Nonpoint Pollution

Council of Great Lakes Governor’s Priority:
“Control pollution from diffuse sources into water, land and air.”

When water from rainfall or melting snow flows across the landscape, it washes soil particles, bacteria, pesticides, fertilizer, pet waste, oil and other toxic materials into our lakes, streams, and groundwater. This is called "nonpoint source pollution" or "polluted runoff." Nonpoint pollution comes from a diverse number of activities in our daily lives including fertilizing lawns and farm fields, driving and maintaining our cars, constructing buildings and roads, plowing our fields for crops, and maintaining our roads in the winter. Urban and rural nonpoint pollution is the leading cause of water quality problems in Wisconsin, degrading or threatening an estimated 40 percent of the streams, 90 percent of the inland lakes, many of the Great Lakes harbors and coastal waters, many wetland areas and substantial groundwater resources in Wisconsin. Polluted runoff contributes to habitat destruction, fish kills, reduction in drinking water quality, harbor and stream siltation, and a decline in recreational use of lakes.

The sources of nonpoint pollution are reasonably well understood. The challenge is the how to solve a problem that comes from so many different often small sources with so many different types of activities that cause the pollution.

For more information on Nonpoint Pollution visit these links:

Last Revised: Tuesday August 29 2006

Nonpoint Pollution

Council of Great Lakes Governor’s Priority: “Control pollution from diffuse sources into water, land and air.”

Council of Great Lakes Governor’s Priority:
“Control pollution from diffuse sources into water, land and air.”