In many regions, municipal drainage systems and industrial runoff flow directly into local river systems without undergoing adequate treatment. These rivers serve as the primary source of raw water for municipal drinking water plants., While water treatment plants attempt to purify this water, the presence of high levels of pathogens, heavy metals, and chemical pollutants (like nitrogen and phosphorus) makes the process expensive and often incomplete. This cycle forces communities to consume water that may still contain trace contaminants, leading to long-term health risks and the degradation of the river’s natural ecosystem, such as the loss of aquatic life and the spread of waterborne diseases.