The World's Most Polluted Bodies Of Water

Water pollution is a pressing issue that affects millions of people worldwide. While it is difficult to pinpoint the single most polluted body of water, several candidates stand out due to their alarmingly high levels of contamination. These include the Ganges River in India, the Pacific Ocean, the Jordan River in Israel, the Salween River in Southeast Asia, and Lake Victoria in East Africa. The Ganges, considered sacred by many Indians, suffers from agricultural and industrial waste dumping, as well as sewage disposal, rendering its water unsafe for human use. The Pacific Ocean, known for the infamous Great Pacific Garbage Patch, struggles with sewage spills and plastic pollution, destroying habitats and impacting communities. The Jordan River, stretching over 150 miles, faces similar issues of waste dumping and increasing salinity due to unchecked disposal. The Salween River, born in Tibet and flowing through China and Burma, bears the brunt of industrial waste, particularly from textile factories, leading to a concerning rise in toxic metal levels. Lake Victoria, once a vibrant ecosystem, has degraded into a receptacle for sewage, industrial waste, and agricultural runoff, endangering the surrounding communities. These examples highlight the critical need to address water pollution and its devastating impacts on the environment and human health.

The Pacific Ocean, the most polluted of the five official oceans

The Pacific Ocean is the most polluted of the five official oceans. It holds an estimated two trillion pieces of plastic, which is around a third of the plastic in all oceans. The North Pacific Gyre, a natural vortex of wind and marine currents, draws plastic debris to its centre, forming the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. This plastic vortex spans roughly 1.6 million square kilometres, an area twice the size of Texas or three times the size of France.

The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is not only floating plastic bottles and bags, but millions of microplastic pieces as well. This is the result of using non-biodegradable plastic, which breaks into tiny pieces when exposed to the sun. These microplastics are often invisible to the naked eye, and sometimes create a white sheen on the ocean surface. While the Great Pacific Garbage Patch is well-known, it is important to note that 70% of marine debris actually sinks to the ocean floor. In fact, plastic debris has been found in the Mariana Trench, the deepest point in the ocean.

The Pacific Ocean's plastic pollution is largely due to land-based activities in North America and Asia, with 80% of the waste in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch coming from these regions. The remaining 20% comes from waste directly thrown into the ocean by boats and ships, with a significant amount being discarded fishing nets. The Pacific Ocean is also affected by sewage pollution, with 21,675 tonnes of biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) entering the ocean each year, along with 12,252 tonnes of suspended solids. This sewage pollution not only destroys vulnerable habitats but also impacts local communities on nearby Pacific islands.

The Indian Ocean is the second-most polluted ocean, with 1.3 trillion pieces of plastic. The Indus and Ganges Rivers, listed among the most polluted rivers in the world, drain into the Indian Ocean, contributing to its pollution. The Indian Ocean also faces issues with oil spills, with approximately 40% of all petroleum spills occurring in this body of water. These spills leave behind sticky tar lumps that smother wildlife, causing environmental disasters and dire consequences for the economy, food security, and health of surrounding regions.

The Citarum River in Indonesia, the most polluted river in the world

The Citarum River in Indonesia is considered the most polluted river in the world. Located in West Java, the river is the third-longest in the region and the longest and largest in West Java. It is relied upon by millions of Indonesians, supplying drinking water to 25 million people and providing 80% of the water supply for the capital, Jakarta. It is also the source of water for the Jatiluhur Reservoir, which is Indonesia's largest reservoir with 3 billion cubic meters of storage capacity.

The river's pollution is mainly caused by the more than 2,000 industries, including textile factories, built along its banks. These factories discharge enormous amounts of untreated chemical waste directly into the river, with an estimated 280 tonnes of toxic waste, including lead, mercury, arsenic, and other toxins, dumped into the river daily. The water is so contaminated that it has caused various health issues for those living nearby, such as skin diseases, tuberculosis, and chronic bronchitis. It has also led to a significant decline in the river's fish population, with a 60% decrease since 2008.

The Indonesian government has recognized the severity of the issue and has implemented several initiatives to address the pollution. In 2011, a river revitalization project was launched, aiming to restore the river to clean drinking water status. In 2018, President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo announced a seven-year cleansing program, deploying thousands of military personnel to clean up the river and bring back plant life to the surrounding critical lands. The program is supported by the International Monetary Fund and the Asian Development Bank, which committed $500 million towards the river's rehabilitation.

Despite these efforts, challenges remain, as local activists report that factories continue to discharge waste via concealed pipes, and enforcement of environmental regulations is lacking. However, there is hope that recent environmental awareness initiatives by the government and campaign groups will bring about positive change. The goal is to make the Citarum's water drinkable again by 2025.

The Ganges River in India, the fifth most polluted river in the world

The Ganges River in India is considered the fifth most polluted river in the world. It is sacred to Hindus, who believe that its water can cleanse people of their sins. However, the river has become heavily polluted due to decades of human activities, including industrial waste, sewage, and religious rituals. With a length of 2,500 kilometres, the Ganges provides water for about 40% of India's population, which equates to more than 500 million people. This makes it the most populated river basin in the world.

The river is polluted with human waste, industrial contaminants, and sewage. In 2017, 113 million rural households in India lacked access to toilets, leading people to defecate in fields or directly into the river. This, along with other waste, seeps into the river, contributing to its high levels of pollution. The water is so contaminated that it has been linked to several waterborne diseases, killing thousands of adults and children annually.

The Indian government has made efforts to clean up the river, pledging $4 billion to ensure that no untreated municipal sewage or industrial runoff enters the river. However, these initiatives have largely failed to produce significant results. The construction of dams, such as the Haridwar Dam, has also contributed to the river's degradation by reducing its flow.

The pollution in the Ganges poses a significant threat to both human health and the environment. It is also endangering the wildlife that depends on it, such as the Ganges river dolphin, which is listed as endangered with a population of less than 2,000. The river's high levels of heavy metal pollution are particularly harmful to the Ganges softshell turtle, which is vulnerable to these toxins due to its long lifespan and high trophic level in the aquatic food web.

The Shatt al-Arab river in Iraq, where poor waste management has turned its waters deadly

The Shatt al-Arab river in Iraq, formed by the confluence of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, has become a poster child for the devastating consequences of poor waste management. Once known as the "Venice of the Middle East" for its picturesque canals, Iraq's port city of Basra is now plagued by stagnant and polluted water, posing a severe threat to the well-being of its residents.

The water crisis in Basra is a complex issue with a multitude of contributing factors. One of the primary culprits is the discharge of untreated wastewater and industrial effluents into the Shatt al-Arab river. This includes pollutants from power stations, factories, and even medical waste from hospitals. The river has also been subjected to frequent oil spills, with oil waste contaminating the water and affecting both the environment and human health. The impact of these spills is evident in the increased levels of salt and other pollutants, which have detrimental effects on aquatic life and agriculture.

Compounding the problem is the lack of an effective water treatment system in Basra. The city, located in southern Iraq, has struggled with shattered infrastructure due to years of under-investment and the aftermath of conflicts, including the war with Iran. The breakdown of its once advanced sanitary infrastructure has transformed its waterways into cesspools, further exacerbating the water crisis.

The consequences of this environmental disaster are far-reaching. In 2018, Basra witnessed a public health crisis, with 150,000 cases of water poisoning reported among its inhabitants. The contamination levels in the Shatt al-Arab river have increased significantly over the years, putting the lives of Basra's residents at risk. The salinity of the river has also been affected, with levels far exceeding the allowable maximum, impacting the freshwater supply and agricultural activities.

The Iraqi government has faced challenges in addressing this crisis effectively. Political instability, the aftermath of dictatorial rule, and the struggle for efficient water management have hindered their ability to implement lasting solutions. While there have been negotiations with neighboring countries to increase the river's flow, the region's drought conditions have limited the availability of water. The crisis has sparked mass protests from furious residents, demanding clean and accessible water.

The Indus River, which channels heavily polluted water through Pakistan and India to the Indian Ocean

The Indus River is heavily polluted by agricultural, industrial, and domestic waste. Untreated sewage from cities and towns along the river is discharged into it, and local factories dump chemical waste into the river and its tributaries. The river is also a dumping ground for agricultural flows, including pesticides and phosphates, which have reduced fish populations and decreased the food supply for those living near the river. The construction of dams on the Indus and its tributaries has further impacted the river's flow, reducing it to a trickle and destroying the once-fertile delta at its terminus.

The pollution in the Indus River has had significant ecological and economic impacts. The river was once abundant with mangroves and marine life, but these ecosystems have been devastated by toxic water pollution. This has not only reduced the food supply for coastal populations but also threatened species such as the Indus River dolphin with extinction. The pollution has also impacted the health of people living along the river, with unsafe water contributing to high rates of stunting and diarrhea, especially in children.

The Indus River's water woes have been documented by filmmakers and environmentalists, who have highlighted the river's overuse and the threat of climate change. Despite these efforts, little research has been conducted on the effect of river pollution on human health in Pakistan, and water management remains a serious problem. The future of the Indus River is uncertain, and the strain on its water resources is likely to continue with the region's booming population and rising demand for water.

The Indus River is just one example of a heavily polluted body of water, with other rivers such as the Citarum in Indonesia, the Ganges in India, and the Huangpu in China also facing severe water pollution. These rivers are plagued by industrial waste, agricultural runoff, and untreated sewage, highlighting the global nature of water pollution and its devastating impacts on ecosystems, communities, and economies.

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