by Nanette Piotrowski

Created on: March 07, 2009   Last Updated: March 13, 2010

The rivers of the world are the life-lines of civilization. River water is diverted for agriculture, irrigation, industry, hygiene and food. Some of the largest rivers in the world are the Yangtse, Mississippi, Volga, St. Lawrence, Hudson, Delaware, Rhine and the Thames; which transport the world's heavy trade by ship or barge. All rivers have become contaminated from one source or another and all of humanity, have played a role in their demise.

There are an estimated 12,000 rivers in the United States alone and certain industries are the largest polluters of these water-ways. There are over 200,000 hard rock mines that release cyanide and more toxins in the water than any other US industry. Over 1.1 million acres of abandoned coal mines leach acid into the water supplies and the erosion of soil into the rivers from forestry cuttings, causing creosote to contaminate the water and cause cancer.

Dam building and poor dam operations change the flow patterns of the rivers and poor agricultural practices carry pollutants to the nearest body of water. Animal waste from large animal farms, if not properly managed, can run off farms and pollute nearby water bodies. If flooding occurs, the polluted waters can carry bacteria that can kill people.

Storm water pollution which carries sediments, oils, grease, petroleum by-products, asphalt, metals, pesticides and fertilizers run into the rivers. There are 1,260 billion gallons of raw sewage that flow into our surface waters and the EPA states that only 32% of communities with CSOs (Combined Sanitary Sewer Overflows) are implementing the miminal controls.

The Missouri River, the second largest in the United States, runs 2,540 miles and drains one-sixth of the North American Continent. One-third of the entire river has been altered by dams or channels and the annual fishing industry has seen a decline by 80%. There are thirty-four species of fish that are now considered rare, threatened or endangered because of arsenic and cyanide in the water. The Missouri is now considered one of Americas most endangered rivers. Even though the Clean Water Act has been in place for a long time, it has been no guarantee of safe water.

The Ganges River is 1,550 miles long and passes through several countries: Pakistan, Tibet, China, Nepal, India and Bangladesh. The sheer volume of waste, approximately one billion litres per day, is mostly raw sewage. Partially burnt human and animal corpses float down the Ganges River hourly and the contamination from those sources make potable water an impossibility. The major industry in India is leather which uses large amounts of chromium, a cancer causing agent and the Hindu political parties are not very active in the efforts to clean up the Ganga River.

Clean water is the life-blood of civilization and if, as a society of rational-thinking human beings, we don't make the necessary changes; there will be wars over water and only the strongest will survive. It is our duty as caretakers of this planet, to bring the rivers of the world back to the purity they once had; for all mankind.

Sources:

River Network

Water Network

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