What type of pollution is caused by a large farm contaminating a stream with fertilizer runoff?

What type of pollution is caused by a large farm contaminating a stream with fertilizer runoff?

• A. Point-source pollution
• B. Atmospheric deposition
• C. Industrial pollution
• D. Nonpoint-source nutrient pollution

Answer: (D)

The scenario tests how nutrients from farm runoff enter a stream as diffuse, nonpoint-source pollution. Because fertilizer is spread across a large area and water moves over the fields during rain, nutrients are carried into the stream from many places rather than a single discharge point. This makes the pollution nonpoint-source in origin. The added nutrients—mainly nitrogen and phosphorus—are a nutrient pollution problem that can drive eutrophication, fueling algal blooms and depleting oxygen in the water. This differs from point-source pollution, which would come from a single identifiable outlet like a pipe or drain; atmospheric deposition involves pollutants delivered from the air to land or water; and industrial pollution refers to contaminants released from specific industrial facilities. So the correct way to describe the farm runoff scenario is nonpoint-source nutrient pollution.

The scenario tests how nutrients from farm runoff enter a stream as diffuse, nonpoint-source pollution. Because fertilizer is spread across a large area and water moves over the fields during rain, nutrients are carried into the stream from many places rather than a single discharge point. This makes the pollution nonpoint-source in origin. The added nutrients—mainly nitrogen and phosphorus—are a nutrient pollution problem that can drive eutrophication, fueling algal blooms and depleting oxygen in the water.

This differs from point-source pollution, which would come from a single identifiable outlet like a pipe or drain; atmospheric deposition involves pollutants delivered from the air to land or water; and industrial pollution refers to contaminants released from specific industrial facilities. So the correct way to describe the farm runoff scenario is nonpoint-source nutrient pollution.