2026 Competition Study Resources

The state of Mississippi has abundant surface water resources that are designated for uses that include navigation, recreation, fish and wildlife use, shellfish harvesting, and public water supply. Key waterways include the Mississippi, Pearl, Pascagoula, and Tombigbee Rivers. These waters have historical significance and will continue to play a vital role in the future, but pollution poses a major threat to water quality and public health.

The landmark Clean Water Act (CWA) of 1972 in the United States established a foundational framework for regulating the discharge of both point and non-point source pollutants into the nation's waters, as well as setting surface water quality standards. Point source pollutants come from a single, identifiable origin, such as a discharge pipe from a factory. On the other hand, non-point source (NPS) pollution originates from a wide area without a specific source, like runoff from agricultural fields or urban streets during a rain event. This widespread nature complicates the task of pinpointing the exact source of the pollutants. The CWA primarily addressed point source pollution through regulations and permits, while NPS pollution remained in the realm of voluntary or local action in urban and rural areas. In the mid-1990s, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency began to address some non-point source pollution through a series of new stormwater permits, however mitigating NPS pollution and improving water quality requires coordinated efforts from individual and community-based efforts.

Many individuals do not realize how their actions contribute to non-point source pollution, either directly through their consumption and disposal habits or indirectly through the products and services they purchase (e.g., the life of a plastic water bottle). It is essential for individuals to acknowledge their role in this issue and understand how they can help provide solutions. Tackling non-point source pollution starts at the individual level - change begins at home.

Students will learn about NPS pollution and identify its origins in both urban and rural settings. They will learn how to conduct their own NPS survey in their community and watershed. Additionally, they will learn about NPS mitigation strategies, which encompass actions at both the individual level - such as conservation, recycling, and responsible consumption - and the community level, including watershed planning, best management practices, nature-based solutions, water quality testing, and litter prevention initiatives.