Water Pollution In America: The Main Culprits

Water pollution is a critical issue in the United States, threatening both human health and the environment. A diverse range of contaminants, including toxic chemicals, waste, and other pollutants, are endangering the country's water sources, with nearly half of rivers and streams and over a third of lakes being unfit for swimming, fishing, or drinking. The main sources of water pollution in America are industrial waste, agricultural runoff, and outdated or poorly maintained sewer infrastructure. These sources release contaminants such as heavy metals, pesticides, fertilizers, and sewage into water bodies, leading to decreased water quality and posing risks to human health and ecosystems.

Industrial waste

A News21 analysis of EPA data revealed that the drinking water of more than 244 million people in the US is contaminated with pollutants linked to industrial practices. These contaminants include arsenic, lead, mercury, chromium, and other toxic chemicals. Improper dumping and waste disposal by industries are major causes of this contamination. For example, Anaconda Aluminum in Montana contaminated local water sources with lead and chromium, while Gulf States Utilities in Louisiana discharged toxins, including benzene, into marshlands.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been criticized for failing to adequately address industrial water pollution. Despite having a legal duty to protect waterways, the EPA has been accused of ignoring the issue and not holding polluters accountable. In 2024, Food & Water Watch joined a lawsuit against the EPA, alleging that the agency refused to update outdated regulations and failed to set limits on pollution from certain industries.

Industrial facilities continue to dump millions of pounds of toxic chemicals into rivers, streams, lakes, and oceans each year. This pollution threatens both the environment and human health, leading to problems such as deadly algae blooms and mutations in freshwater wildlife. It also adds significant costs to water treatment and makes rivers and lakes unsafe for swimming.

To address this issue, safer industrial practices, improved regulations, and stronger enforcement of the Clean Water Act are needed. The Clean Water Act mandates that the EPA assess and tighten limits on pollution at least once every five years, but the EPA has been criticized for not doing enough to reduce pollution from industrial facilities.

Sewage and wastewater

Sources of Sewage and Wastewater Pollution

America's aging sewer systems, some nearing 100 years old, are overwhelmed and failing due to decades of neglect, growing populations, and the impacts of climate change. This has resulted in frequent line breaks, pump failures, and overflows, leading to the release of untreated sewage into local waterways and the ocean. In Florida alone, over 1.6 billion gallons of sewage were spilled into communities and surface waterways in the last five years.

Sewage overflows are exacerbated by stormwater, which can enter aging sewer systems and contribute to raw sewage overflows. Older systems combine stormwater with household sewage, but even in newer systems with separate stormwater and sewage lines, some stormwater still ends up in the sewer.

Additionally, approximately 25% of U.S. households rely on antiquated disposal systems such as cesspools and septic systems, which do not adequately treat sewage, allowing household waste to leach into ground and surface waters.

Health Risks

The discharge of raw and under-treated sewage into waterways poses significant health risks to Americans. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), 3.5 million Americans fall ill each year after swimming, boating, fishing, or otherwise touching water they believed to be safe. The health issues contracted from sewage-laden waters include skin rashes, pinkeye, respiratory infections, hepatitis, gastroenteritis, and ear infections.

Environmental and Economic Impacts

Sewage spills and failing wastewater infrastructure threaten coastal water quality and ecosystems. Sewage discharges introduce excess nutrients into coastal waters, fueling harmful algal blooms that put human health at risk and result in fish kills and coral reef die-offs. These algal blooms can also produce neurotoxins that affect a range of wildlife, from whales to sea turtles.

The pollution of beaches and coastal waters has significant economic implications, as these areas are the foundation of valuable coastal tourism and ocean recreation economies, worth over $130 billion and providing 2.4 million jobs nationwide.

Solutions

To address sewage pollution, there is a critical need for investments in upgrading and improving America's wastewater infrastructure. This includes catching up on the backlog of sewage infrastructure upgrades to prevent under-treated sewage from entering waterways.

In the interim, strong notification programs are essential to alert people when there is a danger of exposure to raw sewage. Federal and state right-to-know policies should be implemented to ensure citizens are informed of sewage contamination in their waterways.

Agricultural pollution

Agricultural runoff is a major source of water pollution, with pesticides, fertilizers, and animal manure all contributing to water contamination. These pollutants can enter groundwater through runoff, infiltration, and irrigation return flows, eventually making their way into local streams, rivers, and groundwater. The National Water Quality Assessment found that agricultural runoff is the leading cause of water quality issues in rivers and streams, the third leading source for lakes, and the second-largest source of impairments to wetlands.

The impact of agricultural pollution varies across the country, influenced by factors such as farm types, conservation practices, soils, climate, and topography. However, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) identified 303 locations with contaminated drinking water due to agricultural pollution since 2010, with an increase in news reports of such incidents since 2013.

Sediment is another leading pollutant in rivers and streams, and pesticides like atrazine are commonly detected in surface water. The GLRI Edge-of-Field Monitoring project aims to address agricultural sources of excess nutrients threatening the health of the Great Lakes.

To address agricultural water pollution, farmers can adopt practices such as contour strip cropping to reduce erosion and runoff, and implement conservation measures to keep farm chemicals out of surface and groundwater sources.

Oil and chemical spills

The sources of these spills vary, ranging from small ship collisions to fuel transfer mishaps to massive spill events from oil rigs or pipelines. In some cases, the spills are "mystery spills," where the exact source is unknown. Additionally, natural disasters, such as hurricanes, can contribute to oil spills and make it challenging to determine the exact volume released. For example, Hurricane Katrina in 2005 caused numerous spills, approximating 8 million gallons of oil in U.S. waters.

The impact of oil and chemical spills goes beyond the immediate physical damage. When oil reaches the shore, it can contaminate the sediment and shellfish, affecting the food chain and causing long-term environmental and economic consequences. These spills can also disrupt marine transportation and force the closure of fisheries and navigation routes, impacting the livelihoods of coastal communities.

To address oil and chemical spills, various technologies and strategies are employed. Glider technology, for instance, is used to collect critical data at a low cost and without risking human life. High-frequency radar technology is also utilized to monitor surface current speed and direction, aiding in predicting the trajectory of spills. The National Coastal Zone Management Program, a federal-state partnership, provides technical and financial assistance to protect and restore coastal communities and resources.

While regulations and treatments have improved water quality in the United States, the problem of oil and chemical spills persists. The complex nature of these incidents, along with the potential for long-term environmental and economic fallout, underscores the need for continued focus and innovation in prevention, response, and mitigation strategies.

Plastic pollution

Plastic waste makes up 80% of all marine pollution, and around 8 to 10 million metric tons of plastic end up in the ocean each year. The majority of plastic pollution in the ocean is caused by littering, with people buying or using disposable plastic items and not disposing of them properly. As a result, these items end up in waterways and eventually in the ocean. Major rivers act as conveyor belts, picking up more and more trash as they move downstream. Once at sea, much of the plastic waste remains in coastal waters, but it can also be caught up in ocean currents and transported around the world.

The consequences of plastic pollution are dire, with millions of animals killed by plastics every year. Nearly 2,100 species, including endangered ones, are known to have been affected by plastics. Nearly every species of seabird eats plastics, and most animal deaths are caused by entanglement or starvation. Seals, whales, turtles, and other animals are strangled by abandoned fishing gear or discarded six-pack rings. Plastic pollution also has a devastating impact on marine ecosystems, as floating plastic items can help transport invasive species, threatening biodiversity and the food web.

Microplastics, which are formed when plastic waste breaks down into smaller pieces, have been found in municipal drinking water systems and drifting through the air. Scientists have also found microplastics in people, with the tiny particles present in blood, lungs, and even faeces. The exact impact of microplastics on human health is still being studied, but plastic materials are known to be carcinogenic and can affect the body's endocrine system, causing developmental, neurological, reproductive, and immune disorders.

To combat plastic pollution, some governments have taken steps to limit or ban the use of single-use plastic bags, with California recently passing legislation to ban all plastic bags by 2026. Organizations like Oceana are also working to pass local, state, and national policies that reduce the production and use of unnecessary single-use plastic. Individuals can make a difference by reducing their use of single-use plastics and opting for reusable alternatives.

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