Search this site:

Table 3--Interrelationship between common sources and causes of pollution

Source of impairment	Siltation (sediment)	Pathogens (bacteria)	Nutrientsa	Organic enrichment	Pesticides	Metals	Habitat modification
Point sources
Municipal		X	X	X		X
Storm sewers/urban runoffb	X				X	X
Industrial	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
Land disposalb		X	X	X		X
Nonpointsources
Agriculture	X	X	X	X	X		X
Resource extraction	X					X	X
Hydrologic/habitat	X						X
modification
Construction	X
Silviculture	X		X	X	X		X
Channelization	X		X	X	X		X
Natural	X	X	X	X		X	X

^a Nutrients include nitrogen and phosphorous.

^b Storm sewers/urban runoff and land disposal include both point and nonpoint sources.

Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 2000a

Return to first reference in text