Each day, 24 million gallons of raw sewage are dumped
into the Rio Grande River from Nuevo Laredo, w/
some parts of the river containing fecal bacteria
counts as high as 22,000 bacteria/milliliter
(200/ml is considered unsafe for swimming). 
Rio Grande is the only source of drinking water
for many border communities.

California's New River is the most polluted in the U.S.,
containing more than 100 industrial chemicals and
receiving 76 million liters of raw sewage each day.