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water pollution

Dam failure in Iowa
Posted inNews

Below Aging U.S. Dams, a Potential Toxic Calamity

by J. Dinneen and A. Kennedy 11 June 20216 January 2023

Documents suggest that in more than 80 U.S. locations, the failure of an aging dam could flood a major toxic waste site.

The steps of Har Ki Pauri lead down to the banks of the Ganges in Haridwar, India.
Posted inNews

Pharmaceuticals Pollute the Ganges

by T. V. Padma 4 February 20212 June 2025

Scientists report a cocktail of antibiotics, anti-inflammatory drugs, and personal care products found near two pilgrimage cities along the river.

A group of snailfish, animals that live in deep-sea ecosystems, feeding on a dead fish
Posted inNews

Sinking Fish May Fast-Track Mercury Pollution to the Deep Sea

by Carolyn Wilke 22 December 202018 March 2022

Isotopic analysis indicates that mercury found in deep-sea organisms may have an origin in carrion from near the surface.

Aerial photo of a single boat making its way on Brazil’s São Francisco River
Posted inNews

Urbanization, Agriculture, and Mining Threaten Brazilian Rivers

by Meghie Rodrigues 27 October 20206 December 2021

Harder to analyze and quantify, diffuse pollution is often overlooked when it comes to water quality assessments.

The Alaknanda River, seen from stream level, flows among mountains in northern India.
Posted inResearch Spotlights

Tracking Trace Elements in the Ganga River

by David Shultz 16 October 202016 February 2022

Levels of dissolved trace and heavy metals, which can be toxic, are highly variable across the river basin, concentrating in urban areas with high pollution but diluted by inflow from tributaries.

A drone hovers over a spring in Fitchburg, Wis.
Posted inNews

Taking an Aerial View Underground

by Jady Carmichael 6 October 20208 September 2022

Wisconsin geologists are testing using drones equipped with thermal cameras to measure shallow soil depths in areas prone to groundwater contamination.

Charts showing how groundwater pumping in a deeper aquifer reduces its pressure and induces flow of arsenic rich groundwater from the overlying aquifer
Posted inEditors' Highlights

Arsenic Pollution in Bangladesh is Catching Up with Deeper Wells

by Marc F. P. Bierkens 3 August 20206 February 2023

Inhabitants of Bangladesh have deepened drinking water wells to avoid extracting arsenic-rich groundwater from shallow aquifers, but these may not be free from pollution either.

Aerial photo of a ship in an oil slick
Posted inNews

Leveraging Satellite Sensors for Oil Spill Detection

Sarah Derouin, Science Writer by Sarah Derouin 26 March 202018 May 2022

By using multiple remote sensors, scientists can quickly estimate the nature and thickness of oil spills—important factors for containment efforts.

The Sun sets over Lake Shinji in western Japan
Posted inResearch Spotlights

How Land Use Affects Nutrient Pollution in a Changing Climate

Elizabeth Thompson by Elizabeth Thompson 4 September 201916 February 2022

As heavy rain falls more frequently, the land alongside a river has a greater effect on the waterway’s nutrient levels—for better or worse.

Photo of a deep stepwell in India, with a green pool at the bottom
Posted inNews

Widespread Contamination Found in Northwest India’s Groundwater

Mary Caperton Morton, Science Writer by Mary Caperton Morton 5 August 201913 September 2025

Naturally occurring contaminants and human-made pollution in drinking water supply may be harmful to human health.

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In Appreciation of AGU’s Outstanding Reviewers of 2025

14 September 202610 September 2026
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