Nonpoint Source Pollutant

Definition

Nonpoint source pollutants are contaminants that enter the environment from diffuse sources, such as runoff from agricultural fields or urban areas. They cannot be traced back to a single point of origin.

Related terms

Eutrophication:

Excessive nutrients, often from nonpoint source pollutants like fertilizers, causing an overgrowth of algae in bodies of water.

Sedimentation:

The process by which soil particles carried by runoff settle at the bottom of water bodies, reducing water clarity and harming aquatic life.

Urban Runoff: Rainwater or melted snow that flows over impervious surfaces (like roads) and picks up pollutants before entering water bodies.