Nonpoint Source Pollution
Nonpoint source pollution is non-regulated pollution that occurs when runoff from rainfall or snowmelt travels over land, bringing with it various contaminants like nitrogen, metals, sediment, and bacteria. The contaminated runoff is then deposited into streams, lakes, and rivers. 
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Nonpoint Sources vs Point Sources
The term "nonpoint source" is defined to mean any source of water pollution that does not meet the legal definition of "point source" in section 502(14) of the Clean Water Act:
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The term "point source" means any discernible, confined and discrete conveyance, including but not limited to any pipe, ditch, channel, tunnel, conduit, well, discrete fissure, container, rolling stock, concentrated animal feeding operation, or vessel or other floating craft, from which pollutants are or may be discharged. This term does not include agricultural storm water discharges and return flows from irrigated agriculture.

NCF Current Issue Summary​
The landmark Clean Water Act (CWA) of 1972 in the United States established a foundational framework for regulating the discharge of both point and non-point source pollutants into the nation's waters, as well as setting surface water quality standards. This widespread nature complicates the task of pinpointing the exact source of the pollutants. The CWA primarily addressed point source pollution through regulations and permits, while NPS pollution remained in the realm of voluntary or local action in urban and rural areas. In the mid-1990s, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency began to address some non-point source pollution through a series of new stormwater permits, however mitigating NPS pollution and improving water quality requires coordinated efforts from individual and community-based efforts.
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Many individuals do not realize how their actions contribute to non-point source pollution, either directly through their consumption and disposal habits or indirectly through the products and services they purchase (e.g., the life of a plastic water bottle). It is essential for individuals to acknowledge their role in this issue and understand how they can help provide solutions. Tackling non-point source pollution starts at the individual level - change begins at home.
Students will learn about NPS pollution and identify its origins in both urban and rural settings. They will learn how to conduct their own NPS survey in their community and watershed. Additionally, they will learn about NPS mitigation strategies, which encompass actions at both the individual level - such as conservation, recycling, and responsible consumption - and the community level, including watershed planning, best management practices, nature-based solutions, water quality testing, and litter prevention initiatives.
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Sources for Additional Information:
1. WQD | Watershed Improvement & Protection | ADEQ
2. Basic Information about Nonpoint Source (NPS) Pollution | US EPA
3. 2026 Mississippi – NCF-Envirothon