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Industrialization leads to water pollution. At a certain stage, most countries decide to preserve water. This is done through government regulation and control of industrial discharges, fines for non-compliance with requirements, and other measures. Unfortunately, many factors influence whether these requirements will be met or not. The most problematic bodies of water are rivers, as they carry drinking water.
Most rivers have the ability to self-renew if pollution is halted. These processes are quite lengthy and can take decades. There are technologies that can accelerate self-renewal processes, but their implementation is quite expensive, so not all countries can afford it.
In the end, we have numerous rivers that continue to be polluted and pose a serious ecological threat.
Many people talk about the world's dirtiest river, the Ganges in India, but there are even more polluted bodies of water. Today, we'll write about them.
Citarum River (Indonesia)
The Citarum River is considered the dirtiest river in the world according to all available sources. Over five hundred factories discharge their effluents into it. Additionally, it is polluted with plastic and other trash that floats on the water’s surface. According to environmentalists, about 20 tons of waste and 240 tons of wastewater are dumped into the river daily, leading to the extinction of 60% of fish species. In many places, the water’s surface is not visible due to the trash. The mercury level in this river exceeds permissible concentrations by 100 times, and lead is elevated more than 1000 times.
Yamuna River (India)
Approximately 3.5 million tons of wastewater are discharged into this river daily without any treatment. The pollution level is so high that fish and plants are absent. Thus, the river, which is still renowned for Hindu rituals and supplies water to 60 million people, is dead. Its water flows into the Ganges, which also makes this list but has cleaner waters. The Indian government developed a Ganges restoration plan in 1985, which included the construction of large treatment facilities, but they have not kept pace with the growth in population and industry. Drinking water from the Ganges is categorically unsafe due to numerous pathogenic microorganisms, including schistosomes, enterobacteria, and even cholera and shigella pathogens. Nevertheless, nearly 700 million people continue to bathe in it. According to the World Health Organization, 1.5 million children die annually in India from waterborne diseases, with 30-40% of these deaths attributed to bathing in the Ganges.
Sarno River (Italy)
This river is only 15 kilometers long, starting at Mount Sarno and ending in the Bay of Naples. It is the dirtiest river in Europe due to wastewater from tanneries and agriculture. It is still used for irrigation and some industrial needs.
Ganges River (India)
One of the longest and most voluminous rivers in Asia, located in one of the most densely populated regions of the world, the Ganges is also one of the dirtiest rivers. Internet photos and videos show floating remains on the water’s surface, although such occurrences have been legislatively restricted in India for some time. However, less noticeable and more dangerous pollutants include industrial and domestic wastewater that flow into the river from both India and Bangladesh. India’s government developed a Ganges restoration plan in 1985, which included the creation of large treatment facilities. However, these facilities have not kept up with the rapid growth of population and industry.
Matanza-Riachuelo River (Argentina)
In some sources, this river is mentioned as two separate bodies of water, but it is one river, known as Riachuelo at the source and Matanza further downstream. It is 64 kilometers long. Traditional pollution sources include industry and domestic wastewater. About 3.5 million people live along its banks. Many industries, including numerous tanneries, are located along the river. Major pollutants include heavy metals and groundwater discharges. In 1993, funds were allocated for river restoration, but only partially removed sunken ship hulls, with main works lacking due to theft by officials. In 2006, the issue of cleanup was raised again, but no actions have been taken to date.
Buriganga River (Bangladesh)
This river is one of the branches connecting the Brahmaputra and the Ganges. It is one of the dirtiest waters in the world due to the daily discharge of 1.5 million tons of industrial waste, along with domestic wastewater, animal carcasses, plastic, and medical waste. In Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, almost 4500 tons of solid waste and 21,000 cubic meters of wastewater from tanneries are dumped into the river. Most factories do not have treatment facilities. At the same time, the river is a major source of drinking water and the main transportation artery of the country.
Marilao River (Philippines)
Pollution of this river is also due to domestic wastewater and industry. For example, due to a battery recycling plant in the river basin, the lead content is elevated 3800 times (190 times the norm of 0.95 mg/L). Greenpeace is actively involved in addressing the issue, but the Philippine government pays little attention to water quality. The river is practically dead due to the lack of oxygen in the water.
Yellow River (China)
The Yellow River, or Huang He, is the second-longest river in China after the Yangtze, and the sixth-longest river in the world at 5464 km. Its basin houses many industrial enterprises, and it receives a vast amount of domestic wastewater. In 2007, the river's water was deemed unsuitable not only for drinking but also for industrial use and irrigation. Of 4.39 billion tons of wastewater, 70% was industrial. Many provinces simply discharged water without treatment, like a giant sewage collector. It is worth noting that China is actively working to clean the river. Over the last ten years, water quality has significantly improved. Industrial development has been moved away from the river, and companies have been fined heavily for discharging untreated wastewater. The last oil spill occurred in 2014.
Passaic River (USA)
Located in New Jersey, USA, the Passaic River is the dirtiest river in the United States. It was polluted during the 19th and 20th centuries due to large-scale industrialization. Since 1972, efforts have been made to restore the river. The primary pollutants are dioxins, which were introduced by oil refineries, particularly during the production of Agent Orange used to destroy tropical forests in Vietnam. Today, New Jersey has banned commercial fishing in the Passaic River, and self-fishing is not recommended. Preparations for cleaning the riverbed in the most problematic areas are ongoing, but a decision on the cleaning method has not yet been made.
This is not an exhaustive list of polluted rivers. It is encouraging that all of them have a chance to recover, and there are numerous examples of cleaning polluted rivers, but not all countries are taking steps in this direction.
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