How polluted are Great Lakes?

How polluted are Great Lakes?

Pollutants. Although the Great Lakes are large, they are sensitive to pollutants. Outflows from the Great Lakes are relatively small (less than 1 percent per year) in comparison with the total volume of water. Pollutants that enter the lakes are retained in the system and become more concentrated with time.

Are the Great Lakes toxic?

Cyanobacteria blooms (blue-green algae) are a frequent occurrence in the Great Lakes, particularly in Lake Erie, Green Bay, and Saginaw Bay. Some cyanobacteria blooms can grow rapidly and produce toxins that cause harm to animal life and humans, so scientists describe them as harmful algal blooms (HABs).

Is Lake Michigan toxic?

According to an analysis by the Chicago Tribune, the Oak Creek plant is the largest source of toxic metals being discharged into Lake Michigan, dumping more than 2,000 pounds of potentially brain-damaging toxic metals into the water last year.

What chemicals are in Lake Michigan?

They include PCBs, dioxins, furans, hexachlorobenzene, benzo(a)pyrene (one of many polyaromatic hydrocarbons or PAHs), lead and mercury compounds and pesticides (toxaphene, mirex, aldrin/dieldrin, DDT). 3 Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement Work Group Report on Chemicals of Emerging Concern, August 2009.

What causes pollution in Lake Michigan?

The Great Lakes suffer from three main sources of pollution: Heavy industry, manufacturing, and agriculture. This does not account for all of the pollution, but are a majority of the blame. Chemical pollution, Plastic pollution, and Nutrient pollution have been devastating to The Great Lakes.

Do they dump sewage in Lake Michigan?

Billions of gallons of sewage In 2017, Chicago’s Metropolitan Water Reclamation District sent 2.8 billion gallons of sewage to the lake and zero in 2018, according to spokesperson Allison Roe. In 2018, Milwaukee’s sewerage district discharged 1.3 billion gallons to Lake Michigan.

Is Lake Michigan water clean?

On any warm day, people can be found swimming, wading, playing in the surf or walking the beaches along the southern shore of Lake Michigan. Generally the water is clean and safe for swimming. However, to ensure public safety, the national lakeshore regularly tests the water for contamination by bacteria.

Is it safe to drink out of Lake Michigan?

Most officials and environmental experts interviewed said the drinking water from Lake Michigan supplied to 7 million people in Chicago and its suburbs is considered safe and tasty, especially compared with water from other municipalities around the nation.