Nonpoint source pollutants are contaminants that enter the environment from diffuse sources, such as runoff from agricultural fields or urban areas. They cannot be traced back to a single point of origin.
Eutrophication: Excessive nutrients, often from nonpoint source pollutants like fertilizers, causing an overgrowth of algae in bodies of water.
Sedimentation: The process by which soil particles carried by runoff settle at the bottom of water bodies, reducing water clarity and harming aquatic life.
Urban Runoff: Rainwater or melted snow that flows over impervious surfaces (like roads) and picks up pollutants before entering water bodies.