Section 3: Water Releases

Chemicals with the Largest Percentage Decrease in Water Releases

This figure displays the chemicals with the greatest percentage decreases in surface water discharges from 2003 to 2013. Glycol ethers are commonly used as industrial solvents; methanol is used as a chemical feedstock and other applications; and arsenic, nickel, zinc, and their associated compounds are metals, primarily discharged to surface water by electric utilities and paper manufacturing facilities in 2013. Arsenic and arsenic compound discharges decreased by the greatest quantity, decreasing by 88 million pounds (-63%) from 2003 to 2013.

Facilities can decrease their releases of TRI chemicals to water through source reduction or by improving or installing treatment systems. More information on wastewater treatment methods is presented in the next figure.

This page was published in January 2015 and uses the 2013 TRI National Analysis dataset made public in TRI Explorer in October 2014.