Trash discarded on the street, oil dripping from automobile engines, pesticides sprayed on crops — any waste or harmful chemical left on the ground can and does wash into gutters and storm sewer systems that run into rivers and lakes. Even trash from a remote farm many miles inland, over time, can make its way into and down a river, eventually depositing itself into the ocean.wash into gutters and storm sewer systems.

Ocean Pollution Water Pollution Causes, Non-Point Sources: Cumulative Effects of Pollution Make it a Big Deal According to the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), "[e]ighty percent of pollution to the marine environment comes from the land." Contrary to popular belief, most water pollution, including ocean pollution, comes from non-point sources rather than point sources. Per NOAA, the most common non- point source of water pollution is runoff. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

The Ohio River is now the worst toxic water dump in the U.S. In response ORF has launched the Protect Our Water campaign. In 2007, polluters dumped 31 million pounds of toxic chemicals into the Ohio River making it the most toxic river in the country Violations of the Clean Water Act are going unprosecuted 49% of lakes and reservoirs are contaminated above EPA safe levels

STORM WATER RUN OFF What is storm water runoff? Any form of precipitation that runs off roads, lawns and the ground, and picks up debris, chemicals, fertilizers, animal waste and other pollutants, then deposits them into a storm sewer system or directly into rivers. Why is storm water runoff a problem? Anything that enters a storm system is discharged untreated