Marathon swimmer Lewis Pugh arrived on Manhattan’s southern tip on a crisp September morning, exhausted but jubilant. By that time, he had done something that would have been impossible five decades back. The man had wrapped up a 507-km Hudson swim.
The month-long endurance test was designed to highlight the benefits of cleaning up long-neglected waterways. “Fifty years ago, a swim like this would have been absolutely impossible. This was once one of the most polluted rivers in the whole world,” Pugh said on his arrival.
Pugh, a UN Environment Programme (UNEP) Patron of the Oceans, shined the light on decades of cleanup efforts that have helped revive the Hudson in the US. His historic swim came against a backdrop of mounting pressure on many rivers across the planet.
A number of waterways are witnessing a perfect storm cooked up by a combination of pollution, climate change and over-extraction. “I pray that [people around the world] are going to be inspired by what happened here,” Pugh added.
Exploring Four Most Polluted Rivers In The World
Table of Contents
Ganges River, India
With ashes strewn on the Ganges River, preservatives used to keep flowers fresh leaching into the waterbody and scores of pilgrims bathing every day, it’s not surprising scientists have discovered some bacteria that are resistant to most forms of commonly used antibiotics.
Citarum River, Indonesia
This once-clear river faces extensive pollution from industrial waste, household sewage and runoff from farms. Its water is heftily contaminated with toxic chemicals, heavy metals and plastic waste, threatening human health and the surrounding ecosystems.
Buriganga River, Bangladesh
It flows through the capital of Bangladesh, serving as a lifeline for millions of people in terms of water supply, transportation and livelihoods. But industrial discharges, municipal sewage, inadequate treatment facilities and a lack of proper management are harming the waterbody.
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Yellow River, China
It’s the second longest river in China, flowing through major industrial areas and huge population centres. However, the river has been suffering from extensive pollution due to waste from industries, urban sewage and agriculture runoff.
