ABSTRACT
Point source pollution is contamination that originates from any discernable or discrete source such as a pipe, ditch, channel, well, container, concentrated animal feed operation, landfill, or industrial storage area. This is in contrast to dispersed or nonpoint sources such as contaminants in storm water runoff from agricultural or urban lands (see Groundwater Pollution: Dispersed). Many contaminants commonly occur as both point and non-point sources. For example, salt used for road de-icing and spread along roadways may be considered a non-point source, whereas contamination from a road salt storage facility would be considered a point source. Other contaminants that commonly occur as both point and non-point sources are fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides: from broad application in agricultural and residential areas or as point sources from manufacturing, formulation, and disposal sites.
