Water is vital for our survival, but numerous rivers globally, essential to human civilisation, are now filled with industrial waste, plastic, and raw sewage. Pollution affects marine life, but it also threatens the drinking water of millions of humans, as well as their ability to fish and grow food. Let’s take a look at the 10 most polluted rivers in the world.
1. Ganga (India)
Even though the Ganga is holy, it is polluted with plastics, untreated sewage, and industrial waste. About 80% of the sewage that doesn’t go through any treatment in towns along the Ganga flows straight into it.
2. Citarum (Indonesia)
Often called the “world’s most polluted river,” Citarum is harmed by heavy metals, plastics, and harmful industrial runoff. It is dangerous for both people and fish because of this.
3. The Yellow River
The Yellow River, which is often called the “cradle of Chinese civilisation,” is highly polluted by.
4. The state of Mississippi
A “dead zone” has formed in parts of the Mississippi River because of pollution from farms, pesticides, and factories. This zone hurts the Gulf of Mexico’s ecology.
5. River Yamuna
The Yamuna River runs through Delhi and is full of sewage and industrial waste. There are parts of the river where you shouldn’t drink or bathe in the water.
6. The Buriganga River
This river in Bangladesh is the main river in Dhaka. It is full of poisonous chemicals from tanneries, plastic trash, and raw sewage, which is very bad for people’s health.
7. Marilao (Philippines)
The gold refineries and industry waste that are close to the river pollute it with mercury and lead. This puts the people who live near the river at risk.
8. Jordan (Middle East)
The Jordan River is a famous waterway, but it is very polluted because it has been overused, and untreated wastewater is dumped into it. This has slowed the flow of water in some parts of the river to a trickle.
9. Sarno (Italy)
The Sarno River is thought to be the dirtiest river in Europe because it dumps raw sewage and dangerous chemicals into the Bay of Naples.
10. Pasig City, Philippines
The Pasig used to be an important traffic route, but now it’s full of trash, plastic, and raw sewage. There have been some improvements lately, though, after clean-up work was done.
The polluted rivers of the world illustrate the glaring need for universal food and water conservation and stricter waste management. Across the globe, from Asia to Europe, history is repeating itself. Without governments and citizens coming together to protect these arteries to civilisation and its associated biodiversity, these rivers will vanish forever, along with the health of millions.
