Tisza-Danube

1. Tisza-Danube “Water Chernobyl”

2. Cyanide • Toxic chemical that is used in mining and other industries

3. Cyanide • Cyanide was used in Romania at a mining operation • Separates gold from rock • After it is used it was stored behind a dam

4. January 30,2000 • Rain swelled the pond and it reached a dangerously high level • The dam burst releasing 100,000 cubic meters of cyanide water into the Szamos River • Equivalent to 30 Olympic pools

5. Szamos River in Romania • Went across Hungary and entered the Tisza River • Tisza empties into the Danube • Went across Serbia, Montenegro, and Bulgaria and then into the Black Sea

7. Effects • Dead fish • Killed 200 tons of fish • Hundreds of otters • Fish-eating birds died

8. Effects • Other animals that ate or drank from the water died.

9. Effects • Affected the water supply of 2.5 million people • Shut down water systems

10. Effects • Warned people to stay away from water • Canceled trips to area

11. Did not last long • Breaks down in sunlight • When reached the Danube – no longer toxic to fish • Take years for the river to “get back to normal”

12. Other Sources of Water Pollution • Mining • Farming – chemicals and fertilizers • Boats • factories

13. Efforts to Reduce Water Pollution • Different groups working on helping the Danube in the future • “Danube Day”

14. Tisza-Danube A Burst Dam Releases Deadly Chemicals • Write the name of the country that was the source of the water pollution. On the map, color the source of the water pollution. • Then complete this sentence: Accidental water pollution occurred when… Cyanide Flows into the Danube River System • Summarize how the pollution spread. Names two countries most affected by the pollution. • Then complete this sentence: One consequence of the spread of water pollution across borders was… Efforts to Reduce Water Pollution • Describe one effort to reduce water pollution. Then complete this sentence: _______________________ help to reduce water pollution by…