Meghan Hodges
The Great Lakes, which cover nearly 95,000 square miles and hold over 20% of the world's surface freshwater, have been severely degraded by pollution from industry, agriculture, and urban development. While all the lakes have been affected, Lake Erie and Lake Ontario, as well as the upper St. Lawrence River, are considered the most polluted sections of the Great Lakes system. Efforts to address this issue began in the early 20th century and continue today, with the United States and Canada working together to restore and protect these vital waters through agreements like the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Lake Erie |
| Location | Bordered by Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, and Ontario |
| Population | 11.6 million |
| Pollution Sources | Industrial waste, sewage, chemical pollutants, pesticides, fertilizers, agricultural runoff, nuclear power plants, detergents |
| Impact | Fish kills, hazardous swimming conditions, increased algae growth, negative impact on weather |
Explore related products
$7.8 $20
What You'll Learn
Lake Erie's pollution
Lake Erie is the most polluted of all the Great Lakes. By the 1960s, Lake Erie had become extremely polluted, largely due to the heavy industrial presence along its shores. The lake, which is the smallest and shallowest of the Great Lakes, had long been in the process of eutrophication, or natural aging, even prior to European settlement. However, early settlers accelerated this process by draining coastal wetlands and stripping away vegetation, which increased the amount of sediment carried to the lake.
With the advent of widespread agriculture, artificial fertilizers also began to wash into Lake Erie, which contributed to the overenrichment of the lake's waters. Sewage and fertilizers, such as nitrogen, caused the rapid growth of surface algae scums, which affected the taste and odor of drinking water supplies, clogged water intakes, and forced beach closures. The decomposition of algae also led to oxygen-depleted areas, or "dead zones", which negatively impacted the lake's critical $12.9 billion tourism industry and world-class fishery.
Industries along the lake’s main tributaries contributed to the problem by injecting industrial waste, oil, floating solids, and heavy metals into the water supply. Heavy metals such as lead and mercury, as well as organic chemicals such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and dioxin, magnify in concentrations as they pass up the food chain. These bioaccumulation and biomagnification effects may increase levels of toxic materials by up to one million times in fish such as salmon and trout.
In 1969, the Cuyahoga River, which flows into Lake Erie, caught fire, bringing negative publicity to Cleveland and its polluted waterways. This incident, along with the public concern over the lake's poor condition, prompted government intervention to address water pollution in the region. In 1972, the United States and Canada signed the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement to lower the amount of pollutants entering the Great Lakes and reduce nitrogen and phosphorus discharge in Lake Erie. While there have been improvements in water treatment and fish populations, toxic algae blooms continue to threaten both human health and the ecosystem.
Urban Stormwater: A Toxic Mix of Pollutants
You may want to see also
Explore related products
![Handbook of NOAA systems and services for marine and Great Lakes pollution data and information 1992 [Leather Bound]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61IX47b4r9L._AC_UY218_.jpg)
Industrial waste
The Great Lakes—Lake Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie, and Superior—cover 750 miles from west to east and span across nine state/territory borders: Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, and Ontario. Together, the five lakes comprise the largest source of freshwater on Earth. The lakes are crucial for wildlife and ecosystems, and over 30 million people in the U.S. and Canada rely on them for drinking water.
However, the Great Lakes have also been a source of industrial waste, with Lake Erie being the most affected. By the 1960s, Lake Erie had become the most polluted of the Great Lakes due to the heavy industrial presence along its coasts. With 11.6 million people living in its basin and large towns and extensive agriculture dominating its watershed, Lake Erie is severely impacted by human activities.
For decades, factories dumped chemical pollutants into the lake and its tributaries, such as the Cuyahoga River in Cleveland, Ohio, and the Detroit River in Michigan. The lack of substantial government oversight in the Great Lakes Basin allowed waste and pesticides from surrounding cities' sewers, industrial plants, and agriculture to contaminate the lake. Fertilizers and pesticides from agricultural runoff also contributed to the pollution.
The consequences of this pollution were dire, with dead fish appearing along the lake's shoreline and national publications declaring "Lake Erie is dead" in the late 1960s. The pollution also affected the lake's water composition, leading to excessive algae growth that washed ashore and ruined swimming areas.
While environmental regulations since the 1970s have resulted in improved water quality and the reintroduction of economically important fish species, Lake Erie continues to be impacted by industrial waste and remains one of the most polluted lakes in the United States.
The Making of Pollution: Understanding Its Causes
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Agricultural runoff
The Great Lakes—Lake Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie, and Superior—cover 750 miles from west to east and span across nine state/territory borders. They are the largest source of freshwater on Earth. The lakes support a multibillion-dollar maritime economy and provide raw materials like timber, coal, and iron. More than 30 million people in the US and Canada rely on them for drinking water.
Despite their importance, the Great Lakes have been degraded by human activities for over a century. By the 1960s, Lake Erie was predominantly polluted, largely due to the heavy industrial presence along its shores. Big cities, sprawling farmland, and a lack of substantial government oversight have allowed waste, pesticides, fertilizers, and pesticides from agricultural runoff to contaminate the lake.
Agriculture occupies about one-quarter of the US land surrounding the Great Lakes. Industrial agricultural pollution is a significant threat to the lakes and the drinking water they provide. Excess chemicals, fertilizers, and sediments from irresponsible agricultural practices are some of the greatest threats to the Great Lakes' health. Runoff from single-crop farmland and animal factory farms is one of the largest contributors to this problem, fuelling harmful algal outbreaks.
In 2014, nearly half a million people lost access to safe tap water for several days due to toxic algae contamination in western Lake Erie. This event, known as the Toledo crisis, led to a commitment by the Governors of Ohio and Michigan and the Premier of Ontario to reduce phosphorus inputs to Lake Erie by 40% by 2025. While governments have significantly increased funding for projects to limit agricultural runoff, it is unlikely that the goal will be met.
The Alliance for the Great Lakes is advocating for regulations at the state and local levels to mandate, incentivize, and prioritize best practices to limit farm runoff. They are also working with community partners to find community-led solutions to the pollution problem. One goal is to tie funding for agricultural practices to clean water outcomes, requiring agricultural producers who receive federal funding for conservation programs to show a measurable reduction in pollution running off their lands.
The Pollution Prevention Act: Signed and Sealed
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Nuclear power plants
The Great Lakes—Lake Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie, and Superior—span 750 miles from west to east and are situated across nine state/territory borders: Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, and Ontario. Together, the five lakes comprise the largest source of fresh water on Earth, accounting for over 20% of the world's surface freshwater. Over 30 million people in the US and Canada rely on the lakes for drinking water.
The lakes have historically been used for fishing, boating, and other recreational activities, and they also serve as an important mode of transportation for goods. However, the Great Lakes have faced significant pollution issues over the years, with Lake Erie being the most polluted by the 1960s due to heavy industrial activity along its shores.
To address these concerns, the International Joint Commission's Great Lakes Water Quality Board has recommended special precautions that governments should take to protect the Great Lakes' water quality when retiring nuclear plants. These recommendations include the binational alignment of Canada and US regulations in four key areas of decommissioning nuclear facilities: transparency and community engagement, inter-agency coordination, waste management, and facility retirement.
Additionally, nuclear power plants use millions of gallons of water for cooling, discharging it at a temperature 10 degrees warmer than the lake water. This can lead to potential changes in the fish population, increased algae growth, and possible effects on the weather in West Michigan.
Tokyo Bay Pollution: Understanding the Crisis
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Governmental action
Lake Erie is the most polluted of the Great Lakes, owing to the substantial industrial presence along its coasts. It is severely impacted by human activity, with 11.6 million people living in its basin and large towns and extensive agriculture dominating its watershed.
The federal government took action in 1960 by ordering a comprehensive study of the lake. Water studies often include analyzing composition, nutrient levels, and aquatic wildlife quantity. Roughly 200 experts worked together to analyze several factors of Lake Erie, and concluded that the lake was indeed dying.
In the 1970s, environmental regulations were put in place, resulting in a significant improvement in water quality and the reintroduction of economically important fish species. The Great Lakes Water Quality Act and the Clean Water Act were also implemented in the 1970s.
In 1987, the US and Canada identified the most toxic hotspots around the lakes and adopted action plans to clean them up. The two countries also entered into the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement, which provides a framework for addressing pollution.
At the state level, Illinois was the first state to ban microbeads, which led to Congress taking legislative action to phase out the manufacture and sale of microbeads in personal care products nationwide in 2018.
The Environmental Law & Policy Center (ELPC) is a watchdog for the Great Lakes, holding the EPA accountable for monitoring and enforcement. ELPC has sued to stop the construction of facilities that would store toxic waste and pollute the lakes. They have also sued the EPA to clean up Lake Erie as required under the Clean Water Act.
To address nonpoint source pollution, Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) have been applied or are in development for parts of the Great Lakes basin, including western Lake Erie. This strategy, however, relies on states and voluntary steps by farmers to curb pollution releases.
Lake Pollution: Is the Fall Lake Polluted?
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Lake Erie is the most polluted of the Great Lakes.
Lake Erie's pollution is caused by a variety of factors, including agricultural runoff, sewage, and industrial waste.
The pollution has had detrimental effects on the ecosystem of Lake Erie, resulting in the death of fish and other water life due to the excessive presence of plants and algae fed by fertilizers.
Yes, all of the Great Lakes have faced pollution issues to varying degrees. Lake Ontario, for example, has suffered from sewage and industrial contamination, particularly from the U.S. side of Niagara Falls.
The United States and Canada have implemented various laws, policies, and commissions to address the pollution in the Great Lakes. This includes the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement, which aims to restore and protect the lakes through cooperative efforts between the two countries.
