Every Day Activities Can Generate Non-Point-Source Pollution

How Can Nonpoint Source Pollution (NPS) Be Locally Controlled?

NPS pollution arises from everyday human activities. Here are a few homeowner good housekeeping practices that can make a big difference:

Excess Lawn Fertilizer

Excess lawn fertilizer can be washed off lawns and end up in lakes and streams. The runoff of fertilizers from lawns into lakes, ponds and streams can encourage nuisance aquatic plants and causes algae to grow, which uses up oxygen that fish need to survive.

What You Can Do

Test the soil to be sure that fertilizer is needed.  If fertilizer is required, select an appropriate product. Follow directions, and apply only the needed amounts.  Time the application properly - make sure that the weather forecast does not call for rain within 24 hours of applications.

Leaking Oil from Vehicles

Leaking oil from vehicles is deposited onto driveways and streets. From there, it gets washed into storm drains and directly into our lakes, rivers and streams.

What You Can Do

Maintain vehicles by replacing leaky gaskets. Dispose of used oil properly, and clean up any spills.

Rain & Snow Melt

Rain and Snow melt can wash Pet Waste and associated pathogens into storm drains, leading to pollution of our water bodies.  Pathogens that can cause health problems include bacteria, viruses and pathogenic protozoa such as Giardia and Cryptosporidium.

What You Can Do

Pick up pet waste and dispose of it properly in the trash. Do not dispose of pet waste in storm drains or catch basins.

Preventing NPS Pollution

The three examples demonstrate how homeowners can make a big difference in water quality. A little attention to daily activities can help significantly to reduce the volume and quantity of NPS pollution.