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Polluted Runoff: Nonpoint Source (NPS) Pollution
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Types of Nonpoint Source Pollution

Nonpoint source (NPS) areas of focus are driven by particular land uses. Under Section 319 of the Clean Water Act, states, territories and tribes must identify categories of sources of NPS pollution as part of an assessment report required for obtaining a grant. The links below provide information on these source categories, and on practices to reduce the impacts of NPS pollution in each of those categories. 

land cover image of the contiguous United States
Different types of land use will influence what types of  Nonpoint Source water quality concerns affect a given waterbody.  Image Courtesy of the Multi-Resolution Land Characteristics ConsortiumExit

  • Agriculture
  • Forestry
  • Hydromodification and Habitat Alteration
  • Marinas and Boating
  • Resource Extraction (Abandoned Mine Drainage) 
  • Roads Highways and Bridges
  • Urban Areas
  • Wetland/Riparian Areas 
  • Polluted Runoff: NPS Pollution Home
  • Basic Information
  • Types of NPS Pollution
    • Agriculture
    • Abandoned Mine Drainage
    • Forestry
    • Hydromodification and Habitat Alteration
    • Marinas and Boating
    • Highways and Bridges
    • Urban Areas
    • Wetland/Riparian Management
  • Success Stories
  • Using a Watershed Approach
  • Webinars
  • Technical Guidance and Tools
  • Nonpoint Source News-Notes
  • NPSINFO Discussion Forum
  • National NPS Monitoring Program
  • Coastal Zone Act Reauthorization Amendments (CZARA)
  • Grants Reporting and Tracking System (GRTS)
  • 319 Grant program for States and Territories
  • Tribal 319 Grant Program
  • Contacts for NPS Programs
  • Resources for Students and Educators
Contact Us to ask a question, provide feedback, or report a problem.
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Last updated on September 8, 2021