Pollution is becoming a huge problem for everyone. From pollution on our beaches to the pollution on our streets, it is absolutely everywhere and getting out of hand. Where is this pollution really coming from? Here are a couple of the terms you use to refer to the sources of pollution.
Point source pollution- Point source pollution is when pollution is entering the environment from an identifiable source such as a drain or ditch. It can be identified from other pollution sources.
Non-point source pollution- This is when the source of pollution is unidentifiable. This can be when the source is only there for a certain amount of time of pesticides or industrial waste. This is the main cause of water pollution in the U.S.A.
Groundwater pollution- When pollutants are found on the ground they have the ability to seep through contaminating underground water reservoirs. This will make the water unfit for drinking and can easily cause illness. This type of pollution can also accumulate in fertilizer that has accumulated in plants.
Urban stormwater runoff- This is due to highly populated cities and comes from places like the home and office. When water runs over pavement or concrete it doesn’t soak into the ground, but instead, it carries pollutants off of the ground to other parts of the land.
Agricultural pollutants- Mostly fertilizer, pesticides, and eroded soil, these pollutants reach water bodies through runoff after rain and flood. This runoff can cause eutrophication in water bodies and already has in half of the water bodies in the U.S.
Atmospheric Pollutants- This happens when small particles that are present in the air come in contact with water such as rain. The pollution is soaked up and turns into some pretty harmful pollutants in unison.