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The progress made in controlling "point sources," however, also exposed the seriousness of non point sources of pollution. Research over the last 20 years has documented how highways and parking lots, larm fields and mining operations shed pollutants - making some waterways unhealthy places to play and some water unsafe to drink, harming fish and wildlife, and compromising the economic productiv- ity of once-vibrant waters. Not only is non point source pollution thwarting national clean water goals, but evidence is mount- ing that environmental gains made in the last 20 years are being undermined by the growing volume of polluted runoff flowing from growing urban areas. EPA attributes two-thirds of the nation's remaining water quality problems to nonpoint sources. And in California, the State Water Resources Control Board (State Board) now considers tainted runoff to be the primary source of water pollution. On a microscopic level, scientists are only beginning to fully understand the dynamics of non point poilution - the sources, the pathways and the consequences tor fish and wildlife, human health and the economy. On a policy level, officials - knowing that traditional treatment requirements would cost too much, yield too little, and cannot practically be placed on all of the pollution sources - are trying to devise more cost- effective strategies to prevent runoff from becoming contaminated in the first place. Stenciled storm drains are the most risible strategy in the efron to get broad participatiol/ by the public in pollution pre\.etIlion efforts. Comprehensive prevention, however, requires participation from a broad range 01 people - urban planners and construction crews, farmers and backyard gardeners, industrial plant managers and do-it-yourself mechanics. The most visible signs of this strategy are the stenciled notices on storm drains: ;'No dumping, flows to river," or "No dump- ing, flows to bay:' The warnings were developed af- ter research showed that most people did not know that storm drains were the beginnings of the creeks, rivers and estuaries that they cared so much about This Layperson's Guide, part of a continuing series published by the Water Education Foundation, describes the sources, consequences and possible strategies for reducing non point source pollution. It is a companion to the Layperson's Guides to Drinking Water, Agricultural Drainage. California Rivers and Streams, the Delta and Groundwater. Pollwed rul/off - l1Iorefnrmally known as mmpoint sO/tree pollwio/l - is the unfiJlished business (~r more thal1 (l generatiol/ of othenl'ise slIcces.~jitl elIons to c1('(lfl IIp the natioJl's streams. lakes (1m/ hays. 3