Nonpoint Source Pollution (NPS) results from rain water flowing over and through the
ground, picking up pollutants (soil, oil, grease, bacteria, pathogens, heavy metals,
nutrients, pesticides and other contaminants), carrying them away and depositing them
into guts, wetlands, salt ponds, beaches, coastal waters and ground water.
The St. Croix VIMAS office has been involved with educating the youth of our community
about NPS for several years. NPS is the most prevalent form of water pollution in
the territory, and it is our hope that by educating our future leaders we can find
local solutions to the problem of NPS pollution.
VIMAS uses the EnviroScape®, an interactive watershed model, to teach local students
about watershed dynamics and to demonstrate how NPS is generated and how it affects
our environment.
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The model accurately depicts the features present in our islands' watersheds. By populating
and polluting a model watershed, the students learn about NPS and its effects in a
hands-on manner. |
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Nonpoint source pollution (NPS) originates from many sources including vessel wastes
and rainfall runoff from diverse areas such as construction sites, streets and parking
lots, homes, farms and agricultural fields, and illegal dumping of wastes. NPS is
the predominant form of pollution in the Virgin Islands. To combat NPS, VIMAS is continuing
with a public education program to target students from K-12. Education is the key
to controlling NPS, and by targeting the youth of the Virgin Islands, it is our goal
to help define the behaviors of our future policy makers.
Click to view video clips:
Phone: St. Croix (340) 692-4046 / St. Thomas (340) 693-1672
Virgin Islands Marine Advisory Service
Center for Marine and Environmental Studies
University of the Virgin Islands
St. Thomas St. Croix
#2 John Brewers Bay RR#1, 10,000 Kingshill
St. Thomas, USVI 00802 St. Croix, USVI 00850-9781
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