What is the difference between point and nonpoint source pollution?
• A point source of pollution refers to a source that is easily identified and is stationary, such as a factory smokestack, pipe, or polluted well, that is referred to as a point source of pollution. • Non-point source pollution is pollution from a diffuse source over a relatively large area. As water from rainfall or snowmelt moves through the soil, it carries pollutants from various land uses and deposits them into streams, lakes, and wetlands. Learn more about pollution in watersheds on the Watersheds page.
