12 April 2011: The Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) released the 13th edition of its “Taking Stock” report, which addresses North American industrial pollution impacts on the water environment.

The report notes that over 228 million kilograms of direct pollutant were released to surface waters in North America in 2006 and that ninety percent of reported volumes released to surface waters comprised just two pollutants—nitrate compounds and ammonia—associated with nutrient loading and aquatic “dead zones” affecting North American waters.

The report also highlights that over 133 million kilograms of a wide variety of pollutants were transferred to sewage or wastewater treatment facilities, which depending on whether and how they are treated, can also be eventually released to surface waters.

Finally, the report notes significant gaps in the tracking of North American industrial pollution as a result of national reporting exemptions for certain sectors and pollutants, combined with incomplete reporting by some facilities, including public wastewater treatment plants. However, it highlights that progress is being made by the governments to close these gaps, by removing exemptions for sectors and adding substances subject to reporting. [Publication: Taking Stock, 13th Edition]