Mines in Wales and Cornwall are causing serious water pollution problems. Phosphorus from sewage is another powerful pollutant. It comes from detergents and stays in rivers for a long time, taking up valuable oxygen. Few sewage works are equipped to remove phosphates. Careless people can also pollute rivers and harm wildlife by pouring things like used car oil and paint into drains.
Rubbish dumps create a strong chemical cocktail called leachate.
This can be deadly to fish, small water creatures and plants. In modern waste sites great care is taken to ensure that none escapes, but leachate from older rubbish dumps seeps into rivers and can pollute our drinking water. Protecting rivers and streams Both the European Union and the British government are concerned about water pollution. Water quality is protected by many different laws. England's first water pollution act of 1388 made it illegal to dump animal remains, dung or garbage into rivers.