The document discusses various sources of river pollution using the Ganges River as an example. It notes that over 1 billion liters of untreated sewage and industrial effluents enter the river daily. Other sources of pollution include partially cremated human corpses, agricultural runoff containing chemicals, and waste from the leather industry. The holy city of Varanasi has water in the Ganges River that is 120 times more contaminated than legally permitted levels. Bathing and other activities in the heavily polluted river put over 10 million people at risk of waterborne diseases every day.

1. River Pollution Can rivers be managed sustainably?

2. What do you think this river is used for? Is there a link between what’s floating on the river and the apartments on the river bank?

3. Is this clean water being discharged into the river? What is revealed as a dry spell causes the river to dry up?

4. Here’s somewhere that’s not taking recycling seriously! What is this man doing? Just muddy or something more sinister?

5. What are these people doing? What killed these fish?

6. Is this ‘white water’ from a fast flowing river?

7. How many different things have been dumped in this river? Certainly doesn’t look nice – but could it also be toxic?

8. … and green? Why is the water red?

9. Is this cow a source of pollution?

10. Have you ever seen a river bank like this one? What do you see?

11. Would you like to live alongside this river?