Rivers are often called the lifeblood of civilizations. They provide drinking water, support agriculture, offer transportation routes, and sustain ecosystems.
However, due to industrialization, rapid urbanization, and poor waste management, many of the world’s rivers have turned into toxic waterways.
We will explore some of the dirtiest rivers in the world, bodies of water so polluted that they pose threats not just to the environment, but also to human health and biodiversity around them.
The Ganges River, India
The Ganges, or Ganga, is one of the most sacred rivers in India, revered by millions of Hindus. Stretching over 2,500 kilometers, it flows through densely populated areas and supports more than 400 million people.
But despite its cultural and spiritual importance, the Ganges is now extremely polluted and posing serious threats both for people and the environment.
Raw sewage, industrial waste, agricultural runoff, and religious offerings wrapped in plastic are regularly dumped into the river. In Varanasi alone, one of the holiest cities along the Ganges, thousands of bodies are cremated and some are even submerged partially burned.
While efforts such as the "Namami Gange" mission have been launched to clean the river, progress has been slow and inconsistent due to bureaucratic challenges and deeply ingrained practices.
The Citarum River, Indonesia
The Citarum River in West Java, Indonesia, is often cited as the most polluted river in the world. Home to around 25 million people in its basin, the Citarum is heavily contaminated with industrial waste from textile factories, household garbage, and untreated sewage.
The river water contains high levels of heavy metals such as lead, mercury, and cadmium, posing severe risks to human health. Local residents, many of whom rely on the river for drinking, bathing, and fishing, suffer from chronic skin conditions and respiratory problems.
Despite various government initiatives to restore the river, illegal dumping and a lack of enforcement continue to undermine cleanup efforts.
The Yamuna River, India
Another Indian river plagued by pollution is the Yamuna, which is a major tributary of the Ganges.
Flowing through the capital city of New Delhi, the Yamuna is contaminated with untreated sewage and industrial waste, with estimates suggesting that around 70% of its pollution originates from Delhi alone.
The river's once-clear waters have turned into a toxic black sludge, covered in foam caused by excessive detergents and chemicals. Religious practices, including the immersion of idols and offerings, exacerbate the pollution.
Despite court orders and various action plans, the condition of the Yamuna remains dire, highlighting the challenges of enforcing environmental regulations in rapidly growing urban areas.
The Mississippi River, USA
While not often considered among the dirtiest rivers in visual terms, the Mississippi River in the United States faces serious pollution challenges, particularly due to agricultural runoff.
Spanning over 3,700 kilometers, it carries nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus from fertilizers used in the Midwest down to the Gulf of America.
This nutrient overload contributes to the formation of a massive “dead zone” in the Gulf, an area devoid of oxygen where marine life cannot survive. In addition to runoff, the Mississippi also suffers from industrial discharges and oil spills.
While water quality laws in the U.S. have made improvements, the sheer scale of the river and its drainage basin makes effective regulation difficult.
The Marilao River, Philippines
Located in the province of Bulacan, the Marilao River is one of the most polluted rivers in the Philippines. The waterway is choked with waste from tanneries, gold refineries, and plastic factories.
Hazardous chemicals, including chromium and other heavy metals, have been detected at dangerously high levels.
These pollutants not only degrade the local ecosystem but also contaminate groundwater sources used by surrounding communities. Fish kills are common, and residents suffer from a range of health problems linked to water pollution.
While the government has acknowledged the river's condition, enforcement of environmental laws remains weak due to corruption and limited resources.
The Buriganga River, Bangladesh
The Buriganga River, flowing through Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, is one of the most contaminated rivers in South Asia. Known historically as a lifeline of the city, the Buriganga is now a dumping ground for tannery waste, plastic, sewage, and industrial effluents.
The stench from the river is overwhelming, and its water is thick, black, and devoid of aquatic life in many sections. The textile and leather industries are major contributors to its degradation.
Despite some relocation of tanneries and attempts to improve wastewater treatment, pollution persists largely due to poor regulatory enforcement and the lack of political will.
