Farmers who use pesticides are also contributing to the problem. The pesticides reach rivers through runoff where they are absorbed by fish and then carried to humans. The U.S. Council on Environmental Quality says that runoff effects more than half of our rivers. Wastes can also directly enter our drinking water by seeping into the groundwater supply. Even treated water is not safe.
Many cities use chlorine to treat contaminated water.
However, when chlorine combines with some organic materials it forms dangerous byproducts which are proven carcinogens. Water pollution is also a major cost to our government. All of these effects can also lead to an increase in health care costs. As impossible as it may seem, pollution control is not a lost cause. There are several effective methods which invole government, corporate, public, and school cooperation.