How north carolina is affected by water pollution
How north carolina is affected by water pollutionHOW NORTH CAROLINA IS EFFECTED ECONOMICALLY BY WATER POLLUTION
About 80% of the State’s surveyed freshwater rivers and streams have good water quality that fully supports aquatic life uses, 17% have fair water quality that partially supports aquatic life uses, and 3% have poor water quality that does not support aquatic life uses. Ten percent of the surveyed rivers do not fully support swimming. The major sources of impairment are agriculture (responsible for 53% of the impaired river miles), urban runoff (responsible for 16%), and construction (responsible for 13%). These sources generate siltation, bacteria, and organic wastes that deplete disssolved opxygen.
Only 17% of the surveyed lakes in North CCarolina are impaired for swimming and 6% are impaired for aquatic life uses. A few lakes are impacted by dioxin, metals, and excessive nutrient enrichment. The Champion Paper mill on the Pigeon River is the source of dioxin contamination in Waterville Lake. The State and the mill implemented a dioxin minimization program in the mid-1980s and completed a modernization program in 1993 that will reduce water usage and discharges.
About 94% of the estuaries and sounds in North Carolina fgully support designated uses. Agriculture, urban runoff, septic tanks, and point source discharges are the leading...
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