Lake Erie's Pollution: Causes And Concerns

Lake Erie is the shallowest and smallest of the Great Lakes by volume, and it provides drinking water for over eleven million people. However, it is also the most susceptible to pollution. In the 1950s and 1960s, Lake Erie was the poster child for America's environmental low point, with industrial pollution and nutrient pollution from factories dumping chemical pollutants into the lake and the waterways that flowed into it. Although the lake's water quality improved in the 1970s and 1980s due to environmental legislation, it is now facing a new wave of pollution. Today, the primary sources of pollution in Lake Erie are urbanization, industrialization, and agriculture, with excess phosphorus pollution from commercial fertilizer and manure running off farm fields and contributing to harmful algal blooms.

Industrial pollution

Lake Erie, the southernmost Great Lake, has long been a source of drinking water for millions of people. However, as the most industrialized Great Lake, it is also the most vulnerable to pollution.

In the 1960s, Lake Erie became extremely polluted, largely due to the heavy industry that lined its shores. Factories dumped pollutants directly into the lake and the waterways that flowed into it, such as the Cuyahoga and Detroit Rivers. This was due in part to a lack of substantial government oversight. As a result, the lake experienced increased levels of phosphorus and nitrogen, which contributed to eutrophication and encouraged the development of algal blooms.

The issue of Lake Erie's pollution gained national attention in the late 1960s, with the phrase "Lake Erie is dead" appearing in publications. This prompted the Federal government to address water pollution, leading to the passing of the Clean Water Act in 1972, which tightened regulations on industrial dumping.

Despite these efforts, Lake Erie continues to face pollution problems, particularly from industrial agriculture. The lake's watershed is overrun with massive industrial agricultural operations, which contribute excessive fertilizer and animal waste into the waterways connected to the lake. This has led to harmful algal blooms that have plagued lakeside communities, impaired the recreation economy, and threatened drinking water sources.

The Environmental Law & Policy Center (ELPC) is actively working to hold the US EPA accountable for upholding the Clean Water Act and reducing pollution in Lake Erie. They have filed lawsuits and partnered with local researchers to examine sources of pollution, with the goal of implementing science-based policy solutions.

Agricultural pollution

Lake Erie is the shallowest and southernmost of the Great Lakes, with shores in several states, including Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, and the Canadian province of Ontario. It is the source of drinking water for 11-12 million people and is an important source of tourism revenue for the state of Ohio.

However, Lake Erie is also the most susceptible to pollution among the Great Lakes due to its shallowness and industrialization. One of the main contributors to the lake's pollution is agricultural pollution, which includes runoff from farms carrying excess phosphorus, nitrogen, fertilizer, pesticides, and manure. This agricultural pollution has been a significant issue for Lake Erie since the 1960s, and it continues to be a concern today.

The agricultural industry's contribution to Lake Erie's pollution is not limited to phosphorus. Farms in the region also use large amounts of fertilizer and manure, which can run off into the lake, providing excess nutrients that contribute to the growth of harmful algae and cyanobacteria. In addition, the concentration of livestock production in the area has led to an excess of manure, which can also contaminate the lake and contribute to water quality issues.

Efforts to address agricultural pollution in Lake Erie have been challenging. While there have been some successes, such as Ohio's passing of a law prohibiting farms in the western Lake Erie region from applying fertilizer to frozen or rain-saturated soil, there are loopholes in the Clean Water Act that shield agricultural operations from federal enforcement. Additionally, states have largely opted to make recommendations and promote voluntary measures rather than impose regulations that could draw opposition from powerful agricultural trade groups. As a result, the problem of agricultural pollution in Lake Erie persists, and communities continue to bear the cost of cleaning up the pollution.

Sewage treatment plants

Lake Erie is the shallowest and smallest Great Lake by volume. It is also the most biologically productive of the Great Lakes. The lake is lined with several urban centres, including Toledo, Ohio, and Cleveland. It is largely agricultural, intensively industrialized, and highly urbanized. It is the most susceptible to pollution out of all the Great Lakes.

The lake receives the highest amount of effluent from sewage treatment plants compared to the other Great Lakes. This has contributed to the excessive algal growth in the lake, which threatens the ecosystem and human health. The algal blooms are caused by excess phosphorus pollution, which comes from commercial fertilizer and manure running off farm fields.

Toledo, which relies on Lake Erie for its drinking water, has had to spend $527 million to upgrade its sewage handling and reduce nutrient pollution. However, environmental advocates argue that there is still too much manure concentrated in small areas, and that the EPA is not doing enough to address the issue.

The high levels of pollution from sewage treatment plants and other sources have had significant impacts on the lake's ecosystem and the surrounding communities. The algal blooms can produce microcystin bacteria, which is poisonous and can cause liver damage and other health issues in humans and animals. The recreation economy and tourism industry, which the lake supports, have also been negatively affected by the pollution.

Urban and agricultural runoff

Lake Erie is the shallowest and most industrialized of the Great Lakes, making it the most susceptible to pollution. The lake is bordered by several urban centres, including Buffalo, New York, Toledo, Ohio, and Cleveland, as well as the Detroit/Windsor area. With approximately 12 million people living in its basin and sprawling farmland and industrial facilities in its watershed, Lake Erie is severely impacted by human activities, particularly urban and agricultural runoff.

Agricultural activities also play a major role in the pollution of Lake Erie. The lake's watershed is dominated by large-scale industrial agriculture, which contributes excessive fertilizer, manure, and animal waste into the waterways connected to the lake. This runoff provides nutrients such as phosphorus and nitrogen, which fuel the growth of harmful algal blooms like cyanobacteria or the so-called red tide. These blooms can produce toxins like microcystin, which is more poisonous than cyanide and can cause liver damage and other health issues in humans and animals.

The Maumee River Watershed, which flows into Lake Erie, is a major source of agricultural pollution. Liquified animal waste from concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) in this region leaches into the water, contributing to harmful algal blooms and impairing the local economy and drinking water supply. In 2014, a massive algal bloom shut down Toledo's drinking water supply to 400,000 people for three days, and the National Guard had to intervene.

Efforts have been made to address the pollution caused by urban and agricultural runoff in Lake Erie. For example, in the late 1980s, all Great Lakes states except Pennsylvania banned laundry detergent with phosphorus, which was a major contributor to the lake's algae problem. Additionally, Ohio passed a law prohibiting farms in the western Lake Erie region from applying fertilizer to frozen or rain-saturated soil. However, more stringent policies and enforcement are needed to adequately protect Lake Erie from the harmful effects of urban and agricultural runoff.

Algal blooms

Lake Erie is the shallowest and most industrialized of the Great Lakes, making it the most susceptible to pollution. The lake is a source of drinking water for 11 to 12 million people and provides approximately one-third of Ohio's tourism and travel revenue. However, it has been plagued by harmful algal blooms that have impaired the recreation economy and threatened drinking water.

Excessive algal growth, or algal blooms, in Lake Erie is primarily caused by high levels of phosphorus pollution. Phosphorus acts as a nutrient for algae, allowing it to grow out of control and form dense blooms. These blooms can persist for weeks during the summer, carried by winds and currents across the lake. While phosphorus occurs naturally in the environment, human activities have significantly increased its presence in Lake Erie.

Agricultural practices, particularly industrial-scale farming, are a major contributor to the excess phosphorus in the lake. Commercial fertilizers and manure from concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) contain high levels of phosphorus, which can leach into nearby waterways and eventually make their way into Lake Erie. The Maumee River Watershed, which flows into Lake Erie, is heavily impacted by agricultural runoff and is a significant source of phosphorus pollution.

In addition to agricultural sources, urban and industrial activities also play a role in the excess phosphorus entering Lake Erie. Sewage treatment plants, industrial discharges, and runoff from cities and farmland can all contribute phosphorus to the lake. The exposed agricultural and urban lands in southwest Ontario and northwest Ohio are especially prone to sediment loading, further exacerbating the problem.

The impact of algal blooms on Lake Erie's ecosystem and human health is significant. Some types of algae produce toxins such as microcystin, which is highly poisonous and can cause liver damage and other health issues in humans and animals. The presence of these toxins can make the lake unsafe for swimming and boating, and it can also contaminate drinking water supplies, as seen in the 2014 Toledo water crisis.

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