Nonpoint Sources (NPS) of Pollutants

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Regional Water Links

National Water Links

Nonpoint source (NPS) pollution, unlike pollution from industrial and sewage treatment plants, comes from many diffuse sources. NPS 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. It has been determined that over 60% of the documented water pollution problems can be traced to non-point sources.

Nonpoint Source Grants Program: Managing Diffuse Pollution Sources

The Nonpoint Source Program (NPS) is congressionally authorized and funded by Section 319 of the Clean Water Act. States and Tribes are responsible for implementing programs to meet the goals and objectives set forth in their approved Non-point Source Management Programs. Regional staff in the Watersheds and Wetlands Branch are responsible for reviewing, evaluating, commenting and making approval/disapproval recommendations on State/Tribal Nonpoint Source Management Programs, Assessment Reports, 319 grant project work plans, and 319 grant products, including final project work plans and semi-annual/annual reports.

Region 5 Highlights

The Targeted Watersheds Grant (TWG) program is a national competitive grant program that provides funding to community-driven, environmental results oriented watershed projects. To date, more than $37 million has been awarded to 62 watershed organizations. Region 5 plays a prominent role having the most TWG awards (9 of the 62 watersheds) across the nation.

Targeted Watershed Grants

2006 Nonpoint Source Program Success Stories and Highlights For:

2007 Region 5 Nonpoint Source Highlights (PDF) ( 9 pages, 245K, About PDF)
2006 Region 5 Nonpoint Source Highlights

Agriculture - Related Information for Region 5

Region 5 works with our agricultural partners to leverage support for impaired waters restoration

Nonpoint Source Program Websites for States in Region 5

The following links are to non-EPA web sites that offer additional information on activities, in the form of fact sheets, annual reports, and success highlights for each state in Region 5. You will leave the EPA.gov domain. Therefore, please be aware that the privacy protection provided on the EPA.gov domain (see Privacy and Security Notice) may not be available at the external link.