What is the source of water pollution?
Water pollution originates from various sources. Typically, it is categorized into one of two sources known as either “point source” or “non-point source” pollution. Point source pollution traditionally includes treated discharges from a wastewater treatment plant or an industrial facility directly to a body of water. These discharges contain measurable quantities of water and pollutants. Non-point source pollution occurs by the transport of pollutants in stormwater runoff overland to a body of water, such as a stream, river or canal. Sources of this type of pollution include oil and grease from roadways, lawn and garden pesticides and other litter and debris. Even soil and sediment erosion from exposed soils such as on a construction site is considered a pollutant. The amount of these types of pollutants is dependant on the amount of rainfall and the land uses in a particular watershed. The more intensely a watershed is developed, the more stormwater runoff and pollutants enter the Co
