National Water Quality Goals Cannot Be Attained without More Attention to Pollution from Diffused or 'Nonpoint' Sources

Nonpoint sources of pollution involve pollutants such as sediment, acid mine drainage, and pesticides carried into streams by storm runoff. Discharges of nonpoint pollution can occur anywhere along a water body in contrast to sources where the point of discharge is from a conduit; as a result, nonpoint sources are more difficult to control.