I'r - Memorial University of Newfoundland

continuously overflowed com bined sewer system bave caused many problems in the
recent past (Bums, t985).
The city of Buffalo occupies the banksof the Buffalo River and stretches over a few
kilo meters along the shore of the take in its easternmost part. Although this is the
smallest ofthe three cities. its population exceeds I million people. Many industrial sites
including steel and chem ical plants line the banksof the Buffalo River. As a result, the
rive r waters and sediments are highly contaminated with municipal. industrial and
agricultural wastes (Gailani er al., 1996).
In conc lusion. there are many potential sources ofcontamination within and around
the lake (Fig. 2.2.3). The offsho re exploitation of hydrocarbons is confined to the
Canadian part . However, the American side is dominated by onshore industrial centers
that stretched along the southern shore of the lake. These centers are usually associated
with rivers and streams which serve as conveyor belts in transporting their wastes 10 the
lake.
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