Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Here’s how you know

Dot gov

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

HTTPS

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock (LockA locked padlock) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

    • Environmental Topics
    • Air
    • Bed Bugs
    • Cancer
    • Chemicals, Toxics, and Pesticide
    • Emergency Response
    • Environmental Information by Location
    • Health
    • Land, Waste, and Cleanup
    • Lead
    • Mold
    • Radon
    • Research
    • Science Topics
    • Water Topics
    • A-Z Topic Index
    • Laws & Regulations
    • By Business Sector
    • By Topic
    • Compliance
    • Enforcement
    • Laws and Executive Orders
    • Regulations
    • Report a Violation
    • Environmental Violations
    • Fraud, Waste or Abuse
    • About EPA
    • Our Mission and What We Do
    • Headquarters Offices
    • Regional Offices
    • Labs and Research Centers
    • Planning, Budget, and Results
    • Organization Chart
    • EPA History

Polluted Runoff: Nonpoint Source (NPS) Pollution

  • Explore NPS Projects in a Watershed Near You!

    Winter 2024 updates to the public mapper include areas to view Tribal competitive grant project information and State Success Stories!

    The Data Explorer is a useful tool for interested community members, local watershed partners, and other non-governmental stakeholders to understand the work being done in their watersheds to restore and protect water quality. The Data Explorer website can be found here  or navigate to your watershed using the widget below!

  • New NPS Resources

      Tribal Water and Natural Resources Conservation Guide (pdf) (22.71 MB, December 2024, 851-B-24-001)  This guide aims to provide resources to Tribal environmental programs about federal assistance opportunities that can support Tribally led efforts to protect and restore waters, protect air quality, protect wildlife and habitat, prepare for climate change and natural hazards, steward lands, and support and engage Tribal communities. Learn more on the Tribal Water and Natural Resources Conservation Guide webpage.

    A Compendium of Tools and Methods to Estimate Environmental Benefits for Nature-Based Solutions (pdf) (1.61 MB, November 2024, 832-R-24-005) This compendium identifies methods and tools readers can use to estimate environmental benefits in urban and agricultural settings for planning activities. Learn more on the Resources for Watershed Planning page.

  • Frequently Used & Technical Resources

    • It's All Connected! Newly released info graphic highlighting impacts of dam removal.
    • Clean Water SRF Best Practices Guide for Financing Nonpoint Source Solutions (pdf)
    • Bioretention Design Handbook
    • Saving the Rain: Green Stormwater Solutions for Congregations
    • Green Infrastructure in Parks Guide 
    • Monitoring and Evaluating Nonpoint Source Projects 
    • The National Nonpoint Source Program Report (PDF) 

 New NPS National Program Guidelines are now available.

The national NPS Program has released revised Guidelines to take effect FY25. For more information, click here.

Explore

Navigate directly to the NPS Project Explorer or enter a location in the widget below to learn about nonpoint source projects in the U.S. 

Nonpoint Source pollution is...

caused by rainfall or snowmelt moving over and through the ground. As the runoff moves, it picks up and carries away natural and human-made pollutants, depositing them into lakes, rivers, wetlands, coastal waters, and ground waters.

Learn About NPS Pollution

Getting Started with the NPS Program!

Learn more about how states, Tribes, and territories are working to address NPS pollution.

Who to Talk to in Your Area

Learn about NPS

children and scientist in stream with dipnets
 
Getting Started
  • Basic Information
  • Resources for Students and Educators

Learn More

  • Types of NPS Pollution
  • Watershed Approach
  • Volunteer Water Quality Monitoring
  • Hazard Mitigation

Stay Up to Date

  • NPS Technical Exchange Webinars
  • NPSINFO Discussion Forum 

Action & Results

stream in forest
 
Take Action
  • About the Watershed Approach 
    • Planning resources
    • Technical resources
    • Funding resources
    • Capacity-building resources
  • Technical Guidance and Tools
  • Monitoring 
  • Nonpoint Source Outreach Toolbox

Results

  • Success Stories

CWA §319 Grants

santa fe river
 
Overview
  • National Nonpoint Source Program Highlights Report (pdf) (17.95 MB, 2016)
  • Program Highlights (Coming soon!)
  • Tribal Highlights
  • Contacts

For Grantees:

  • States 
  • Tribes
  • Territories
  • Grants Reporting and Tracking System (GRTS)
Contact Us to ask a question, provide feedback, or report a problem.
Last updated on May 8, 2025
  • Assistance
  • Spanish
  • Arabic
  • Chinese (simplified)
  • Chinese (traditional)
  • French
  • Haitian Creole
  • Korean
  • Portuguese
  • Russian
  • Tagalog
  • Vietnamese
United States Environmental Protection Agency

Discover.

  • Accessibility Statement
  • Budget & Performance
  • Contracting
  • EPA www Web Snapshot
  • Grants
  • No FEAR Act Data
  • Plain Writing
  • Privacy
  • Privacy and Security Notice

Connect.

  • Data
  • Inspector General
  • Jobs
  • Newsroom
  • Regulations.gov
  • Subscribe
  • USA.gov
  • White House

Ask.

  • Contact EPA
  • EPA Disclaimers
  • Hotlines
  • FOIA Requests
  • Frequent Questions
  • Site Feedback

Follow.