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Non-Point Source Pollution

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The pollution in Lake Erie is becoming a worrisome issue, but an even bigger issue is figuring out who exactly is contributing to the pollution. As non-point and point source pollution are gradually becoming equal distributors of pollutants in surface waters it’s becoming clear that point source pollutions need to be better regulated and non-point sources need to become regulated. The most potent pollutant in Lake Erie is soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP), Most likely the phosphorus is coming from non-point sources due to agriculture and other point source pollutions. The use of fertilizer on farms contains high levels of phosphorus that run off into ditches and streams that end up in the lake.
Non-point source pollution can be an ambiguous …show more content…
This includes all the gunk and oils from impermeable surfaces running into the sewers, leaking septic tanks seeping into the groundwater. Animals also contribute to the contamination issues of non-point source pollution, but for the issue of phosphorus levels in Lake Erie, the non point pollution from farms seems to be contributing the most to this problem specifically animal waste, and fertilizers. Point-source pollution in contrast can be identified too a single source such as a industry or a sewage pipe, which shows how even a regulated source such as point source pollution can still cause more or just as much pollution as unregulated non-point source pollution. The Clean Water Act, which was implemented in 1972, had great intentions for the future of surface water but was drastically diminished through amendments and conflict that has now led to lakes still being polluted and neglected by …show more content…
As Pollack said from one of the readings volunteerism alone isn’t enough there needs to be regulation in order to reduce phosphorus levels. Because of this I would recommend focusing on tackling non-point source pollution first because there is currently less regulation on it. From the graph of Lake Erie non-point source pollution is becoming just as much a contributing factor as point source pollution in Lake Erie.
The first thing I recommend is bringing back the idea the Clean Water Act first listed as one of their goals; the “best practicable” water pollution control technology. The phosphorus is coming majorly from farms, so implementing technologies that limit phosphorus run off will need to be prioritized in order to stop phosphorus from getting in the lake. All agriculture industries, need to be held accountable for the pollutants that run off their land into streams and

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