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Sources and Issues

 We categorize pollution in two categories: point source and non-point source. Point source pollution comes from a specific source, like the effluent from an industrial plant, and is regulated by the Government. Non-point source pollution, such as agricultural fertilizers and pet waste, has a wide range of sources and is the biggest source of pollution for our area. Our actions can have positive and negative effects on pollution.

Stormwater runoff is rainfall that flows off driveways, parking lots, yards, and other hard, impervious surfaces, and heads to our waterways. Runoff picks up many different pollutants along the way. Pollutants that reach our waterways include sediment, pet waste, fertilizers, pesticides, yard waste, litter, and automobile fluids.

Today’s number one water quality problem in N.C. is sediment runoff, and the number one water quality problem in New Hanover County is fecal coliform bacteria (found in pet waste).