Nonpoint Source and Source Pollution Defined

Pollution in the form of sediments accounts for the number one water pollutant in NC.

Nonpoint Source Pollution

This is another term for polluted runoff and other sources of water pollution that are hard to pinpoint. The term “nonpoint source pollution” comes from the federal Clean Water Act of 1987. There, it is used as a catch-all for all kinds of water pollution that are not well-defined discharges (point sources) from wastewater plants or industries.

Many state agencies have nonpoint source (NPS) management programs that address polluted runoff. North Carolina’s NPS program is part of DENR’s Division of Water Quality. It serves as the central coordinating agency for the many NPS-related programs operated by various agencies.

Point Source Pollution

This is a term for water pollution that involves well-defined discharges (point sources), such as wastewater plants or industrial discharge points.

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The Problem

Developed areas in general, with their increased runoff, concentrated numbers of people and animals, construction and other activities, are a major contributor to NPS pollution, as are agricultural activities. Other contributors include forest harvesting activities, roadways, and malfunctioning septic systems.