Water Pollution refers to the suspected poisoning of San Andreas waterways, most notably in the Fisher's Lagoon of Palomino Creek. Theorists believe that biohazardous, toxic, and even nuclear waste producing facilities are illegally disposing of their waste, either directly in the waterways of San Andreas or indirectly as a result of contamination of natural spring water, rivers, and seawater at several waste disposal sites.
Water pollution is most evident in Fisher's Lagoon as it is littered with seven unmarked barrels on the eastern shoreline. This is the most prevalent example of water pollution in the entire state. Some have suggested that the nearby Biowell in Montgomery may also be used as a disposal site and may be contaminating nearby rivers of the area. Some have suggested that the well itself is in a state of disrepair and appears to no longer be in use and is perhaps decommissioned or quarantined. This presents an interesting question; what are the people who once utilized the Biowell now doing with their waste? This has led amny to the conclusion that the barrels present in Fisher's Lagoon may have been formerly destined for the Biowell before it was otherwise abandoned.
Fisher's Lagoon is connected directly to the San Andreas Sound via adjacent Palomino Creek, which the town of Palomino Creek is named after. The lagoon also shares a connection to Flint Water by a narrow unnamed river that winds to the west through Red County under no less than seven bridges. This direct connection to large waterways of San Andreas state suggest the ramifications on the ecosystem may be severe, depending on the contents of the barrels present.
While photos of green glowing murky water have been produced, these can be explained by various weather and time of day effects and are not unique to one specific area. Ultimately no physical evidence of polluted water has ever been produced. This however does not unsubstantiate claims that the waterways are in fact polluted, as the level of toxicity in the water of San Andreas may simply be undetectable to the naked eye.
Suspects
Bio-Engineering Lab
]]It is strange to find a scientific lab in a small, rural town like Montgomery. It has been theorized that the lab could have been built here due to the more laid-back approach to regulation a rural area would have. The lab has long been believed to be one of the key suspects of the dumping of waste in the Biowell, due to its close proximity. However, due to the well's current dereliction, it is theorized the lab now dumps their waste elsewhere, possibly Southern Montgomery Farms or Fisher's Lagoon.
Southern Montgomery Farms
Southern Montgomery Farms is a large estate consisting of a small settlement with a few barns and a farmhouse. While seemingly innocent enough, this farm is located directly adjacent to a river believed to be polluted. Multiple barrels can be found, which likely contain hazardous farming chemicals, such as herbicides and pesticides, along with cones and barriers scattered around the property. Some have suggested the farm to be a temporary storage point, used to house biohazardous and/or nuclear waste until their contents can be disposed of at the earliest inconspicuous time in the nearby river. However, there is little evidence to support these claims and it is far more likely the barrels would contain general farming chemicals, albeit still quite harmful to the environment.
Sea Pipes
The Sea Pipes refer to a group of four large industrial pipe installations found along the coastline of Las Venturas. The installation structures are large enough to be visible on official maps, with three of the installations found along the northern coast while a single installation lies on the eastern coast. The pipes run into the sea in pairs with a metal mesh running between them all the way to the seafloor. At night, a red light can be observed illuminating the area on either side of each pipe. Each set of pipes protrudes from a concrete structure with a control tower perched on top with stairs running up the opposite side. Players theorize the pipes carry biohazardous, toxic, or even nuclear waste and are contaminating the surrounding seawater.
There are generally two scenarios that those who subscribe to the theory usually adopt. They believe the pipe's contents are either originating from or destined for, some kind of offshore processing installation, and the contamination is due to unintentional pipe leakage, or, the pipes are directly dumping their contents into the seawater.
K.A.C.C. Military Fuels
K.A.C.C. Military Fuels is a large chemical depot found in northeastern Las Venturas. While it contains various machinery and refinery equipment that are sure to produce chemicals, the two large nuclear reactor cooling towers (chimneys) in the area caught the ire of myth hunters.
It is unknown whether the facility's nuclear reactors are active despite claims, no steam can be seen rising from either tower. However, their activity is implied by the clearly visible green glow around the facility at night. The rear and southern side of the facility containing the cooling towers, several stacks of containers, and the green glow are cordoned off by high security metal containment fences baring warning signs reading "HAZARDOUS WASTE ACCUMULATION AREA."
Despite player claims, the containers around the facility do not glow, rather, are in close proximity to the green glow light source. Examples of this can be seen throughout the facility where multiple sides of containers remain dully lit while one side is illuminated. The K.A.C.C. facility is located in very close proximity to the Sea Pipes, leading some players to make a connection between them and the facility's involvement in water pollution.
It could be theorized that the K.A.C.C. facility utilizes seawater to cool their reactors and the Sea Pipes pump seawater into and out of the facility. However, the pipes, especially the two far northwestern installations, are not in close enough proximity to add any real validation to this claim. The number of Sea Pipes are also greater than what is thought to be required to cool the two suspected pressurized water reactors (the majority of US nuclear reactors), theoretically, one sea pipe installation would suffice.
ZomboTech Corporation
ZomboTech is a bio-engineering company found in Downtown in San Fierro. Players theorize that they too could be taking part in the water pollution, as, like the Bio-Engineering business in Montgomery, they are likely to produce biohazardous waste and are unlikely to dispose of the waste in a lawful manner. The particular sinister nature of the company, admitted by themselves on the welcome sign, could add some testimony to their possible involvement.
Easter Bay Chemicals
Easter Bay Chemicals is a chemical plant located in northern Flint County. As it is a chemical plant, it could possibly be linked to the water pollution conspiracy but there is no supporting evidence for this.
Ocean Docks Plant
The strange green glow that led myth hunters towards hazardous waste can be seen in this area, though the location is not verified on the map but still this area is also somehow involved in the pollution of water as it is near the sea which strengthens its involvement.
In-game references
The radio show Area 53 gets frequent calls about the conspiracy. The first is a caller who claims that fluoride made him kill his doctor. Marvin Trill, the host, sarcastically replies that there should be no reason to worry about a chemical the government puts in the water. In a later episode, The Truth calls into the show and claims that there are "female hormones in our water supply." In the closing of the episode, Marvin Trill accuses the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of being in on the conspiracy.
There is an in-game dialogue that points towards possible water pollution being known by San Andreas' population. In the mission Amphibious Assault, Carl Johnson mentions to Wu Zi Mu that as a child, he once got a condom stuck to his face while swimming in the sea off the Santa Maria Beach, hinting at the unsanitary conditions of the waters in San Andreas. This would have taken place sometime in the 1970s to early 1980s, giving a timeline to this myth.
Esplanade North
Near the docks of Esplanade North, San Fierro, there is a snaking rock formation containing strange green walls and water. The nearest potential suspect is the Zombotech Corporation who could be disposing of their biohazardous waste here, but it is highly unlikely as the nearby Pier 69 is a popular tourist attraction and frequented by lots of sight-seers. The green walls and water is most likely meant to represent algae or moss.
Gallery
