Water Pollution In Indiana

Water pollution has been one of the biggest ecological issues in the United States for many years. Although there are many efforts that are working to improve this ongoing problem, the situation still is the biggest ecological issue facing America. Indiana, one of the most polluted states, houses many heavily polluted rivers, including the Wabash River, White River, Eel River, Eagle Creek, and Patoka. The White River, the most polluted among Indiana’s rivers, runs through the center of Indianapolis. White River pollution is the greatest ecological problem in Indiana because of its detrimental effects on wildlife, drinking water, and the environment.

One of the most pressing ecological problems in the United States today, river pollution,

This contaminated water could cause serious health problems in those who drink it. Local reporter Keelee Hurlburt writes, “Swimming in and drinking contaminated water can cause skin rashes and health problems like cancer, reproductive problems, typhoid fever and stomach sickness in humans.” These are very serious health problems that have the possibility of eventually leading to death. USGS researchers Diane Noserale and Martin Risch state, “The White River and Fall Creek near Indianapolis had high percentages of fish with mercury levels above the safety standard.” Because the amount of mercury in the White River exceeds the safety standard, it has the potential to be harmful to anyone who consumes it. When consumed, the mercury causes serious early conditions of the brain. This is just one of the many harmful effects that toxic chemicals in drinking water cause when they are

The effects include the death and sickness of the wildlife in the White River. According to Herald Bulletin Online reporter Justin Schneider, “In 1999, a chemical discharge originating in Anderson decimated aquatic life for 57 miles along the waterway. It killed 4.6 million fish.” This event, known as the White River Fish Kill, devastated the river’s inhabitants. Because of the dearth of fish, the White River had to be restocked.

In addition to the effects on the wildlife, the contaminated water of the White River has serious negative effects on the surrounding environment. Pollutants introduced into the river cause these negative effects on the environment. For example, “sewage, fertilizer, and agricultural runoff contain organic materials that when discharged into waters, increase the growth of algae, which causes the depletion of oxygen” (“Causes and Effects of Water Pollution”). This deprivation of oxygen caused by the pollutants will cause many of the aquatic plants to