris after a heavy rain? Why can't we fish and
swim in many of our waters despite the millions of dollars al-
ready spent on pollution control?
H A: Largely because of a type of pollution called "nonpoint
source pollution." Since the early 1970s, federal and state
governments have focused on controlling discharges from
sewage treatment and industrial plants. Now that we've made
progress in controlling these sources, state and local govern-
ments are concentrating on the serious water quality prob-
lems associated with nonpoint source pollution.
a Q: What is nonpoint source pollution?
a A: Nonpoint source pollution, unlike pollution from indus-
trial and sewage treatment plants, it comes from many diffuse
sources. Nonpoint source 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 even our underground sources of drink-
ing water. These pollutants include
• excess fertilizers, herbicides, and insecticides from
agricultural lands and residential areas;
• oil, grease, and toxic chemicals from urban runoff and
energy production;
• sediment from improperly managed construction sites,
crop and forest lands, and eroding streambanks;
« salt from irrigation practices and acid drainage from
abandoned mines;
• bacteria and nutrients from livestock, pet wastes, and
faulty septic systems;
Atmospheric deposition and hydromodification are also
sources of nonpoint source pollution.
B Q: What are the effects of these pollutants on our waters?
S A: States report that nonpoint source pollution is the lead-
ing remaining cause of water quality problems. The effects of
nonpoint source pollutants on specific waters vary and may
not always be fully asssessed. However, we know that these
pollutants have harmful effects on drinking water supplies, -
recreation, fisheries, and wildlife.
• Q: What causes nonpoint source pollution?
H A: We all play a part. Nonpoint source pollution results
from a wide variety of human activities on the land. Each of us
can contribute to the problem without even realizing it.
m Q: What can we do about nonpoint source pollution?
H A: We can all work together to reduce and prevent non-
point source pollution. Some activities are federal responsibil-
ities, such as ensuring that federal lands are properly man-
aged to reduce soil erosion. Some are state responsibilities,
for example, developing legislation to govern mining and log-
ging, and to protect groundwater. Others are best handled lo-
cally, such as by zoning or erosion control ordinances. And
each individual can play an important role by practicing con-
servation and by changing certain everyday habits.
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Urban Stormwater Runoff*
a Keep litter, pet wastes, leaves, and debris out of street
gutters and storm drains—these outlets drain directly to
lakes, streams, rivers, and wetlands.
• Apply lawn and garden chemicals sparingly and
according to directions.
• Dispose of used oil, antifreeze, paints, and other
household chemicals properly, not in storm sewers or
drains. If your community does not already have a
program for collecting household hazardous wastes, ask
your local government to establish one.
e Clean up spilled brake fluid, oil, grease, and antifreeze.
Do not hose them into the street where they can
eventually reach local streams and lakes.
• Control soil erosion on your property by planting ground
cover and .stabilizing erosion-prone areas.
• Encourage local government officials to develop
- construction erosion/sediment control ordinances in your
community.
a Become involved in local mining issues by voicing your
concerns about acid mine drainage and reclamation
projects in your area.
Forestry*
8 Use proper logging and erosion control practices on your
forest lands by ensuring proper construction,
maintenance, and closure of logging roads and skid
, trails.
• Report questionable logging practices to state and
federal forestry and state water quality agencies.
Agriculture*
° Manage animal waste to minimize contamination of
surface and groundwaters.
° Protect drinking water by using less pesticides and
fertilizers.
8 Reduce soil erosion by using conservation practices and
other applicable best management practices.
• Use planned grazing systems on pasture and rarigeland.
° Dispose of pesticides, containers, and tank rinsate in an
approved manner.
* EPA has developed regulations requiring the control of Stormwater discharges,
including some types of runoff from urban areas, construction sites, mining areas,
and animal feedlots. Call EPA or your state water quality agency for more
information.
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Contact the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Nonpoint
Source Coordinator in your Region.
REGION 1—Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts,
New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont
John F. Kennedy Federal Building, Boston, MA 02203
Phone: 617/565-3513
REGION II—New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico,
Virgin Islands
26 Federal Plaza, Room 813, New York, NY 10278
Phone: 212/264-8632
REGION 111—Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia
West Virginia
841 Chestnut Building, Philadelphia, PA 19107
Phone: 215/597-3429
REGION IV—Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky,
Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee
345 Courtland Street, N.E., Atlanta, GA 30365
Phone: 404/347-2126
REGION V—Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio,
Wisconsin
77 West Jackson Boulevard, Chicago, IL 60604
Phone: .312/886-0209
REGION VI—Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico,
Oklahoma, Texas
1445 Ross Ave., Dallas, TX 75202
Phone: 214/655-6683
REGION VII—Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska
726 Minnesota Avenue, Kansas City, KS 66101
Phone: 913/551-7475
REGION VIII—Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South
Dakota, Utah, Wyoming
One Denver Place, 99918th St., Denver, CO 80202-2405
Phone: 303/293-1703
REGION IX—Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada
215 Fremont Street, San Francisco, CA 94105
Phone: 415/744-2011
REGION X—Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Washington
1200 6th Avenue, Seattle, WA 98101
Phone: 206/553-4181
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Forestry - Improper logging practices
voirs with sediment and smother spawning areas for
fish.
Agriculture - Excess fertilizers and sediments can
drain into lakes, bays, and rivers, causing abnormal
growths of algae and underwater weeds. By accumu-
lating through the food chain, pesticides can have long-
term effects on wildlife and human health.
3 Urban Stormwater Runoff - Road salt, soil, lawn
and garden chemicals, and pet wastes travel via street
and storm drains to nearby rivers, lakes, and estuaries,
preventing recreational uses and destroying commer-
cial fishery resources.
m 4 Household and Automotive Care - Oil, grease,
gasoline, paints, and other household chemicals care-
lessly dumped on streets and in storm sewers end up in
our surface waters, harming aquatic life and degrading
water supplies.
H 5 Food Chain - Pollutants reaching our waters accu-
mulate through the food chain, harming aquatic life. In
severe cases, consumption of fish may be banned to
protect public health.
• 6 Construction - Tons of soil, chemicals, and trash
wash from construction sites each year, eventually de-
stroying aquatic habitats and recreational areas by
blanketing lakes, rivers, and bays with layers of unpro-
ductive mud. Small construction sites are not covered
under national pollution discharge elimination system
(NPDES) regulations and fall into the nonpoint source
category.
?;.t
—> Arrows indicate movement of runoff. <—
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