Environmental Contaminants Research
Nonpoint Sources

For more information on non-point pollution in Wisconsin visit DNR's Runoff Management web page.

Nonpoint source pollution, unlike pollution from industrial and sewage treatment plants, comes from many diffuse sources. This particular type of pollution is caused by rainfall or snowmelt moving over and through the ground. As the runoff moves, it picks up and carries away natural and human-made pollutants, finally depositing them into lakes, rivers, wetlands, coastal waters, and even our underground sources of drinking water.

These pollutants include, but are not limited to:

• Excess fertilizers, herbicides, and insecticides from agricultural lands and residential areas;
• Oil, grease, and toxic chemicals from urban runoff and energy production;
• Sediment from improperly managed construction sites, crop and forest lands, and eroding streambanks;
• Salt from irrigation practices and acid drainage from abandoned mines; and
• Bacteria and nutrients from livestock, pet wastes, and faulty septic systems.

Many States report that nonpoint source pollution is the leading remaining cause of water quality problems. The effects of nonpoint source pollutants on specific waters vary and may not always be fully assessed. However, we know that these pollutants may have harmful effects on drinking water supplies, recreation, fisheries, and wildlife.

For more information on non-point pollution in Wisconsinn visit DNR's Runoff Management web page.

Science Services is currently engaged in the following research related to nonpoint sources of contaminants to the environment.

• Cryptosporidium spp. Oocyst and Giardia spp. Cyst Occurrence, Concentrations and Distribution in Wisconsin Waters
• On-Site Filtration Devices for Reducing Toxic Pollutant Concentrations in Urban Runoff
• Ecological Effects of Riparian Development Along Wisconsin Lakes