Kiera Jefferson
Long Island Sound is an estuary that stretches from New London to Orient Point. While the water quality has improved over the years, it still suffers from hypoxic dead zones, beach closures, and other effects of contamination. The primary cause of hypoxia is nutrient pollution, primarily nitrogen and phosphorus from runoff and wastewater treatment effluent. Connecticut and New York municipalities have prevented more than 50 million pounds of nitrogen pollution a year from entering Long Island Sound. However, reducing nitrogen discharges from non-point sources remains a challenge.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Primary cause of hypoxia | Nutrient pollution, primarily nitrogen and phosphorus from runoff and wastewater treatment |
| Average dissolved nitrogen concentration in 2020 | 0.2 mg/l |
| Connecticut's reduction goal by 2014 | 6,670 tons annually |
| Connecticut's reduction in nitrogen discharges over the last decade | 23% |
| New York and Connecticut municipalities' prevention of nitrogen pollution | 50 million pounds per year |
| Contaminants from street runoff | Nitrogen fertilizer, fecal matter from dogs, deer, and geese |
| Contaminants from aging infrastructure | Untreated sewage |
| Contaminants from decentralized, on-site wastewater treatment systems | Nitrogen |
| Contaminants from turf fertilizer applications | Nitrogen |
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What You'll Learn
Hypoxic dead zones
Long Island Sound (LIS) is a body of water that has been affected by pollution, particularly nitrogen pollution. Hypoxic dead zones are areas in the world's oceans and large lakes that have low-oxygen concentrations, also known as hypoxia. In coastal waters like LIS, hypoxia occurs when dissolved oxygen (DO) concentration falls to or below 2 ml of O2/liter. When DO falls below 0.5 ml O2/liter, mass mortality of aquatic life occurs.
The primary cause of hypoxia in LIS is nutrient pollution, specifically nitrogen and phosphorus, from runoff and wastewater treatment effluent. This fuels the growth of phytoplankton in the Sound. Excess nitrogen reduces DO to unhealthy levels, making it a primary threat to water quality. When nitrogen levels rise, aquatic flora and fauna change their behavior to reach sections of water with higher oxygen levels. Organisms that can leave the area typically do so when oxygen levels decrease to less than 2 mg l−1. Surviving organisms that are unable to leave the area exhibit progressively worsening stress behavior and may die.
The Long Island Sound Study (LISS) is a program that aims to address excess nitrogen and resulting DO problems. The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (CT DEEP) and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYS DEC) have identified the maximum amount of nitrogen that can be discharged into LIS. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved a 58.5% reduction in human-generated nitrogen in 2001. Connecticut has also invested in nitrogen-removal technology and implemented a Nitrogen Control Program, reducing nitrogen discharges from point sources. However, reducing nitrogen discharges from non-point sources remains a challenge.
Progress has been made in reducing the area and volume of hypoxia in LIS. The area of hypoxia decreased from 89 square miles in 2019 to 63 square miles in 2020, and the duration decreased from 48 days to 43 days in the same period. The Long Island Sound Report Card, published biennially, tracks and publicizes the ecological health of LIS, providing data and grades on water quality to officials, agencies, and the public. This information helps catalyze improvements and promote restoration projects and infrastructure investments.
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Nitrogen pollution
The Long Island Sound Study (LISS) has identified nitrogen pollution as a core issue to address, and the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (CT DEEP) and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYS DEC) have been working to reduce nitrogen discharges. The Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan, approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 2001, mandates a 58.5% reduction in human-generated nitrogen. The plan includes a phased implementation schedule with constant reevaluation of nitrogen allocations, monitoring, and modelling.
Connecticut and New York have made significant progress in reducing nitrogen pollution, especially through upgrades to wastewater treatment plants. Connecticut has reduced nitrogen discharges by approximately 23% over the last decade, and both states have invested in nitrogen-removal technology. These efforts have resulted in increased oxygen concentrations in the Sound, improving ecological conditions for fish and other organisms.
Despite these improvements, there is still work to be done. The Long Island Sound Report Card, which tracks the ecological health of the water body, highlights the need for further nitrogen reduction efforts. Additionally, while some ecosystem targets, such as the area and volume of hypoxia, are trending down, other targets like eelgrass extent are behind schedule.
The Nitrogen Coordination Work Group, led by NEIWPCC, aims to connect leaders and develop shared goals and strategies for nitrogen reduction. This multi-phase effort involves multiple states and EPA offices, working together to implement a tracking system for quantitative evaluations of stormwater and nonpoint source nitrogen load reductions.
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Beach closures
In recent years, there have been annual summer closures of around 100 days at Crescent Beach in Nassau County, New York, due to pollution issues. Nassau has also seen an increase in the frequency of wet-weather closures, with an average of 10.4% between 2020 and 2022, up from 8.1% between 2018 and 2020. However, the western and eastern sides of Suffolk County have seen decreases in the number of wet-weather closures during the same period.
Overall, the Long Island Sound region has experienced an increase in wet-weather beach closures, with an annual failure rate of 13.5% from 2022 to 2024, up from 11.0% in the previous two years. This increase is due in part to failures in the westernmost region of the Sound. The 2025 Beach Report raises concerns about the impact of climate change on water quality, as the frequency and intensity of severe storms are expected to increase.
Despite these challenges, there is some good news. The federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has reported that the extent of the Sound contaminated by hypoxia, or excess nitrogen from sewage and fertilizer, has declined by half, from 205 square miles to 95. This improvement means that most Sound Shore beaches are now swimmable for 80% of the summer days or more.
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Contaminants of emerging concern
Long Island Sound has been subject to contamination from a variety of sources, with nitrogen pollution being a key concern. However, there are other contaminants of emerging concern that also pose a threat to the region's water quality and ecological health.
One such contaminant is phosphorus, which, like nitrogen, contributes to hypoxia, or 'dead zones', in the water. Hypoxia is caused by excess nutrients, primarily nitrogen and phosphorus, from runoff and wastewater treatment effluent, which fuel the growth of phytoplankton. While there has been a decrease in the area and duration of hypoxic conditions in recent years, it remains a significant issue, particularly in the western basin of the Sound.
Another contaminant of emerging concern is pollution from sewage and wastewater treatment plants. This type of pollution can include bacteria-laden water, as well as nitrogen and phosphorus, which, as mentioned, contribute to hypoxia. Aging infrastructure can also leak untreated sewage into coastal waters, further exacerbating the problem. Improvements in wastewater treatment infrastructure and homeowner actions have helped to reduce nutrient pollution, but further efforts are needed to ensure that water quality standards are met.
In addition to sewage and wastewater, street runoff is another contaminant of concern. During heavy rainstorms, old sewer pipes can overflow or leak, releasing contaminated water that runs off into the shoreline and beaches. This runoff can include nitrogen fertilizer from lawns, as well as fecal matter from animals, which can lead to beach closures and restrictions on shellfish harvesting areas due to the presence of pathogens.
To address these contaminants of emerging concern, municipalities are exploring green infrastructure projects to reduce the amount of pollutants that enter the Sound and its tributaries. This includes implementing smart growth and low-impact development policies, as well as investing in wastewater treatment infrastructure upgrades and community-based watershed monitoring and protection programs.
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Infrastructure resilience
Long Island Sound (LIS) has been facing issues with water pollution, which has resulted in hypoxic "dead zones", beach closures, and other effects of contamination. The Long Island Sound Study (LISS) is a partnership aimed at restoring and protecting the Long Island Sound. As part of this, the Sustainable and Resilient Communities Workplan identifies five priorities, one of which is infrastructure improvement planning.
To improve the resilience of infrastructure in the region, LISS supports competitive grant programs, such as the Long Island Sound Community Impact Fund (LISCIF), which provides funding for projects that address enhancing community resilience and sustainability. The Long Island Sound Futures Fund is another funding initiative that supports vibrant, informed, and engaged communities that use, appreciate, and help protect and sustain the Sound.
The LISS also funds research projects that help scientists increase their understanding of the connection between nutrient pollution and water quality, the impacts of pollution on habitats and fisheries, and the effects of a changing climate on the Sound and its habitats. This information is used to prioritize mitigation efforts and adaptation strategies.
In addition, to address nitrogen pollution, the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (CT DEEP) and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYS DEC) have identified the maximum amount of nitrogen that can be discharged into the Sound, with a mandated 58.5% reduction in human-generated nitrogen.
Furthermore, Suffolk County residents have approved Proposition 2, which will secure $4 billion to modernize wastewater infrastructure and protect against nitrogen pollution, and $2 billion to protect clean drinking water. This will involve expanding sewers and replacing polluting septic systems with clean water septic systems.
Overall, these efforts to improve infrastructure resilience in the region are crucial to restoring and protecting the Long Island Sound, ensuring a sustainable and resilient future for the communities that depend on it.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Long Island Sound is polluted. While the water is getting cleaner, it still suffers from hypoxic "dead zones", beach closures, and other effects of contamination.
The primary cause of hypoxia in Long Island Sound is nutrient pollution, primarily nitrogen and phosphorus from runoff and wastewater treatment effluent.
The Long Island Sound Study (LISS) is a program partner of NEIWPCC that aims to address excess nitrogen and resulting dissolved oxygen (DO) problems. Connecticut and New York municipalities have prevented more than 50 million pounds of nitrogen pollution a year from entering Long Island Sound.
The Long Island Sound Report Card tracks and publicizes the ecological health of Long Island Sound. The biennial report assembles water monitoring data and grades water quality in five open water regions and 57 bay segments.
Individuals can take action by reducing nutrient pollution from their homes and streets, such as by properly disposing of waste and reducing the use of fertilizers.
