Question

The principle difference between point source and nonpoint source water pollution is _______. a. whether the pollution is organic or inorganic b. the number of sources of pollution c. the amount of pollution d. whether it is from commercial or agricultural sources

Answer 1

b. the number of sources of pollution

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) describes the point source pollution as “any particular identifiable cause of pollution from which pollutants are released, such as a channel, ditch, boat or factory chimney”. Factories and sewerage treatment of plants are two well-known types of point sources.

The distinction between the point and non point source pollution is that point cause of pollution which has a single origin or source while non point source pollution is a combination of pollutants from various origins, and not all of them are easily identified.

Answer 2

Point sources of pollution are those where pollution comes from a single source like sewage pipes and while in case of non-point sources, the sources are not singular like discharge of agricultural water.

Thus the correct answer to the question is ( b ) the number of sources of pollution.