How does pollution affect a watershed?

How does pollution affect a watershed?

If untreated, these pollutants wash directly into waterways carried by runoff from rain and snowmelt. These contaminants can infiltrate groundwater and concentrate in streams and rivers, ultimately being carried down the watershed and into the ocean.

What are point sources and nonpoint sources of pollution?

Point and Nonpoint Pollution Sources Pollution originating from a single, identifiable source, such as a discharge pipe from a factory or sewage plant, is called point-source pollution. Pollution that does not originate from a single source, or point, is called nonpoint-source pollution.

What is the difference between point and nonpoint sources of water pollution give an example of each?

Point sources are for example, water discharging from an industrial plant of some kind or a waste water treatment plant. Non-point sources include run-off from agricultural lands that may wash fertilizer or other chemicals into lakes or rivers – this may occur over thousands of square kilometres.

What are the factors that affect watersheds?

Climate, geology, topography, hydrology, soils, land use and other factors influence watersheds and the streams that flow through them.

How do humans impact the watershed?

Building dams and rerouting rivers are two examples of ways humans directly impact water in watersheds. Humans also use water as a resource, drawing from watersheds for our drinking water. This does not have to be a negative impact, as water usage can be monitored so that it is sustainable.

What are 4 possible sources of point source pollution?

Types of point sources Examples of point sources include sewage treatment plants; oil refineries; paper and pulp mills; chemical, automobile, and electronics manufacturers; and factories.

What are 4 main ideas that affect runoff in watershed?

Watershed factors affecting runoff are land slope, shape, soil, and land use. The principal effect of land slope is on the rate of runoff. Runoff will flow faster on a steeper slope.

What are four factors that affect runoff?

Meteorological factors affecting runoff:

• Type of precipitation (rain, snow, sleet, etc.)
• Rainfall intensity.
• Rainfall amount.
• Rainfall duration.
• Distribution of rainfall over the watersheds.
• Direction of storm movement.
• Antecedent precipitation and resulting soil moisture.

What are two ways that humans impact watersheds?

Building dams and rerouting rivers are two examples of ways humans directly impact water in watersheds. Humans also use water as a resource, drawing from watersheds for our drinking water.

Where does nonpoint source ( NPS ) pollution originate?

NPS pollution, unlike pollution from industrial and sewage treatment plants, comes from many diffuse sources. NPS pollution is caused by rainfall or snowmelt moving over and through the ground.

What does nonpoint source mean in the Clean Water Act?

The term “nonpoint source” is defined to mean any source of water pollution that does not meet the legal definition of “point source” in section 502 (14) of the Clean Water Act:

Which is an example of a nonpoint source?

Nonpoint source pollution generally results from land runoff, precipitation, atmospheric deposition, drainage, seepage or hydrologic modification. Nonpoint source (NPS) pollution, unlike pollution from industrial and sewage treatment plants, comes from many diffuse sources.

How can the public help control nonpoint source pollution?

Pointer No. 2: Opportunities for Public Involvement in Nonpoint Source Control (PDF) (2 pp, 96 K) This fact sheet provides information on the ways the public can help control nonpoint source pollution (EPA 841-F-96-004B).