Question

which is a nonpoint source of pollution?
tourists throw trash into the ocean.
a car mechanic pours oil on the ground.
rain contains chemicals that seep into the ground.
a pipe dumps waste from a factory into a stream.

Explanation:

Nonpoint source pollution comes from diffuse, unconfined sources rather than a single identifiable discharge point.

• Tourists throwing trash is a discrete, individual point source.
• A mechanic pouring oil is a single, localized point source.
• Factory waste via a pipe is a direct, identifiable point source.
• Rain carrying chemicals that seep into the ground is diffuse: the rain falls over a wide area, picking up chemicals from multiple unidentifiable small sources (e.g., atmospheric deposition, surface residues) before infiltrating the soil, fitting the nonpoint source definition.

Answer:

C. Rain contains chemicals that seep into the ground.