Other water pollution. [Nonpoint sources, primarily agricultural sediment and urban runoff]

Journal Article · Thu Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1978 · Environment; (United States)

OSTI ID:7061133

Barton, K

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), Journal Name: Environment; (United States) Vol. 20:5; ISSN ENVTA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
290300* -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Environment
Health
& Safety
520100 -- Environment
Aquatic-- Basic Studies-- (-1989)
520600 -- Environment
Aquatic-- Regulations -- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
AGRICULTURAL WASTES
CONSTRUCTION
ECONOMIC IMPACT
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
EVALUATION
GOVERNMENT POLICIES
LEGAL ASPECTS
MANAGEMENT
MASS TRANSFER
MOBILE POLLUTANT SOURCES
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
POLLUTION
POLLUTION ABATEMENT
POLLUTION CONTROL
REGIONAL COOPERATION
REGULATIONS
RUNOFF
SEDIMENTS
SOLID WASTES
STATE GOVERNMENT
URBAN AREAS
US EPA
US ORGANIZATIONS
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTES
WATER POLLUTION
WATER POLLUTION ABATEMENT
WATER POLLUTION CONTROL
WATER QUALITY
WATER RESOURCES
WATER TREATMENT PLANTS