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Preferred term

nonpoint source pollution  

Definition

  • Nonpoint source pollution is the introduction of impurities into a surface-water body or groundwater from dispersed origins (e.g., fertilizer runoff from lawns) compared with point source pollution, which originates from a definitive location (e.g., wastewater treatment facility). Most nonpoint source inputs fall into six major categories: sediments, nutrients, road salts, heavy metals, toxic chemicals, and pathogens. [Source: Green Cities: An A-to-Z Guide; Nonpoint Source Pollution]

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https://concepts.sagepub.com/social-science/concept/nonpoint_source_pollution

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