Point and non-point pollution – UGC NET Question

Non-point sources are diffuse and hard to trace to a single discharge point. Agricultural runoff occurs when rain washes fertilisers, pesticides and soil from many fields into streams and rivers. The pollution comes from a wide area, not one identifiable pipe. Therefore, diffuse farm runoff is a classic example of non-point source water pollution.

Option A:
Option A is incorrect because a factory discharge pipe has a clearly identified location. Such a pipe is a point source that can be monitored and regulated directly.

Option B:
Option B is incorrect; leakage from a specific underground tank has a discrete location and is therefore treated as a point source, even though detecting the leak may be challenging.

Option C:
Option C is correct as it describes pollution entering water bodies over large surfaces. Managing it requires land-use practices and watershed approaches rather than simple end-of-pipe treatment.

Option D:
Option D is incorrect because a sewage outlet from a treatment plant is another example of a point source. Its flow can be sampled and controlled at one point.