Ocean Pollution

Ocean pollution has far reaching implications, however much marine pollution starts elsewhere. Learn what simple steps we can all take to reduce the potential for polluting the earth's essential water supply.

Ocean pollution often starts closer to home

Often, when people think of ocean pollution, images of massive oil spills or large chemical disasters spring to mind. Everyone can remember seeing photographs of oil covered birds following an oil tanker spillage. This can make it seem as though ocean pollution is out of our hands, however this is untrue. Eighty percent of ocean pollution comes from land based sources. This means that while we may think that our actions do not have an impact on the pollution of the sea and other water supplies, the fact is pollution of the land through every day actions can also affect the ocean. This form of pollution is known as nonpoint source pollution (NSP) or runoff pollution. These terms are used to describe pollution that starts in one place and pollutes another.

Nonpoint source pollution or run-off pollution includes apparently minor household contaminants such as lawn chemicals or car cleaning fluids. These chemicals can run off the land into waste water collection, such as storm drains, which eventually run into a river and to the sea. Water from roads, that contains oil and chemicals from car emissions, run-off from fields that contain agricultural pesticides and fertilizers as well as a wide variety of household pollution can all end up as run-off pollution and result in the pollution of the ocean. Once the ocean is polluted, important marine life gets destroyed and precious ecosystems become unbalanced.

There are steps that everyone can take to reduce the opportunity for ocean pollution. These include:

• Garden chemicals – use garden chemicals such as fertilizers, herbicides or insecticides carefully. Use these chemicals in line with the manufacturer's instructions and never use these chemicals if rain is forecast. Rain will wash the chemicals straight into the waste water system without them having a chance to work.
• Storm drains – ensure that rubbish and waste isn't thrown into storm drains. These drains feed directly into rivers and to the sea, therefore any waste that is in a storm drain can potentially end up polluting the ocean.
• Household chemicals – ensure that any household chemicals and substances such as paint or oil are disposed of properly. Many local authorities have special collection points that can help to avoid these chemicals polluting the water supply.
• Environmentally friendly products – look for environmentally friendly detergents and cleaners. These are typically low in phosphorous which makes them less harmful to the environment.

Learning more about nonpoint source or run-off pollution is an important way to help reduce potential pollution hazards. Useful information sources include:

• EPA – information and links about all aspects of nonpoint source pollution
• Protecting Water – this site has general information as well as a state directory of projects
• NC Department of Environment – fact sheet about runoff water pollution
• World Wildlife Foundation – facts and information

• EPA Nonpoint Source Pollution – activities and information for children of all ages
• Tiki the Penguin – links to lots of child-friendly pages of information and activities

We can all take steps to help reduce the effect of water pollution. Whether we live by the sea or inland, every step helps.

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