Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Oregon and West Virginia scored a B grade for doing the most to address water pollution. No state received an A for its effort to curb water pollution. Because of a combination of political intimidation by certain industries and bureaucratic inertia, most states are not adequately addressing polluted runoff and contaminated rain. According to the report, the states have focused nearly all of their attention on pollution discharged from sewer systems and factories. Many continue to ignore the problems caused by non-point pollution sources.
Water quality can dictate summer recreation activites.
Our rivers, lakes and streams are in critical condition, and many states refuse to pick up the phone and call 911. Non-point pollution sources run the gamut from agricultural fields, suburban lawns and livestock operations to city streets, parking lots, smokestacks, car exhaust and logging. Runoff from agriculture and livestock operations carries manure, fertilizer, pesticides and sediment into waterways and groundwater and is a major cause of algal blooms that endanger aquatic species. Fertilizer, pesticides and other chemicals applied to lawns leach into waterways, groundwater and wetlands. Oil, gasoline and antifreeze from automobiles seeps into storm drains, which usually empty into the nearest waterway.