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Factories and sewage treatment plants are two common sources of point source pollutants. This means the pollution comes from one identifiable point, such as a pipe, ditch, ship, or factory smokestack. Factories, including oil refineries, pulp and paper mills, as well as chemical, electronics and automobile manufacturers, typically release one or more pollutants in their discharged waters (called effluents). Some factories discharge their effluents directly into the water. Others treat it before it is released. Still others send their waste to sewage treatment plants before it is released. Sewage treatment plants treat human wastes and send the treated effluent to a stream or river. Point source effluent is typically too warm and too high in nutrients for corals to survive. These conditions are however ideal for micro- and macroalgae, which grow quickly and smother coral. Photo credit: NOAA
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