Theme for 2017: Nonpoint Sources of Pollution

Celebrate Water Week by learning more about nonpoint sources of pollution and how you can help protect, restore and conserve water for the future!

Today’s topic:  It’s the 30th Anniversary!

Did you know?

• This year marks 30 years of progress towards understanding and reducing nonpoint sources of pollution since the 1987 Clean Water Act Section 319 amendment was enacted. The importance of Section 319 is that it requires states to take an active role in the control of nonpoint source pollution and provides for federal funding to DEC for activities, such as technical assistance, training, demonstration projects and monitoring.   
• Nonpoint source pollution is the leading remaining cause of water quality problems impacting drinking water supplies, recreation, fisheries and wildlife. 

There are many possible sources
of pollution in a watershed

• Addressing nonpoint sources of pollution is complex. Given the broad nature of the issue, solutions include: increasing public awareness; industries using better management practices for activities such as agriculture, forestry, and construction; municipalities taking actions to reduce stormwater runoff; and governments enacting legislation/regulations to control sources of pollution.

Test your water knowledge

What is the leading nonpoint pollution source causing water quality impairments in New York? (Answer is below)

Learn more

On DEC’s website, you can find information about:

• Water Week, including the topics that will be covered the rest of the week
• Top Ten Water Quality Issues in New York State (PDF 814 KB)
• New York’s Nonpoint Source Management Program (PDF, 367 KB), which identifies goals and objectives and describes the state’s partnership approach for addressing nonpoint source pollution.
• Waterbody Inventory/Priority Waterbody List, which is a compilation of water quality information for all individual waterbodies (lakes, rivers, streams, estuaries and coastlines) in the state.

Answer: Urban stormwater runoff. Other leading sources include aging wastewater infrastructure (spills become nonpoint sources of pollution), nutrient eutrophication, and legacy pollutants in sediments.