Non-Point Source Polluters
Examples of NPS pollution for use in Non-Point Source Pollution on Stage
"Bugs, bugs go away!"
Mr. Burch has two large trees near his porch which attract wasps, mosquitoes, and caterpillars. He sprayed the trees with a chemical that would kill the insects. Shortly after he sprayed the pesticide, a storm washed the chemical into the soil and down the driveway. From there it ran off into the nearby storm drain along with the rest of the rainwater."We have a problem with that stream."
A small stream winds through a popular golf course. During heavy rains, the stream is filled with fast-flowing water. The sides of the stream are crumbling and the roots of the bordering trees are showing. The land near the stream banks is slowly collapsing. After each rain, fertilizers, soil, and small rocks are swept away with the water."Where should I put this old motor oil?"
Natara is proud to help her dad change the oil in the family station wagon. She clumsily carries the huge pan of black, thick oil to the storm drain where she dumps it. "It's gone!" she proudly exclaims. Soon the oil mixes with the water of a nearby stream. The oil that she spilled on the ground begins to seep into the soil and mix with the ground water."The raccoons are littering again!"
One snowy winter night the Horton family heard raccoons turning over their garbage cans out by the curb, but it was too cold to go outside and chase them away. The next morning, no one had time to clean up the garbage strewn all over the street. When the snow melted, some of the trash floated on the water into the storm drain."The Lawn Clipping Caper"
Debbie helps her grandparents by cutting the lawn. When her grass catcher is full, she dumps her grass clippings into a nearby storm drain. There, the clippings turn yellow and begin to smell until the next storm carries them away."Good Jack!"
Isabel enjoys walking the family dog, Jack. When Jack needs to go to the bathroom, Isabel is careful to make Jack go along the curb so that Jack is not messing the neighbors' lawns. She doesn't worry though; eventually the mess will go down into the storm drain."Don't mess up the car!"
The Martin family likes to stop at fast-food restaurants on the way to the beach. In order to keep the car clean, they throw their bags of trash out the car window into the streets.