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Water Pollution

Coal & Water

Coal-fired power plants are one of America's biggest water polluters. In fact, power plants dump more toxins into our rivers and streams than any other industry in the United States, including the chemical, plastic, and paint-manufacturing industries.

Exports: A Bad Investment

Across the country, Americans are turning to cleaner energy and phasing out coal power. Because of this, the coal industry has come up with a new plan: Export coal to Asia.

Coal Plant Water Pollution

72 percent of all toxic water pollution in the country comes from coal-fired power plants, making coal plants the number one source of toxic water pollution in the U.S.

Coal Ash Waste

Every year, the nation’s coal plants produce 140 million tons of coal ash pollution, the toxic by-product that is left over after the coal is burned. All that ash has to go somewhere, and it contains high levels of toxic heavy metals such as arsenic, lead and selenium.

Destroying Mountains

In Appalachia, mining companies literally blow the tops off mountains to reach thin seams of coal. They then dump millions of tons of rubble and toxic waste into the streams and valleys below the mining sites.