Non-Point Source Pollution is considered anything that can accumulate on the land and be picked up by rainfall or snowmelt and run off into nearby waterways (surface and groundwater). The origin of the source of non-point pollution is hard to pinpoint compared to point source pollution, which is easy to find such as an effluent pipe discharging pollution directly into a stream.

Examples of Non-Point Source Pollution:

• Fertilizers
• Chemicals (pesticides, herbicides, etc..)
• Sediment (eroded soil from the land)
• Animal waste (livestock, pets, wildlife)
• Human waste (failing septic sytems)
• Oil
• Road salts/chemicals

Here’s a picture to give you another example!