Diffuse pollution is pollution that enters the environment such as a watercourse in a way that cannot be clearly attributed to a single activity. This might be through multiple sources or a single source but entering a watercourse in multiple places. Each source on its own might not cause significant damage to the environment, but collectively they can cause harm. Rather than pollutants being directed for example through an outfall pipe, they make their way to a river for example, via different pathways such as via groundwater, from the atmosphere, and via run off from poor land management. Examples of these pollutants includes nutrients, pesticides, faecal bacteria, chemicals, soil and fine sediments, all of which have a cumulative effect on the environment.
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