Non-Point Source Pollution of Surface Waters

Non-point source pollutants are difficult to track to a specific location because they come from many sources, stemming from various activities such as agriculture, household lawn care, poorly managed construction sites, or road traffic. Non-point source pollution is equivalent to stormwater runoff pollution. It occurs when precipitation falls and moves over and through the ground, picking up and carrying away natural and manufactured pollutants. These pollutants are then deposited into lakes, rivers, wetlands, coastal waters, and even our underground sources of drinking water. Today, non-point source pollutants have surpassed point sources of pollution as the greatest threat to our nation’s water quality.

Some common types of non-point source or stormwater runoff pollutants include:

• Excess fertilizers, herbicides, and insecticides from residential areas, farms, golf courses, and other manicured lawn areas such as office parks and ballfields.
  
  
• Oil, grease, de-icing materials (road salt), toxic chemicals from roads, parking lots, truck washing facilities, and industrial sites.
  
  
• Sediment from improperly managed construction sites and eroding stream banks.
  
  
• Bacteria and nutrients from geese, livestock, pet wastes, leaking or misconnected sanitary sewer lines, and faulty septic systems.

Non-point source/stormwater runoff pollution is the greatest challenge to the environmental health of the waterways of Gloucester County.

Impervious Surface Coverage

Animal Waste

Pesticides and Fertilizers

Sediment

NJDEP description of stormwater management

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