Water Nuggets Practice Exam 2025 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

Agricultural runoff is considered the largest contributor to water pollution due to the significant quantities of fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides used in farming practices. When it rains, these chemicals can be washed off the land and into nearby water bodies, leading to nutrient pollution, algal blooms, and the degradation of aquatic ecosystems. This runoff can also carry pathogens and other harmful substances, which can affect both water quality and public health.

Additionally, agricultural activities cover vast areas of land, resulting in a cumulative effect that can be much greater than pollution from any single industrial source or urban area. The sheer volume of water that interacts with agricultural land leads to a persistent contamination of rivers, lakes, and groundwater, making it a critical concern for environmental sustainability and water management systems.

In contrast, while industrial waste disposal, urban sewage discharge, and mining activities also contribute to water pollution, their impacts may be localized or controlled through regulations in developed countries, whereas agricultural runoff is often less monitored and can have widespread effects across large geographic areas.