Meghan Hodges
Water pollution is a widespread problem that jeopardizes human health. It occurs when harmful substances contaminate a body of water, degrading water quality and rendering it toxic. Rivers are particularly vulnerable to pollution, with agricultural, industrial, and urban waste being major contributors. The amount of pollution in a river can vary depending on geographical location and the sources of pollution. In the United States, for example, nearly half of the rivers and streams are polluted and unfit for swimming, fishing, or drinking. Similarly, in Canada, water pollution from mining, forestry, and agricultural industries has impacted the water quality of rivers like the St. Lawrence River. The Minnesota River in the United States also faces issues with high levels of sediment and nutrient pollution, affecting aquatic life. Globally, it is estimated that 1000 rivers are responsible for nearly 80% of annual riverine plastic emissions, contributing significantly to ocean pollution.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Rivers with high pollution levels | Minnesota, Mississippi, St. Croix, St. Louis, and Red River |
| Causes of river pollution | Chemicals, waste, plastic, and other pollutants |
| Farming and livestock production | |
| Fertilizers, pesticides, and animal waste | |
| Nitrogen and phosphorus | |
| Mining and pulp and paper industries | |
| Impact of river pollution | Kills more people each year than war and all other forms of violence combined |
| Harmful to aquatic life | |
| Degraded water quality |
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What You'll Learn
Plastic waste
It is estimated that more than 1000 rivers account for 80% of global riverine plastic emissions into the ocean, ranging between 0.8 and 2.7 million metric tons per year. This estimate has been corroborated by multiple studies, with some suggesting an even higher range of 1.15 to 2.41 million tons or even up to 2.75 million tons. Small urban rivers are among the most polluting, contributing significantly to plastic export to the oceans. The Pasig River in the Philippines is now considered the most polluting river, surpassing rivers like the Yangtze, Yellow, Hai, Pearl, Amur, Mekong, Indus, Ganges, Niger, and Nile, which were previously considered the top contributors.
The distribution of plastic loads in rivers is still uncertain and is the subject of ongoing research. However, it is believed that the biggest emitters are large river basins with large populations and poor waste management practices. Asia is the region with the highest contribution to ocean plastic waste, with 81%-86% of ocean plastics emitted from the continent. This is attributed to its large population and the presence of many highly polluting rivers.
To combat river plastic pollution, organizations like The Ocean Cleanup have developed Interceptor solutions to target the 1000 most polluting rivers. Their model approach includes geographically distributed data on plastic waste, land use, wind, precipitation, and rivers to implement effective mitigation measures. Additionally, local actions to reduce inputs to rivers in urban coastal areas can effectively decrease plastic export to the oceans. Monitoring plastic pollution in rivers is crucial for understanding the success of cleanup efforts and implementing strategies to address the plastic pollution problem for sustainable development.
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Agricultural drainage
Agricultural activities have a huge impact on freshwater systems, with agriculture and sewage effluent being the leading causes of English rivers failing to meet good ecological status. More than 60% of these failing rivers are affected by agriculture.
To manage water movement and reduce nutrient loads, farmers can employ conservation drainage practices such as subsurface tile drainage, modifying drainage system design and operation, woodchip bioreactors, saturated buffers, and modifications to the drainage ditch system. Other practices include ensuring year-round ground cover by planting cover crops or perennial species, and planting trees, shrubs, and grasses along the edges of fields, especially those bordering water bodies.
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Industrial chemical waste
Industrial waste is defined as waste generated by manufacturing or industrial processes. This includes cafeteria garbage, dirt and gravel, masonry and concrete, scrap metals, trash, oil, solvents, chemicals, weed grass and trees, wood and scrap lumber, and similar wastes. Industrial solid waste can be solid, liquid, or gases held in containers, and it is divided into hazardous and non-hazardous waste.
Hazardous waste may result from manufacturing or other industrial processes, and certain commercial products such as cleaning fluids, paints, or pesticides discarded by commercial establishments or individuals can also be defined as hazardous waste. Dry cleaning fluids and embalming fluids are two types of industrial waste of particular concern. Dry cleaning fluids have contaminated groundwater supplies across the United States, and PCE (perchloroethylene or tetrachloroethylene, Cl2C=CCl2), a suspected carcinogen, must be removed from water supplies.
Water pollution is mainly concentrated in industrialization, agricultural activities, natural factors, and insufficient water supply and sewage treatment facilities. Globally, an estimated 80% of industrial and municipal wastewater is discharged into the environment without any prior treatment, with adverse effects on human health and ecosystems. This proportion is higher in the least developed countries, where sanitation and wastewater treatment facilities are severely lacking.
The effects of water pollution are devastating to people, animals, fish, and birds. Polluted water is unsuitable for drinking, recreation, agriculture, and industry, and it diminishes the aesthetic quality of lakes and rivers. Unsafe water kills more people each year than war and all other forms of violence combined, and in the United States, more than 244 million people's drinking water contains contaminants linked to industrial practices.
In the US, agricultural pollution is the top source of contamination in rivers and streams, and the second-biggest source in wetlands. Every time it rains, fertilizers, pesticides, and animal waste from farms and livestock operations wash nutrients and pathogens such as bacteria and viruses into waterways. However, industrial waste is still a major contributor to water pollution. Chemical companies released the most contaminants of all industries, according to EPA documents, and in 1980, Congress passed the Superfund program to try to clean up widespread contamination.
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Mining and forestry
Mining operations are a significant source of river pollution, with far-reaching consequences for human health and the environment. The process of mining often involves the removal of vegetation and topsoil, exposing the underlying rock to air and water. This can lead to chemical reactions, such as the formation of sulfuric acid and iron hydroxide, which can then dissolve heavy metals such as copper, lead, arsenic, cobalt, cadmium, silver, and zinc. This acidic runoff can contaminate streams, rivers, and other water bodies, killing aquatic life and rendering water unusable.
The impact of mining on water pollution is long-lasting and may require management for decades or even centuries after a mine has closed. For example, abandoned mines can continue to leach toxic chemicals and heavy metals into nearby water bodies long after mining activities have ceased, as seen in Colorado and the mid-Atlantic and Appalachian regions of the United States, where streams and water bodies have been contaminated with copper, zinc, and arsenic.
Artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) is a significant contributor to river pollution, particularly in the Amazon and Ghana. ASGM is the largest source of mercury pollution globally, impacting people, plants, and animals. In the Amazon, illegal gold mining has deforested land and polluted rivers with mercury, endangering hundreds of communities and critical ecosystems. In Ghana, ASGM has resulted in the loss of 60,000 hectares of forest, with 2,500 hectares of loss occurring in tropical primary rainforests, threatening endemic species.
Forestry practices can also contribute to river pollution, particularly through clearcutting and the use of "skid trails." Clearcutting involves the removal of all trees in an area, exposing the soil to potential erosion. Skid trails are temporary paths used to transport logs out of the forest, and when improperly constructed, they can contribute to soil erosion and nonpoint source pollution.
The combined impacts of mining and forestry on river pollution are significant, and efforts to mitigate these impacts are essential to protect human health, the environment, and the livelihoods of communities dependent on these natural resources.
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Water temperature
Rising water temperatures can directly and indirectly affect aquatic organisms and further exacerbate issues such as eutrophication, pollution, and the spread of diseases. Organisms have specific temperature ranges within which they can survive and thrive. Deviations from these optimal ranges can lead to physiological and phenological changes, impacting their behaviour, body size, and trophic interactions.
Additionally, water temperature influences the rate of chemical and biological reactions in the river ecosystem. Higher temperatures increase the rate of chemical and metabolic reactions while decreasing the amount of dissolved gases in the water. This includes a reduction in dissolved oxygen levels, which is essential for aquatic life and can lead to fish kills.
Thermal pollution, a type of water pollution, also contributes to rising water temperatures. It occurs when municipal or industrial effluents discharge water at significantly higher temperatures than the natural water source, negatively impacting water quality. This can lead to diminished dissolved oxygen levels, fish kills, and the invasion of non-native species.
The effects of rising water temperatures on river ecosystems are complex and variable. Some rivers and ecological communities may be more resilient to temperature changes, while others are more vulnerable due to historical management practices that have left them exposed to solar radiation. Climate-induced changes in temperature can also alter the toxicity of pollutants, further aggravating the challenges faced by aquatic life in warming waters.
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Frequently asked questions
It is difficult to estimate the exact amount of pollution in the rivers as it varies depending on the river and the sources of pollution. However, according to the most recent surveys on national water quality from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, nearly half of the rivers and streams in the United States are polluted and unfit for swimming, fishing, and drinking.
There are several sources of river pollution, including agricultural runoff, industrial discharge, and urban development. Agricultural pollution is the leading cause of water degradation worldwide, with fertilizers, pesticides, and animal waste washing into waterways and causing nutrient pollution. Industrial processes can also discharge chemical waste products, such as cyanide, zinc, and lead, into rivers, which can be toxic to aquatic life. Urban development can increase sediment and nutrient concentrations in rivers, as well as contribute to plastic pollution.
River pollution has several detrimental effects on the environment and human health. When rivers become polluted, the water quality degrades, and it can become toxic to humans and aquatic organisms. Nutrient pollution, for example, can cause algal blooms, which are harmful to people and wildlife. Chemical pollution can kill fish and other animals, and lower oxygen levels in the water. River pollution also reduces the availability of drinkable water, which is already limited, with less than 1% of the earth's freshwater being accessible.
