What is the difference between a pollutant and pollution?
A pollutant, as defined by the Clean Water Act, is a contaminant discharged to water. Pollutants include sediment, metals, chemicals, pathogens and other wastes. Beneficial uses are also impaired by flow alteration, habitat degradation, bank erosion, channel incisement, dewatering and water level fluctuations. These impairments are defined as pollution by EPA. While EPA only reviews pollutant TMDLs, many local watershed groups have developed water quality restoration plans that address other issues. Section 319 funds can be used to address pollution impairments. Often a pollution impairment is related to a pollutant. For example, bank erosion is a source of sedimentation.
