Sources Of River Pollution

The sources of pollution of Ganga or for that matter any other river can be classified broadly into two categories namely;

(i) Point sources - these are organised sources of pollution where the pollution load can be measured e.g. surface drains carrying municipal sewage or industrial effluents, sewage pumping stations and sewerage systems, trade effluents from industries etc.


(ii) Non-point sources - these are non-measurable sources of pollution such as run-off from agricultural fields carrying chemicals and fertilizers, run-off from areas used for dumping of solid waste and open defecation, dumping of unburnt/half burnt dead bodies and animal carcasses, dhobi ghats, cattle wallowing, mass bathing, floral offerings etc.