Many people think that water pollution is caused by big business or large government facilities - places with pipes leading into the river. These are known as "point source" polluters. However, in recent years these sources have greatly reduced their negative impact on water quality. As a result, stormwater run-off is now one of the leading causes of surface water pollution in DuPage County, according to the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency.

Non-point Source Pollution

In comparison to big facilities with identifiable pipes - "point-source" polluters, run-off is a "non-point" source of pollution. That is, the ultimate source of the pollution cannot be identified. These pollutants are used on lawns, left on driveways and roads, and allowed to go down curbside gutters into storm drains. Polluntants that come from "non-point" sources include:

~Fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, yard waste and other lawn care residues

~Motor oil, gasoline, transmission fluid, anti-freeze and other substances that leak from cars onto driveways and parking lots

~Street litter, pet wastes and other debris

Allowing these materials to go into a storm drain is the same as going up to a stream bank and dumping them in. This is because there is usually no treatment facility between storm drains and the river.