A river should be vibrant and alive. However, many rivers are full of waste. The most polluted rivers worldwide will have raw sewage, factory waste and heaps of plastic. This causes problems with drinking water, fish and farming. The poorest communities along these rivers will be affected the most. There is no official list of how Water pollution the rivers. However, there are always changes depending on the study. This list includes ten rivers which are mentioned by experts and researchers.
Polluted Rivers In Asia With Millions Living Nearby
Asia takes the majority of polluted rivers due to it having a large population and booming industry.
•Citarum River (Indonesia) – This river has hundreds of textile factories running along it. However, in 2018 the government created a cleaning project called Citarum Harum.
•Ganges River (India) – This river is sacred to millions of people and suffers from sewage, and factory waste. In 2014 the Indian government created the Namami Gange Mission creating new treatment plants.
•Yamuna River (India) – It is filled with foamy and toxic water from the drainage of Delhi.
•Buriganga (Bangladesh) – Due to the tanneries and drainage from Dhaka this river was nearly dead. Some improvements were made when they moved the tanneries to Savar.
•Marilao River (Philippines) – This small river suffers from tanneries, farms, and household waste.
•Bagmati River (Nepal) – This river is directly affected by raw sewage from Kathmandu.
However, volunteers regularly clean up the river.
•Yangzte River (China) – Often the Yangzte is found in studies as one of the biggest rivers to carry plastic into the sea.
Polluted Rivers In Latin America And Europe
Not just Asia suffers from pollution.
•Matanza-Riachuelo River (Argentina) – This river runs through Buenos Aires and contains heavy metal and household waste. A clean up was ordered by the Argentinian Supreme Court in 2008. However, progress has been slow.
•Tietê River (Brazil) – Due to the large population of Sao Paulo this river suffers from high amounts of sewage in the upper part of the river.
•Sarno River (Italy) – This river has become one of the most polluted in Europe due to farming chemicals and factory waste.
When looking at the top 10 most polluted rivers we can see a pattern. To get rivers cleaned up the government needs to make sure factories follow rules, cities create proper septic tanks and locals monitor their water. Simple changes such as not dumping any rubbish near rivers, using less plastic and supporting local clean up groups will help create clean rivers.
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