Runoff from urban centers, farms, and construction sites are full of particles such as silt, waste, and chemicals. When this discharge flows in our rivers, they can suffocate ecosystems with silt, drastically increase erosion, and even poison the water with toxins.
Increased turbidity in water restricts the light reaching into the water, which can destroy entire ecosystems. Animals are often unable to see their food, and plants are blocked from sunlight. Turbidity is caused by solids and particles in the water, like waste and solids. Pollutants in the water will also affect animals, the look of the water, and the health of the nearby environment. Heavy metals such as lead, arsenic, mercury, and cadmium can all be found in majorly polluted waterways.
