Nowadays diffuse (non-point) pollution is an important issue that cannot be overlooked. Humankind exists in such close proximity with the natural environment that mutual impact is inevitable. The International Conference on Diffuse Pollution provides a regular forum for the exchange of information from scientific and technical studies on pollution problems and relevant management strategies. As a result better techniques are developed that lead to greater protection of the world's natural resources from pollution. These proceedings are made up of selected, peer-reviewed contributions to the Fourth Conference on Diffuse Pollution of the IAWQ(IWA) Specialist Group on Diffuse Pollution at Bangkok during January 2000. From the original 86 oral and poster presentations, 28 papers have been selected for these proceedings. These papers are in seven focus areas: urban issues; watershed analysis; agriculture and forestry; groundwater; modeling analysis and application; policy consideration; and application of geographic information systems.

This document presents key messages and the state-of-the-art of soil pollution, its implications on food safety and human health. It aims to set the basis for further discussion during the forthcoming Global Symposium on Soil Pollution (GSOP18), to be held at FAO HQ from May 2nd to 4th 2018. The publication has been reviewed by the Intergovernmental Technical Panel on Soil (ITPS) and contributing authors. It addresses scientific evidences on soil pollution and highlights the need to assess the extent of soil pollution globally in order to achieve food safety and sustainable development. This is linked to FAO’s strategic objectives, especially SO1, SO2, SO4 and SO5 because of the crucial role of soils to ensure effective nutrient cycling to produce nutritious and safe food, reduce atmospheric CO2 and N2O concentrations and thus mitigate climate change, develop sustainable soil management practices that enhance agricultural resilience to extreme climate events by reducing soil degradation processes. This document will be a reference material for those interested in learning more about sources and effects of soil pollution.

World soil health is under pressure from erosion, loss of soil organic carbon and biodiversity, pollution, and salinization. This report presents the status and drivers of global soil pollution, as well as recommendations to address the issue such as using bioremediation technologies.

Diffuse (non-point source) pollution is increasingly being recognised as a major source of water quality problems in both surface and ground water. Indeed, as pollution resulting from point sources is reduced by the efforts of regulators, diffuse sources frequently remain as the dominant source of pollution. The book is an introductory text covering the nature, causes and the significance of diffuse pollution of both urban and rural origin. Best management practices to tackle the problems are examined as are the ways in which the adoption of such practices may be brought about. Use is made of case studies from several countries to examine the strengths and weaknesses of various approaches. Diffuse Pollution covers both urban and rural sources. Urban sources include run-off from impermeable surfaces of roads, industrial areas and housing which may be contaminated by hydrocarbons, heavy metals, organic chemicals and other undesirable substances. Rural sources include water containing pollutants arising from agriculture and forestry such as plant nutrients, pesticides, microbes and soil itself. This concise book will prove useful to practitioners in the field of pollution control both in an urban and a rural environment, to regulators, to researchers new to the field, and to academics and students. An extensive reference section aids the reader in exploring the subject further. Contents Diffuse pollution A Best Practice Approach An Introduction to BMPs for built environments Managing diffuse pollution from urban sources - a survey of best practice experience Rural BMPs Rural best practice experience Regulation, Economic instruments, and Education for controlling diffuse pollution Sustainability Full Contents List (439KB)

Diffuse Pollution of surface, coastal and ground waters is a major environmental and economic problem in the world today. Unlike point source pollution, which has to some extent been controlled by developments in technology and regulation, diffuse pollution is difficult to control, requiring the application of technological and socio-economical approaches and of education. The 46 papers in these proceedings have been selected from those presented at the 3rd International Conference on Diffuse Pollution, which addressed urban and rural diffuse pollution problems and solutions as experienced in several countries. The papers are divided into five themes: Identification of sources and loads Best Management Practices Receiving water impacts Modelling diffuse pollution Watershed management. The proceedings conclude with two papers, prepared by prominent specialists, that summarise the key findings at the conference. These proceedings will prove an essential resource for all concerned, whether as researchers, regulators or practioners, with diffuse pollution and its control.