Pollution & You

There are two kinds of water pollution: point source pollution and nonpoint source pollution. Point source pollution is water pollution that comes from discharge pipes at factories, sewer plants and large construction sites. Point source pollution is regulated by state and federal laws and agencies.
Nonpoint source pollution (NPS) is water pollution that doesn't come from a single point, like a discharge pipe at a factory.

It comes from many sources like roads, highways, parking lots, playgrounds, sidewalks, farm fields, leaking septic systems, rooftops, gardens, back yards, front yards, your yard and our yard. NPS is triggered when rainwater washes road salts, cinders, vehicle fluids, fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides, manure, litter and soil off the land and into storm sewers and waterways. Storm sewers are not sewers at all, but storm water systems that carry rain and storm water off of roads, sidewalks and parking lots directly into streams and rivers.

When rainwater flows over land, it picks up and moves these pollutants into our streams, rivers, lakes, wetlands and even into our reservoirs and groundwater drinking supplies. NPS is the biggest source of pollution in Lehigh Valley streams and rivers. Because there are so many sources of NPS, it's difficult to regulate. But there are things we can do to conserve water and reduce water pollution. Click on Do Your Part to find out more!