Which is the major area of concern in water pollution?

The major area of concern in water pollution is point sources. Point sources refer to specific, identifiable sources of pollution that discharge contaminants directly into water bodies. These can include industrial discharges, sewage treatment plants, and other facilities that have a discrete outlet for waste. The management and regulation of these sources are critical because they can significantly impact the water quality in nearby rivers, lakes, and oceans.

In contrast, other options such as automobiles and smokestacks primarily relate to air pollution, as they emit exhaust and particulates that affect atmospheric quality, rather than water quality directly. Midnight dumpers, while also a concern, represent a broader and often illegal act of dumping waste in an unregulated manner. Their impact is less focused and can be part of non-point source pollution, which is generally more diffuse and challenging to manage compared to the specific, identifiable nature of point sources. Thus, point sources stand out as a major concern due to their direct and significant contributions to water pollution and the requirement for targeted regulatory actions to control them.