Brian Barton
The Delaware River has a long history of pollution, stemming from rapid population growth and increased industrial activities. In the early eighteenth century, the river was recognised as severely polluted, with waterborne illnesses and a sharp decline in migratory fish populations. Despite efforts to improve water quality, such as the Clean Water Act and the work of the Delaware River Basin Commission, the river continues to face pollution issues today. High levels of fecal bacteria, nitrogen, phosphorus, pesticides, PCBs, and dioxins have been found in the river, rendering it unsafe for swimming and recreation in some parts. While there have been improvements in water quality over the years, with the return of fish populations and increased dissolved oxygen levels, the river still has a long way to go to meet the fishable and swimmable goals of the Clean Water Act.
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![Pesticide compounds in streamwater in the Delaware River basin, December 1998-August 2001 / by R. Edward Hickman. 2004 [Leather Bound]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61IX47b4r9L._AC_UY218_.jpg)
What You'll Learn
- The Delaware River is the most polluted in the US
- Fecal bacteria, nitrogen, phosphorus, pesticides, PCBs, and dioxins are in the water
- The Clean Water Act has improved water quality
- The Delaware River Basin Commission is working to clean up the river
- Sewage spills and outdated wastewater treatment plants are contributing to pollution
The Delaware River is the most polluted in the US
The Delaware River is highly polluted, with 97% of its assessed waterways impaired for one or more uses. It is contaminated with pollutants like fecal bacteria, nitrogen, phosphorus, pesticides, PCBs, and dioxins. The Environmental Integrity Project report reveals that Delaware has the highest percentage of impaired rivers and streams in the US, with 50% of its rivers and streams affected by pollution.
The river's pollution problem stems from outdated wastewater treatment plants, agricultural runoff, and industrial activities. The Clean Water Act, passed 50 years ago, has helped improve water quality by providing funding for upgrades and setting standards for wastewater treatment. However, the Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) acknowledges that the work is far from complete, with parts of the river still not meeting the "fishable and swimmable" goal.
The impact of pollution on the river's ecosystem is evident, with the river being unsuitable for most wildlife and people's recreation. The endangered Atlantic Sturgeon, for instance, requires higher dissolved oxygen levels to thrive. To address this, the EPA has granted a rulemaking petition to establish new water quality standards for dissolved oxygen, aiming to reduce pollution and increase oxygen levels.
While the DRBC has made significant progress over the past five decades, the river's pollution problem persists. The biggest hurdle to decreasing bacteria levels is the challenge of reducing ratepayer impacts, with projected estimates ranging from $4 to $5 billion in investments needed. The tide in the Delaware River also shifts bacteria back and forth, making it difficult to understand the sources and fate of fecal bacteria.
The Delaware River's pollution is a pressing issue that requires further efforts and investments to ensure the river's health and protect public health. The river's history of being a stinking mess has improved, but it still has a long way to go to become a fully healthy ecosystem.
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Fecal bacteria, nitrogen, phosphorus, pesticides, PCBs, and dioxins are in the water
The Delaware River has long been affected by pollution. In the early eighteenth century, pollution in the river was already a recognised problem, and it continued to be a serious issue over the next 200 years. By the time World War II came around, the tidal Delaware River was largely considered a dumping ground for public and industrial waste. The water was so foul that it would discolour the paint of docked ships, and people were sickened by the river's odour.
Since then, the river has seen some improvements. The Clean Water Act, passed in 1972, invested $1.5 billion in new wastewater plants along the river. This, along with phosphate detergent bans in New York and Pennsylvania, led to a significant reduction in phosphorus in the river. By 2005, dissolved oxygen levels in Philadelphia exceeded 4 parts per million, the standard for fishable water quality, and migratory fish returned to the river.
However, pollution remains a significant issue in the Delaware River. A 2022 report by the Environmental Integrity Project found that 97% of Delaware's assessed waterways are impaired for one or more uses. The river and its tributaries are contaminated with pollutants such as fecal bacteria, nitrogen, phosphorus, pesticides, PCBs, and dioxins. Fecal bacteria levels are much higher along the shoreline than in the centre channel, and the highest levels are found within 2,500 feet of a combined sewer outfall.
The impact of this pollution is far-reaching. While some sections of the river permit swimming and kayaking, a 27-mile stretch along Philadelphia and Camden restricts residents to boating and fishing due to pollution concerns. The river's wildlife has also been affected, with species like the endangered Atlantic Sturgeon requiring higher dissolved oxygen levels to thrive.
Efforts are being made to address the pollution. The Philadelphia Water Department (PWD) received $25 million in federal funding to construct a new pretreatment building at the Northeast Water Pollution Control Plant, reducing combined sewer overflows. The PWD also intends to build a sidestream treatment facility to mitigate the ammonia problem. Additionally, the EPA has granted a petition for establishing new water quality standards under the Clean Water Act for dissolved oxygen in the urban Delaware River.
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The Clean Water Act has improved water quality
The Clean Water Act, established in 1972, has been instrumental in improving water quality across the United States. The Act set national standards and regulations for water pollution control, targeting point sources of pollution, such as industrial facilities and wastewater treatment plants.
One of the key achievements of the Clean Water Act has been the reduction of water pollution from raw sewage and industrial waste. Before the Act, large numbers of lakes, rivers, and streams were contaminated with raw sewage, a problem that has been significantly addressed. The Act made it unlawful to discharge pollutants from point sources into navigable waters without a permit, leading to better management of wastewater and a decrease in water pollution levels.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), established by the Clean Water Act, plays a crucial role in monitoring and enforcing water quality standards. The EPA's National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program controls discharges from industrial and wastewater facilities, ensuring better regulation and compliance. The EPA also provides funding and support to states, tribes, and territories to improve water quality and restore aquatic ecosystems, as seen with the Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC).
In addition to regulatory measures, the Clean Water Act has provided funding for upgrades and improvements to wastewater treatment plants. Municipalities have received grants to enhance their wastewater treatment processes, leading to significant improvements in water quality downstream of these plants. The Act has also driven investments in infrastructure, with $650 billion in grants provided to build and improve sewage treatment facilities.
Despite these improvements, challenges remain. Nonpoint source pollution, such as stormwater runoff carrying pollutants from farms and urban areas, is now the leading cause of water pollution. Climate change also poses emerging threats to water quality, and the EPA must adapt to help water utilities prepare for these challenges. While economic analyses suggest that the costs of the Clean Water Act may outweigh the benefits, advocates argue that the value of clean water is immeasurable, and strengthening the Act is crucial to ensuring safe and healthy waterways for all.
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The Delaware River Basin Commission is working to clean up the river
The Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) has been working to clean up the Delaware River since its formation in 1961. The DRBC's compact gave it the authority to control future pollution and address existing pollution in the basin waters. The Commission immediately set to work, issuing water quality regulations in 1967 and creating waste load allocations in 1968, years before the passage of the Clean Water Act.
The DRBC's regulatory efforts, combined with federal funding to improve wastewater infrastructure, interstate and federal water quality management, and practical improvements by wastewater treatment plant engineers and operators, led to a significant recovery. The Clean Water Act was instrumental in the restoration of the Delaware River, and today, the river is considered reborn. Fish populations thrive in the river's urban section, and migratory fish can travel through these waters to spawn upstream.
The DRBC continues to work towards improving water quality in the Delaware River Basin. In 2003, the Christina River Basin, an interstate subbasin of the Delaware River Watershed, received $1 million in federal Watershed Initiative funding to support preservation and protection efforts. The DRBC was a key member of the Christina Basin Clean Water Partnership, one of only 20 community-based groups to receive federal funding under this program.
The DRBC is also studying ways to improve recreation in the river's urban waters, with the goal of supporting primary contact recreation such as swimming. Currently, high bacteria levels from combined sewer overflows, wildlife, and stormwater runoff restrict these areas to secondary contact activities like fishing and boating. The DRBC is committed to collaborating with co-regulators and basin stakeholders to achieve continued water quality improvements and support the goals of the Clean Water Act.
While the DRBC has made significant progress in cleaning up the Delaware River, challenges remain. The river continues to be impacted by pollution from sewage spills, stormwater runoff, and industrial sources. However, with ongoing efforts and investments in infrastructure upgrades, there is hope for further improvements in water quality and the health of the Delaware River ecosystem.
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Sewage spills and outdated wastewater treatment plants are contributing to pollution
The Delaware River has a long history of pollution. By the early eighteenth century, pollution in the river, particularly in the tidal reaches of its urban centres, had become a recognised problem. For the next 200 years, the river suffered from rapid population growth and increased industrial activities, with public and industrial waste being dumped directly into the water.
The Clean Water Act was passed in 1972, investing $1.5 billion in new wastewater plants along the Delaware River. This led to significant improvements in water quality, with phosphate detergent bans and a decline in phosphorus levels, and the return of migratory fish populations. However, despite these efforts, the Delaware River continues to face pollution issues today.
Sewage spills and outdated wastewater treatment plants are significant contributors to the ongoing pollution of the Delaware River. The river's water treatment plants are old and use outdated technology, failing to capture all the pollution that enters them. This results in the release of dangerous substances like ammonia into the river, which lowers the oxygen levels and makes the river unsuitable for most wildlife and human recreation. The impact of sewage spills is evident in the high levels of fecal bacteria found in the river, particularly along the shoreline.
To address these issues, the Philadelphia Water Department (PWD) has proposed the construction of a sidestream treatment facility to reduce the ammonia load. Additionally, PWD has received $25 million in federal funding to build a new pretreatment building at the Northeast Water Pollution Control Plant, aiming to reduce combined sewer overflows. However, critics argue that these efforts are insufficient, and the river still faces challenges due to outdated infrastructure and the need for improved sewage management.
The Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) has played a crucial role in regulating and improving water quality over the years. They have implemented comprehensive water quality standards, waste load allocation programs, and enforcement regulations. Their efforts, along with state-led initiatives, have contributed to the progress made in reducing pollution in the Delaware River.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, the Delaware River is polluted. In fact, Delaware has a higher percentage of polluted rivers and streams than any other state in the country.
The pollution in the Delaware River is caused by a variety of factors, including sewage spills, stormwater runoff, industrial pollution, and agricultural runoff. Outdated wastewater treatment plants along the river also contribute to the problem by failing to capture all the pollution that enters them.
There have been several efforts to address the pollution in the Delaware River. The Clean Water Act, passed in 1972, provided funding for upgrades to wastewater treatment plants and played a role in reducing raw human waste. The Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) has also implemented comprehensive water quality standards and waste load allocation programs to improve the water quality. In addition, local authorities have set aside funds to improve sewer systems and treatment facilities.
Swimming is permitted in much of the Upper Delaware River, which is regulated by the DRBC. However, there are certain areas, such as a 27-mile stretch along Philadelphia and Camden, where swimming is restricted due to high levels of pollution and bacteria. Fecal bacteria levels are particularly high along the shoreline, making it unsafe for swimming.
