Other water pollution. [Nonpoint sources, primarily agricultural sediment and urban runoff]
Only half the water pollutants are estimated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to originate at point sources, while the other half result from diverse nonpoint sources that are hard to identify and hard to control. Nonpoint sources are primarily one of eight types of runoff, with the major volume attributed to agricultural sediment and urban runoff. Urban stormwater runoff is particularly concentrated in pollutants and offsets improvements in water-treatment installations that encourage further urbanization. Other serious contributors to pollution are acid mine runoff, channelization or interference with stream flow. The effects of nonpoint source pollutants are analyzed and methods of control are reviewed. The ''best management practices'' (BMPs) include conservation techniques such as no-till farming, efficient use of fertilizers and pesticides, and appropriate road-construction techniques. States were directed by the Clean Water Act to establish local strategies for meeting water quality goals by 1983, although local, state, and Federal planning has proved difficult to coordinate. A new approach for planning improved water quality focuses on coordinating the control of nonpoint pollution. 13 references.
- OSTI ID:
- 7061133
- Journal Information:
- Environment; (United States), Vol. 20:5
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Toxicity assessment of urban stormwater runoff
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Related Subjects
POLICY AND ECONOMY
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
MOBILE POLLUTANT SOURCES
WATER POLLUTION
EVALUATION
LEGAL ASPECTS
WATER POLLUTION ABATEMENT
ECONOMIC IMPACT
WATER POLLUTION CONTROL
AGRICULTURAL WASTES
CONSTRUCTION
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY
MANAGEMENT
REGIONAL COOPERATION
REGULATIONS
RUNOFF
SEDIMENTS
STATE GOVERNMENT
URBAN AREAS
US EPA
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WATER QUALITY
WATER RESOURCES
WATER TREATMENT PLANTS
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
GOVERNMENT POLICIES
MASS TRANSFER
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
POLLUTION
POLLUTION ABATEMENT
POLLUTION CONTROL
SOLID WASTES
US ORGANIZATIONS
WASTES
290300* - Energy Planning & Policy- Environment
Health
& Safety
520100 - Environment
Aquatic- Basic Studies- (-1989)
520600 - Environment
Aquatic- Regulations - (-1989)