This document discusses various environmental issues related to water pollution. It provides information on several topics:
1. It describes how pesticides, fertilizers, and other pollutants from land runoff can contaminate fresh water sources like rivers, lakes, and groundwater. This pollution degrades water quality.
2. Statistics are presented on water pollution levels in the US, such as over 66% of estuaries and bays being severely degraded by fertilizer runoff, and 40% of rivers being too polluted for fishing or aquatic life.
3. Septic systems are identified as another source of water pollution, as waste can leak from these systems into streams, rivers, and lakes.