What term describes pollution from diffuse, widespread sources carried by runoff?

What term describes pollution from diffuse, widespread sources carried by runoff?

• A. Non-point source pollution
• B. Point source pollution
• C. Urban NPS example
• D. Rural NPS example

Answer: (A)

Pollution from diffuse, widespread sources carried by runoff is non-point source pollution. This type arises when rain or snowmelt washes pollutants from many places—fertilizer on lawns, eroded soil from construction sites, oils and metals from roads—into streams and lakes. It can’t be traced to a single discharge point, unlike point source pollution, which comes from one identifiable outlet like a pipe or smokestack. The other options describe either a specific single outlet (point source) or illustrate that non-point pollution can come from urban or rural areas, but the general term for pollution from many diffuse sources carried by runoff is non-point source pollution.

Pollution from diffuse, widespread sources carried by runoff is non-point source pollution. This type arises when rain or snowmelt washes pollutants from many places—fertilizer on lawns, eroded soil from construction sites, oils and metals from roads—into streams and lakes. It can’t be traced to a single discharge point, unlike point source pollution, which comes from one identifiable outlet like a pipe or smokestack. The other options describe either a specific single outlet (point source) or illustrate that non-point pollution can come from urban or rural areas, but the general term for pollution from many diffuse sources carried by runoff is non-point source pollution.