Originally, When USA was in the making. Early settlers wanted people to migrate. That was the policy.

@Horsefrost Rivers are inland... and flow into the sea!

@ArishMell But they make their deposits around a delta even before sea. Water goes to ocean but not the pollutants.

@Horsefrost I agree some of the pollution might become trapped in deltas or estuarine mud-flats, poisoning the life in those. Also, most of those materials in solution, not particulates, will simply flow past the mud-banks and into the sea.

River water in its natural state is not hygienic enough for human consumption anyway - we might be able to stomach water high on mountains as long as it is not glacier-melt full of rock-flour (without filtering); but otherwise cannot drink it raw without risking being very ill. That though is normal, although it can be exacerbated by farm field run-off, of animal-faecal effluvia or agricultural chemicals .

There is no excuse for wilfully or negligently releasing industrial or farming waste into the water in bulk as a matter of course. That can only be a criminal offence; with very heavy fines for the company itself and for the negligent or wilfully-wrongdoing directors.

@samueltyler2 I was talking about rivers.

@Horsefrost thanks for the information. do you believe that you are the only one who knows this? do you think the scientists wo proved much of what you stated would suggest just allowing industry to pollute rivers so that the rivers can simply recover by themselves? How much human disease will be caused during the time the rivers recover?

I simply did googles for these, you can do the same. Please don't argue saying these are leftist reports, That is a diversion and cop out.

You are old enough to remember the disaster in W Virgina when coal ash contaminated the river
https://weather.com/science/environment/news/west-virginia-chemical-spill-exposes-new-risk-water-coal-20140118

how about the lead contamination in Flint, Michigan
https://www.nrdc.org/stories/flint-water-crisis-everything-you-need-know

Dupont's contamination of water over years:
https://www.timesunion.com/capitol/article/dupont-agrees-settle-lawsuit-hoosick-falls-water-20400391.php

@Horsefrost nice try!

@Horsefrost hurrah for you! What does that even mean? You accepted a nonsense phrase from a convicted felon who has never run a successful business.

@Horsefrost How do you define great? What time period does "again" refer to?