Urban runoff and agricultural sediment pollute water, challenging pollution control efforts.
Water pollution comes from both point sources like factories and nonpoint sources like runoff. Agricultural sediment and urban runoff are major contributors to nonpoint pollution. Urban stormwater runoff is especially bad, undoing water treatment efforts. Acid mine runoff and stream interference also add to pollution. Techniques like no-till farming and better road construction can help control nonpoint pollution. States were supposed to have local plans for clean water by 1983, but coordination between different levels of government has been tough. A new focus is on coordinating efforts to control nonpoint pollution.