What are nonpoint sources of water pollution?
Nonpoint sources of water pollution, also called polluted runoff, result from rainfall that runs off the land and into waterbodies. This runoff can carry with it sediments, nutrients, bacteria, chemicals or metals. Nonpoint sources are not conveyed by a pipe and, therefore, are not strictly regulated by CWA discharge permits. Rather, they are diffuse, difficult to control sources of water pollution that run off farmland, pastures, construction sites, parking lots or timberland. Nonpoint source pollution can be diminished by land management practices such as wetlands preservation and construction; careful application of fertilizer and manure to crops; street sweeping; and soil erosion controls. • Does EPA regulate nonpoint sources? The Clean Water Act does not authorize EPA to directly regulate nonpoint sources of pollution in rural or urban areas through the use of discharge permits. The regulation of nonpoint source pollution is left to state and local governments under state law. The
