River Colne, England (June 2019) iPhone 7
Rivers exist on every continent. Some are tranquil and silent, some are ferocious and frightening. Over time they have sculpted landscapes. They transfer nutrients all around the world. They have given rise to and sustained some of the biggest cities in the world. Rivers are also hubs of biodiversity, nurseries, hunting grounds, and much, much more for both aquatic and terrestrial species.
Pollution of rivers worldwide is continuously growing and causing devastating consequences. From the fashion industry, to farming, to road runoff, we are slowly poisoning the world’s fresh water supply. We demand too much from it and do not give enough back in return. While plastic waste can be spotted floating along many rivers, not all pollutants are visible to the human eye, such as the infiltration of contaminated groundwater into a river. Some pollutants damage or kill silently, when the pollution level has become so great that nature’s resilience is no longer enough. We must appreciate and preserve our most essential life force: water.