Kiera Jefferson
Onondaga Lake, located in Central New York, has a long and tumultuous history. Once a popular tourist attraction, the lake became a dumping ground for industrial waste and sewage, leading to severe pollution and a decline in environmental quality. The lake's transformation from a cesspool to a community asset is a remarkable story of citizen activism and government intervention. Despite being one of the most polluted lakes in America, Onondaga Lake has undergone a significant cleanup, with mercury levels decreasing and biodiversity slowly returning to the lake.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Location | Central New York, northwest of and adjacent to Syracuse, New York |
| Size | 4.5 miles long, 1 mile wide, 62 feet deep (northern basin), 65 feet deep (southern basin) |
| Tributaries | Ninemile Creek, Onondaga Creek, Geddes Brook |
| Pollution Sources | Industrial waste, municipal sewage, toxic chemicals, raw sewage, exhaust fumes, products |
| Pollutants | Mercury, arsenic, lead, hexachlorobenzene, chlorinated benzenes, phenol, PAHs, BTEX compounds, PCBs, PCDD/PCDFs, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), paint sludge, paint thinner, polluted sediment, iron, chromium, copper |
| Ecological Impact | Algal blooms, low oxygen levels, fish and plant death, foul-smelling gases, bacterial decomposition |
| Cleanup Efforts | Sewage facility upgrades, underground barrier wall, Superfund site designation, injection of nitrates, sediment excavation, groundwater treatment |
| Current Status | Improved, safe for fishing and swimming in certain areas, cleanest in 100 years |
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What You'll Learn
Mercury and other chemical toxins
Onondaga Lake, located in Syracuse, New York, has a long history of industrial activity and pollution. The lake was once a popular recreational spot, but decades of dumping toxic chemicals and untreated sewage into the water severely degraded its quality. Mercury and other chemical toxins have been a significant concern for the lake's ecosystem and the surrounding community.
Mercury, a highly toxic heavy metal, has been a particular concern in Onondaga Lake. Historical industrial activities, such as manufacturing and chemical production, have resulted in the release of mercury into the lake's waters. Mercury can accumulate in fish and other aquatic organisms, leading to health risks for humans who consume them. High levels of mercury can cause neurological and developmental problems, especially in children and pregnant women. To protect public health, fishing advisories have been issued for Onondaga Lake, recommending that people limit or avoid consuming fish caught in the lake due to the high levels of contaminants.
In addition to mercury, other chemical toxins have been detected in the lake's waters and sediment. These include polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), pesticides, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). PCBs were commonly used in industrial and commercial applications before being banned in the 1970s due to their toxic and persistent nature. Unfortunately, these chemicals have found their way into the lake, posing risks to aquatic life and entering the food chain. Pesticides and herbicides used in agriculture and urban areas can also contaminate the lake through runoff, impacting the health of aquatic organisms and disrupting the delicate ecological balance. VOCs, released from industrial processes and gasoline emissions, can contribute to the formation of ground-level ozone and have negative effects on human health and the environment when inhaled.
The contamination of Onondaga Lake has had significant ecological consequences. High levels of nutrients, particularly phosphorus, have led to harmful algal blooms that deplete oxygen levels and create "dead zones" where fish and other aquatic life cannot survive. These blooms also produce toxins that can be harmful to humans and animals if ingested. Additionally, the accumulation of pollutants in the lake sediment poses a long-term risk of contamination of the water column and the potential for toxic chemicals to re-enter the food chain.
Efforts are underway to remediate and restore the lake's ecosystem. Dredging operations have been conducted to remove contaminated sediment from the lake's bottom, and capping involves covering the lake bed with a layer of clean sediment to contain the pollutants and prevent their release into the water. Monitoring programs are in place to assess the effectiveness of these remediation efforts and track the levels of contaminants in the lake's ecosystem. While progress is being made, the legacy of pollution in Onondaga Lake serves as a reminder of the importance of environmental protection and the long-term impacts of human activities on natural systems.
It is crucial to continue monitoring the levels of mercury and other chemical toxins in the lake to ensure the effectiveness of remediation efforts and protect the health and well-being of the surrounding community and ecosystem. Onondaga Lake's restoration is a complex and long-term process that requires the collaboration of scientists, environmental engineers, and local communities to bring about sustainable change.
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Sources of pollution
Onondaga Lake, located in Central New York, has been subjected to various sources of pollution over the years, earning it a reputation as one of the most polluted lakes in America. The primary sources of pollution have been industrial waste, municipal sewage, and chemical runoff.
Industrial Waste
For decades, Onondaga Lake was a dumping ground for industrial waste from nearby factories. The Solvay Process Company, which later became Allied Chemical, was a major contributor to the lake's pollution. They discharged waste from soda ash production, which included chloride, sodium, and calcium, into the lake from 1884 until the facility closed in 1986. It is estimated that 6 million pounds of these salty wastes were released into the lake daily.
Allied Chemical also owned a benzene production facility, known as the Willis Avenue Chlorobenzene Site, which operated from 1918 to 1977. Waste in the form of caustic potash, caustic soda, and chlorine gas contaminated the lake through groundwater seepage.
Municipal Sewage
The rapid growth of Syracuse in the 20th century led to an increase in sewage pollution in Onondaga Lake. The city's sewage, combined with exhaust fumes and the dumping of unnecessary products, caused a decline in the lake's popularity for fishing and swimming. Upgrades to Syracuse's main sewage facility have helped curb the problem, but combined sewer overflows (CSOs) continue to release untreated sewage into tributaries that flow into the lake.
Chemical Runoff
Toxic chemicals have also contributed significantly to the pollution of Onondaga Lake. Mercury-contaminated waste from Allied Chemical's chlorine production was dumped directly into the lake, leading to fishing bans as early as 1970 due to mercury contamination of fish. Other chemicals found in the lake include chlorinated benzenes, BTEX compounds, PCBs, PAHs, arsenic, lead, hexachlorobenzene, phenol, and PCDD/PCDFs.
Other Sources
Onondaga Lake has also been affected by pollution from nearby industrial sites, such as the Semet Tar Beds and the Ley Creek area, which are considered subsites of the Onondaga Lake Superfund site. Natural sources of pollution include the Tully Valley mudboils, which release about half a ton of clay and silt into the lake daily.
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Environmental impact
Onondaga Lake, located in Central New York, has been severely polluted by a combination of municipal waste and industrial dumping. The lake, which is approximately 4.5 miles long and 1 mile wide, has suffered from the effects of sewage, toxic chemicals, and industrial waste disposal. This has resulted in a decline in the lake's popularity for fishing and swimming, as well as causing environmental damage.
The pollution of Onondaga Lake started as early as the late 1800s when the Solvay Process Company, a chemical manufacturer, began dumping waste directly into the lake. This waste included salty byproducts of soda ash production, such as chloride, sodium, and calcium. The company later merged with other chemical manufacturers, forming the Allied Chemical and Dye Corporation, which continued to pollute the lake with mercury-contaminated waste.
In addition to industrial waste, municipal sewage has also contributed significantly to the pollution of Onondaga Lake. Sewage overflows during heavy rain or melting snow, releasing a combination of runoff and untreated sewage into the lake's tributaries. This has led to excessive algae growth, known as algal blooms, which cause low oxygen levels and the emission of harmful gases.
The environmental impact of this pollution has been significant. The lake was declared unsafe for swimming as early as the 1940s, and fishing was banned in 1970 due to dangerous levels of mercury in fish. The lake's ecosystem has suffered, with plant and animal life struggling to survive due to the presence of toxins. The lake was once known for its beaches, boathouses, and amusement park, but pollution has transformed it into a cesspool, emitting foul-smelling gases.
However, in recent years, there have been successful efforts to clean up the lake. Upgrades to Syracuse's main sewage facility have helped curb algae-promoting nutrients, and a 15-year multi-stage program completed in 2017 allowed the lake to reach the criteria required by environmental protection agencies. Honeywell, the successor to Allied Chemical, has also taken steps to clean up factory sites and build an underground barrier wall to prevent contaminated groundwater from reaching the lake. While there is ongoing debate about the effectiveness of these clean-up efforts, many experts and agencies have declared the lake safe for fishing and swimming in certain areas.
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Clean-up efforts
Onondaga Lake has undergone a remarkable transformation over the past few decades, going from being known as one of the most polluted lakes in America to being cleaner than it has been in 100 years. The clean-up efforts have been driven by a combination of citizen activism, government intervention, and the application of federal environmental laws.
The pollution of Onondaga Lake started in the late 1800s when the Solvay Process Company, a chemical manufacturer, began dumping its waste directly into the lake. This pollution continued for decades, with other companies like Allied Chemical also contributing to the problem. By the 1970s, the lake was so polluted that swimming was banned, and fishing had to be banned in 1972 due to mercury contamination.
The environmental movement of the 1970s played a crucial role in laying the foundation for the lake's clean-up. The revised Clean Water Act of 1972 and Superfund, adopted in 1980, were among the federal environmental laws that were leveraged to address the pollution. Citizens groups and organisations like the Atlantic States Legal Foundation sued Onondaga County and polluters, holding them accountable and forcing remedial action.
The clean-up efforts have included modernizing the county’s Metro wastewater plant, which contributes a significant amount of inflow to the lake. This had a substantial impact on improving water quality. Additionally, Honeywell, a successor to Allied Chemical, has cleaned factory sites and built an underground barrier wall to prevent contaminated groundwater from reaching the lake. A homegrown technology was also used to reduce mercury levels in the water, achieving a 97% reduction.
Despite these efforts, some concerns remain. The clean-up project will leave 85% of the lake bottom untouched, and there are still toxins present in the lake, including mercury, chlorinated benzenes, BTEX compounds, PCBs, and PAHs. The final phase of the clean-up is expected to address these remaining issues, with a focus on protecting the lake's ecological health and cultural significance.
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The lake's history
Onondaga Lake, located in Central New York, has a long and complex history that dates back centuries. The lake, which is approximately 4.5 miles long and 1 mile wide, holds cultural and historical significance for the native people of the region, particularly the Haudenosaunee Confederacy. According to their oral history, the lake served as the site where warring nations laid down their arms and formed the first representative democracy in the West. As a result, the lake became a sacred place, revered and respected by the Haudenosaunee people.
However, as industrialization swept across the United States, Onondaga Lake became a target for pollution and exploitation. Beginning in the late 1800s, the Solvay Process Company, a chemical manufacturer, began dumping its waste material directly into the lake. This marked the start of Onondaga Lake's tumultuous journey towards becoming one of America's most polluted lakes. The company's waste, primarily consisting of chloride, sodium, and calcium, contaminated the water and severely damaged the ecosystem.
As the 20th century progressed, the situation worsened. In 1950, the Solvay Process Company, now known as the Allied Chemical and Dye Corporation, began producing chlorine using mercury cells, leading to dangerous levels of mercury contamination in the lake. This resulted in a federal and state-imposed ban on fishing in 1970. The US Attorney General even sued the company to halt the dumping of mercury. The company's practices had severe ecological consequences, with mercury levels in fish far surpassing federal and state standards.
The environmental movement of the 1970s brought some hope for the lake's revival. The passage of the Clean Water Act in 1972 and the Superfund law in 1980 provided legal tools to address the pollution. Citizens' groups and the New York state government took polluters to federal court, demanding accountability. This led to a $1.5 billion cleanup effort, which successfully reduced mercury levels and improved water quality.
Despite these efforts, Onondaga Lake still faces challenges. While swimming has been deemed safe in certain areas, and the number of fish species has increased, there is ongoing concern about the toxicity of the lake's sediments. The final stage of the cleanup aims to address these remaining issues, ensuring that the lake can be enjoyed by future generations and preserving the cultural significance it holds for the Onondaga Nation.
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Frequently asked questions
Onondaga Lake has been considered one of the most polluted lakes in America. However, after a $1.5 billion cleanup effort, the lake is now the cleanest it has been in 100 years.
The pollution in Onondaga Lake was caused by a combination of municipal waste and industrial dumping. Raw and partially treated sewage, exhaust fumes, and dumping of unnecessary products from the city of Syracuse, along with a century's worth of industrial waste, led to the lake's decline.
The pollution in Onondaga Lake had severe ecological and recreational impacts. Excessive algae growth and low oxygen levels choked out fish and plant life, and the lake developed a strong, foul odour. Swimming was banned due to the pollution, and fishing was banned due to mercury contamination.
The cleanup of Onondaga Lake was a multi-stage, decades-long process involving federal environmental laws and court actions. Honeywell, a successor to Allied Chemical, cleaned factory sites and built an underground barrier wall. Upgrades to Syracuse's main sewage facility and the development of new technologies, such as the underwater injection of nitrates, also played a crucial role in reducing pollution levels.
