13 Things You Didn't Know About Pollution In The Great Lakes

The Great Lakes account for 20% of the entire worlds freshwater supply - but due to pollution, that water is becoming increasingly less "fresh". Pollution in the Great Lakes is one of the most pressing environmental issues facing the State of Michigan and the surrounding area. Check out our list below to find out why!

1. The problem is very serious.

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2. Lake Michigan is used as a primary dumping location for many surrounding factories, paper mills, and pulp mills.

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With numerous factories and mills located along its shoreline, Lake Michigan has become a victim to large amounts of waste dumping. This waste has depleted the water quality and has proven to be harmful to the overall health of the lakes ecosystem.

3. Lake Erie's surrounding agricultural area has heavily polluted the lakes water with fertilizers and pesticides.

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Lake Erie is the smallest of the five lakes but contains a greater surrounding a of agricultural then any of the others. The fertilizer runoff, urine, and feces from factory farms in this area has greatly disrupted the lake's aquatic ecosystem.

4. 1.2 Million Olympic-sized swimming pools worth of raw sewage...

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Are dumped into the lakes EACH YEAR

Yes - you read that right.

The Great Lakes are home to more than 35 million people who contribute to the 1.2 million Olympic sized swimming pools worth of raw sewage dumped into the lakes every year. Bacteria and viruses thrive in raw sewage and can lead to skin rashes, infections, stomach problems and diarrhea for those who come in contact.

5. Plastic debris similar to the "Great Pacific Garbage Patch" has been found in the Great Lakes.

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It has been estimated that plastic debris that amounts to "double the size of Texas" is currently floating in the Great Lakes. This plastic is often times found by researchers in microscopic amounts but can be extremely harmful to surrounding wildlife. Many birds and fish consume these tiny particles and get severely sick as a result.

6. Survivors of the wastewater treatment process.

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Numerous chemicals such as insect repellants, detergents, and over-the-counter medications can survive the wastewater treatment process. These chemicals can be found in large amounts and have great impacts on the health of the lakes ecosystem.

7. Only around 1% of all the water in the Great Lakes leaves their basins each year.

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This is a huge problem for Great Lake water quality because once pollutants enter the water they tend to stay there for a long period of time and become more concentrated as time goes on.

8. The damning of tributaries is threatening the Great Lakes.

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Damning tributaries can impede the natural flow of water, nutrients, and sediments between the Great Lakes. In addition, damning tributaries threaten the biodiversity of the lakes ecosystem by blocking routes between species habitats.

9. Ice cover on the Great Lakes has decreased by over 71% in the last 40 years.

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When the ice cover melts earlier in the year it leads to higher water temperatures throughout the year. Higher temperatures disrupt the lakes ecosystems and can decrease the maximum amount of oxygen that can be dissolved in the water, leading to oxygen stress.

10. Phosphorous Levels are rising in The Great Lakes.

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Rising phosphorous levels, resulting from agricultural runoff, promote eutrophication which can lead to oxygen depletion and threaten numerous species within the ecosystem.

11. Algae Blooms becoming more prevalent in Lake Erie.

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Nitrogen-rich runoff from surrounding farms have sprouted a growing number of algae blooms within Lake Erie. Algae blooms release natural harmful toxins and restrict proper sunlight for marine vegetation. In addition, algae blooms lead to increased water treatment costs for various communities that use Lake Erie as their water source.

12. Water Pollution = Sick People, Fish, and Birds

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When harmful chemicals and sewage find their way into the Great Lakes, the health impacts can be disastrous. Mercury, lead, and persticides biomagify as they move up the food chain - meaning they become more concentrated. This leads to tumors and death in trout, herring gulls, and even humans. Certain seabirds have been found to have 31-42 times the natural rate of birth defects as a result of chemical pollutants.

POP's (Persistant Organic Pollutants) found in Great Lakes fish can lead to sickness, reproductive problems, cancer, and neurological disorders in humans.

13. Great Lakes Pollution MUST be addressed NOW!