Greta Jimenez
American rivers have been polluted for centuries, with the issue becoming increasingly severe during the industrialization of the 19th and 20th centuries. The Clean Water Act, passed in 1972, was a pivotal moment in addressing this issue, leading to significant improvements in water quality over the following decades. However, pollution from climate change, microplastics, and agricultural runoff remains a concern, and the lack of regulation and monitoring of water pollution has allowed some industries to continue polluting with little consequence.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Rivers polluted since | The Middle Ages |
| Reason | Human and animal wastes, garbage, industrial chemicals and wastes |
| Rivers | Cuyahoga River, Columbia River, Neuse River, Mississippi River, Potomac River, Tawe River |
| Clean Water Act | Passed in 1948 |
| Oil Pollution Act | Passed in 1990 |
| Carcinogens dumped in rivers | Formaldehyde, chloroform, vinyl chloride, benzene, toluene, lead, nickel |
| Toxic chemicals dumped in the Mississippi River between 1990 and 1994 | 700 million pounds |
| Companies responsible for dumping carcinogens | Eastman Kodak Company, Cytec Industries, Weyerhauser, Longview Fibre Companies, Pfizer Inc. |
| River that received the most toxic pollution between 1990 and 1994 | Columbia River |
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What You'll Learn
The Clean Water Act
The CWA made it unlawful to discharge any pollutant from a point source into navigable waters without a permit. The EPA's National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program controls these discharges. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has implemented pollution control programs such as setting wastewater standards for industries. The EPA has also developed national water quality criteria recommendations for pollutants in surface waters.
The CWA has been successful in improving water quality in American rivers. In the 50 years since the CWA was enacted, millions of miles of U.S. rivers have seen dramatic improvements. For example, the Mississippi River now has lower levels of pollutants from industrial facilities, and fish consumption advisories have declined. However, some challenges remain, such as microplastics and agricultural runoff, which are not regulated by the CWA.
The CWA has been amended several times to strengthen it and address new pollution challenges. For example, Title I of the Great Lakes Critical Programs Act of 1990 implemented parts of the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement of 1978, which committed the U.S. and Canada to reducing certain toxic pollutants in the Great Lakes. The CWA has also inspired similar legislation in other countries, such as the Water Act in India.
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Industrial pollution
The Clean Water Act, enacted in the 1970s, played a pivotal role in addressing industrial pollution in American rivers. It set restrictions and parameters on what could be discharged into waterways, driving investments in water infrastructure and wastewater treatment. This legislation was a significant amendment to the Federal Water Pollution Control Act of 1948, acknowledging the urgent need for wastewater treatment, which was previously non-existent in many areas.
Despite the Clean Water Act's successes, industrial pollution remains a concern in American rivers today. In 2023, the Ohio River was named the second most endangered river in the U.S. due primarily to contamination from various sources, including fracking industry waste and a lack of regional oversight. According to the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Toxic Release Inventory, the Ohio River basin received the highest release of toxic substances from industries in 2020, with more than 40 million pounds of toxic materials.
The food manufacturing industry has been identified as the largest contributor to water pollution nationwide, accounting for 38% of water releases. This nutrient pollution fuels the growth of toxic algae, reducing oxygen levels and threatening marine life. Additionally, agricultural runoff, including nitrogen and phosphate pollution, continues to be a significant issue in rivers like the Mississippi, creating vast "Dead Zones" where marine life cannot survive.
While the Clean Water Act has improved water quality in American rivers, the persistence of industrial pollution highlights the need for ongoing efforts to enforce regulations, address emerging contaminants, and protect vulnerable waterways from the cumulative impacts of various pollution sources. The complex nature of industrial pollution, with contributions from various sectors, underscores the importance of comprehensive solutions that involve collaboration between local, state, federal, and international organizations, as well as continued advocacy from environmental groups and affected communities.
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Agricultural pollution
Agricultural activities have been a primary source of nutrient pollution in American rivers. The extensive use of pesticides, nitrogen-based fertilisers, and livestock manure has contaminated water sources. Excess nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, from these sources can have detrimental effects on aquatic ecosystems. Increased nitrogen and phosphorus levels can stimulate harmful algal blooms, leading to hypoxic or low-oxygen conditions that are often lethal to fish and other aquatic organisms. This phenomenon has contributed to the formation of "dead zones," such as the Connecticut-sized area in the Gulf of Mexico, where marine life cannot survive due to depleted oxygen levels.
Soil erosion, exacerbated by certain agricultural practices, further contributes to river pollution. Eroded sediment enters rivers and streams, acting as another pollutant. Pesticides, while essential for agriculture, also pose a significant risk to water quality. Atrazine, a commonly used pesticide, has been widely detected in surface waters, underscoring the pervasive nature of agricultural chemical pollution. The complex interplay of these pollutants with factors like landscape conditions, soil types, climate, and farm management practices determines the ultimate impact on the health of aquatic ecosystems.
The issue of agricultural pollution in American rivers is not limited to the contamination of water sources; it also extends to the degradation of ecosystems and the impairment of water quality. The influx of contaminants has led to excessive sedimentation, overwhelming aquatic ecosystems and smothering breeding areas. This has detrimental effects on delicate ecosystems such as coral reefs. Additionally, bacteria and nutrients from livestock manure can contaminate drinking water supplies and lead to beach and shellfish bed closures, impacting both human and wildlife populations.
Addressing agricultural pollution in American rivers is a complex task. Efforts such as the National Water Quality Initiative (NWQI) aim to assist farmers in managing their operations to minimise water quality impacts. Conservation practices, such as contour strip cropping, can help reduce erosion and mitigate the amount of runoff entering water bodies. The GLRI Edge-of-Field Monitoring project is another initiative focused on reducing excess nutrient pollution that threatens the health of vital water sources like the Great Lakes. These endeavours underscore the ongoing commitment to restoring and protecting the health of American rivers, ensuring their longevity for future generations.
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Oil pollution
The Cuyahoga River fires, which gained national attention, occurred as a result of an uptick in manufacturing and industrialization in the early 1900s. With no restrictions on what could be discharged into the river, it became an open sewer, infamous for its foul smell and sheen of oil. The fires on the Cuyahoga River provided the impetus for several legislative changes, including the creation of the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement and the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, which specifically prohibited the discharge of oil into navigable rivers.
The Clean Water Act, enacted in the 1970s, also played a crucial role in addressing oil pollution in American rivers. This legislation made it illegal to discharge pollutants into waterways without a permit and acknowledged the need for wastewater treatment. While the Clean Water Act has resulted in significantly cleaner waterways, there is still ongoing cleanup required, and pollution continues to enter rivers from sources not covered by the Act, such as urban and agricultural runoff.
Oil spills, such as the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010, continue to pose a significant threat to American rivers and waterways. This particular incident was the largest marine oil spill in the history of the petroleum industry, impacting over 1,000 miles of shoreline and leaking an estimated 3.19 million barrels of oil.
While great strides have been made in reducing oil pollution in American rivers, it remains a persistent issue. With increasing urbanization and industrialization, the risk of oil and other pollutants entering waterways remains high, requiring continued vigilance and enforcement of environmental protections.
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Carcinogenic chemicals
One of the most well-known examples of river pollution in the United States is the Cuyahoga River, which became known as the "burning river" due to the frequent fires caused by volatile chemicals and debris on its surface. The river first caught fire in 1868, and there were at least 12 subsequent fires, with the most notable blazes occurring in 1952 and 1969. These fires, along with the environmental advocacy of Cleveland's mayor, Carl B. Stokes, brought national attention to the polluted state of the Cuyahoga and sparked a broader environmental movement in the US.
While the Clean Water Act has led to significant improvements in water quality, it does not cover all bodies of water in the country. Smaller rural communities, which are disproportionately communities of color, often lack the resources to apply for grants to improve their local waterways. Additionally, certain types of pollution, such as agricultural runoff, are not covered by the Act and continue to contaminate rivers.
The presence of carcinogenic chemicals in American rivers remains a serious issue. Between 1990 and 1994, more than one billion pounds of toxic chemicals were discharged directly into America's waters, according to the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI). During this period, the Columbia River received the highest amount of cancer-causing toxic chemical discharges, totaling 1.39 million pounds. The Genesee River in New York, the Quinnipiac River in Connecticut, the Mississippi River, and the Thames River also received significant amounts of carcinogenic pollutants.
The Holston River is another waterway impacted by carcinogenic pollution, with the highly toxic chemical RDX, used by the army to make explosives, being discharged into the river by the Holston Army Ammunition Plant (HAAP). RDX has been detected in drinking water samples at levels twice the legal limit set by the EPA, putting Tennessee residents at risk. While the HAAP has signed a consent decree to reduce RDX leakage, there is still much work to be done to ensure safe drinking water for the people and animals dependent on the Holston River.
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Frequently asked questions
Rivers in the United States have been polluted since the early days of industrialization, with the issue becoming more prominent in the 19th century.
The industrialization of cities across the United States led to waste from industries and factories being dumped into rivers, as well as raw sewage.
The Cuyahoga River in Ohio has been described as one of the most polluted rivers in the US, with fires breaking out on it between 1936 and 1969 due to the concentration of debris and oil on its surface.
The Clean Water Act, an amendment to the Federal Water Pollution Control Act passed in 1948, put restrictions on what could be discharged into waterways. This led to improvements in water quality, but climate change and certain types of pollution remain threats.
Yes, river pollution continues to be an issue in the US. For example, the Mississippi River still faces challenges with microplastics and agricultural runoff, and millions of pounds of toxic chemicals continue to be discharged into waterways.
