"Rivers, streams, lakes, and coastal waters of the United States face various threats through human activities, not least of which is the bane of pollution. One of the major sources of contaminants that can upset the natural balance is industrial output, including large-scale agriculture, particularly if the processes and discharge are poorly managed, according to a new report from Environment America.

The environmental advocacy organization considers five of the biggest businesses involved in corporate agriculture, looks at their impact on the nation’s waterways, and outlines ways in which the situation could be improved.

'The numbers in the report are really compelling, astoundingly high,' John Rumpler, senior attorney with Environment America and author of the report, tells The Christian Science Monitor in a telephone interview. 'The public has no idea.'"

Jason Thomson reports for the Christian Science Monitor July 1, 2016. [2]