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When and how did water pollution start?

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Along with amazing technological advances, the Industrial Revolution of the mid-19th century introduced new sources of air and water pollution. By the middle of the 20th century, the effects of these changes were beginning to be felt in countries around the world. read more

Water pollution has been happening since the beginning of human history. However, the pollutants that most people think of today mostly began after the Industrial Revolution and became a significant problem in the late 1800s. read more

Early types of water pollution were usually due to contamination from human and animal waste, which caused major outbreaks of diseases like cholera. Following the Industrial Revolution, new manufacturing and mining processes caused toxic chemicals to be dumped into lakes and rivers at a high rate. read more

In 1972, Congress passed the Clean Water Act to reduce water pollution. Various pieces of anti-pollution legislation have followed since that time and today the U.S. has relatively clean, safe drinking water compared with much of the world. read more

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