Non-point Source Pollution

Definition

Non-point source pollution refers to the contamination of water, air, or soil that comes from multiple diffuse sources rather than one specific identifiable location.

Analogy

Think about confetti being thrown into the air during a celebration. The confetti represents non-point source pollutants because they come from various directions and cannot be easily pinpointed back to one person.

Related terms

Point Source Pollution: Point source pollution refers to contamination that can be traced back to a specific and identifiable source, such as an industrial facility or sewage treatment plant.

Urban Runoff: Urban runoff is a type of non-point source pollution caused by rainwater flowing over paved surfaces in cities and picking up pollutants like oil, trash, and chemicals before entering water bodies.

Atmospheric Deposition: Atmospheric deposition occurs when pollutants in the air (such as acid rain) settle onto land or bodies of water, contributing to non-point source pollution.