Brian Barton
The Passaic River, which runs from the New Jersey Highlands through the Great Swamp to Patterson and down to Newark Bay, has been a site of industrial development since the presidency of George Washington. The river has been polluted for over 150 years, with industrial waste discharges and improper waste disposal practices on adjacent land causing severe pollution during the 19th and 20th centuries. Despite some improvements due to environmental legislation, the Passaic River remains highly polluted, ranking as the fourth-most-endangered river in America in 2025.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Pollution Sources | Industrial waste, improper waste disposal practices, stormwater, combined sewer overflow systems, industrial residues, Agent Orange production, DDT, PCBs, mercury, lead, and other metals |
| Polluting Industries | Diamond Shamrock Chemical Plant, Kolker Chemical Works, Occidental Chemical Corporation, Tierra Solutions Inc, Maxus Exergy Corporation |
| Environmental Impact | Harmful to fish and bird populations, contamination of soil and groundwater, degradation of water quality, putrid smell, strange colors |
| Health Impact | Harmful disease-causing organisms, potential risk to human health from consuming contaminated fish |
| Clean-up Status | Two clean-ups completed, third phase planned for lower 8 miles, expected cost of $1.8 billion |
| Regulatory Action | Lower Passaic designated as Superfund site in 1984, Clean Water Act amendments in 1972, environmental lawsuit with settlement reached in 2008, corporate defendants agreed to pay $130 million in 2013 |
| Stakeholder Efforts | Lower Passaic River Urban Waters Federal Partnership, community engagement, park creation, education, cultural events |
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What You'll Learn
- The Passaic River is one of the most polluted waterways in the US
- Pollution sources: industrial waste, Agent Orange production, DDT, PCBs, mercury, etc
- The river's pollution has impacted the local wildlife and bird populations
- The river's pollution has been linked to human health risks and advisories
- Cleanup efforts and initiatives to restore the river's health
The Passaic River is one of the most polluted waterways in the US
The Passaic River has been polluted for over 150 years, and it is considered one of the most contaminated waterways in the nation. In 1984, the federal agency designated the lower Passaic as a highly polluted Superfund site after the discovery of extensive contamination from riverside manufacturing. The river contains toxic chemicals such as dioxins, furans, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), DDT and other pesticides, mercury, lead, and other metals. These pollutants have spread into the soil and groundwater, and have flowed into Newark Bay, New York Bay, and even the Atlantic Ocean.
The decline of manufacturing on the lower river has left a post-industrial landscape of abandoned and disused factories and other facilities. The stretch of the river along downtown Newark is particularly affected by pollution. In 2008, the EPA reached a settlement with Occidental Chemical Corporation and Tierra Solutions Inc. to clean a portion of the polluted river. Several other corporate defendants have also been held accountable for the river's pollution, agreeing to pay the State of New Jersey $130 million for ecological damages in 2013.
Despite the pollution, the Passaic River remains a vital resource. The watershed supports more than 2 million people with drinking water and contains 10 reservoirs and three water treatment facilities. Parks and natural areas along the river are used by more than 2.5 million residents across North Jersey. The river's health has improved due to the implementation of the 1972 Clean Water Act and other environmental legislation, and the decline of industry along its banks. However, it still suffers from substantial degradation of water quality, and the clean-up process is expected to be one of the largest and most costly projects ever undertaken in the nation.
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Pollution sources: industrial waste, Agent Orange production, DDT, PCBs, mercury, etc
The Passaic River has been a site for industrial waste and pollution for over 150 years. The river was targeted for industrial development as far back as the presidency of George Washington, and it played a significant role in the early industrial development of New Jersey. The river provided a navigable route connected by canals to the Delaware River, and it was also an early source of hydropower at the Great Falls of the Passaic in Paterson. As a result, the area became a center of industrial mills, including cotton mills, leather tanneries, cloth dyers, ship builders, and paint and paper manufacturers.
During the Industrial Revolution of the 1800s, these industries began dumping their waste directly into the river, causing severe pollution. By the 1950s, major modern industries had joined in, turning the river into a toxic brew. The water changed colour due to cloth dying and paint production, and residents recalled seeing dead fish, strange chunks of waste material, and a putrid smell.
The pollution in the Passaic River has been attributed to a range of industrial sources, including Agent Orange production, DDT, PCBs, and mercury. Agent Orange was a defoliation chemical used by the military during the Vietnam War, and its production resulted in waste products such as dioxin, which contaminated the river. DDT was manufactured by companies such as Kolker Chemical Works, and it tainted the fish in the river, causing harm to the bird population, including bald eagles and ospreys. PCBs and mercury were also discharged into the river by various industries, further degrading the water quality.
The Lower Passaic River has been designated as a highly polluted Superfund site, and it is considered one of the most polluted stretches of water in the nation. The river has been the subject of multiple clean-up projects, with two already completed and a third phase planned for a full bank-to-bank remediation of the lower eight miles. The full 17-mile cleanup is expected to cost up to $1.8 billion, and it is one of the largest toxic cleanup projects ever undertaken in the nation.
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The river's pollution has impacted the local wildlife and bird populations
The Passaic River has been a site of industrial pollution for over 150 years, with toxic waste being dumped into the river since the 1800s. The river has been polluted by a range of industries, including cotton mills, leather tanneries, cloth dyers, ship builders, and paint and paper manufacturers. The pollution has had a significant impact on the local wildlife and bird populations.
One of the most notable examples of the impact of pollution on local wildlife is the decline of bald eagle populations in New Jersey. The river was found to be contaminated with high levels of dioxins, which were generated principally by the Diamond Shamrock Chemical Plant in Newark as a waste product from the production of Agent Orange during the Vietnam War. Consumption of fish tainted with dioxins weakened the ability of bald eagles and ospreys to produce eggs and chicks. By 1982, there was just one nesting pair of bald eagles left in the state.
In addition to the decline of bald eagle populations, the pollution in the Passaic River has also had broader impacts on fish populations and water quality. The river has been contaminated with toxic chemicals, including mercury, PCBs, and pesticides. As a result, fishing and crabbing advisories have been in place since 1984, and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) issued a ban on commercial fishing in 2009, advising the general public not to eat fish caught in the tidal Passaic River. The decline in water quality has also had indirect impacts on local wildlife and bird populations by degrading their habitats and food sources.
The pollution in the Passaic River has also had impacts on bird populations beyond just bald eagles. The river's contamination with pesticides and other chemicals has likely had broader impacts on bird health and populations. Additionally, the degradation of the river's shorelines and habitats due to poor land-use management has likely displaced and harmed bird populations in the area.
Despite the ongoing challenges, there have been efforts to address the pollution and mitigate its impacts on wildlife and bird populations. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has designated the lower Passaic as a Superfund site, prioritizing cleanup work and holding responsible parties accountable. Local communities, governments, and environmental groups are also working to restore the river and bring residents back to enjoy its natural beauty. The future holds hope for improving the health of the Passaic River and, in turn, the wildlife and bird populations that depend on it.
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The river's pollution has been linked to human health risks and advisories
The Passaic River is one of the most polluted waterways in the United States. It has been contaminated for over 150 years, with industrial waste discharges, improper waste disposal practices, and dumping of toxic chemicals. The pollution has severely degraded the river's water quality and has been linked to human health risks, prompting advisories and clean-up efforts.
The river, which runs through New Jersey, has a long history of industrial activity dating back to the 1800s. Various industries, including cotton mills, leather tanneries, cloth dyers, shipbuilders, and chemical manufacturers, have dumped waste directly into the river. This waste includes toxic chemicals such as dioxins, PCBs, mercury, lead, and pesticides. As a result, the river has become a toxic brew, with strange colours, dead fish, and a putrid smell.
The pollution has had significant impacts on both the environment and human health. Contaminants have spread into the soil and groundwater, affecting favourite fishing spots, swimming beaches, and even reaching Newark Bay, New York Bay, and the Atlantic Ocean. The health risks associated with the polluted river include the consumption of contaminated fish, which has been shown to weaken the ability of birds to reproduce. In 1982, there was just one nesting pair of bald eagles left in New Jersey due to the consumption of tainted fish.
To protect human health, fishing and crabbing advisories have been in place since 1984. In 2009, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) issued notices banning commercial fishing and advising the public not to eat fish caught in the tidal Passaic River. These advisories remain in effect as of 2020. The river has also been designated a Superfund site by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), indicating its highly polluted nature and the need for extensive cleanup efforts.
Cleanup projects have been ongoing, with two phases already completed and plans for a third phase finalized in 2016. The full 17-mile cleanup is expected to cost up to $1.8 billion. Despite these efforts, the river remains highly polluted, and the cleanup work has been slow, with U.S. Sen. Cory Booker calling for the EPA to prioritize and expedite the process. The pollution of the Passaic River highlights the long-lasting and detrimental effects of industrial activities on the environment and human health, and the urgent need for accountability and effective remediation.
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Cleanup efforts and initiatives to restore the river's health
The Passaic River has been a site of industrial pollution for over 150 years, with the lower stretch of the river being recognised as a highly polluted Superfund site in 1984. The river has been polluted by industrial waste, including dioxins from Agent Orange production, DDT, PCBs, and mercury, which was dumped directly into the river. The Diamond Shamrock Chemical Plant in Newark was a significant contributor to the pollution, with waste products from the production of the Agent Orange defoliation chemical used during the Vietnam War ending up in the river.
The Lower Passaic River Urban Waters Federal Partnership (LPR UWFP) is a collaboration of federal and state agencies, municipalities, and community-based organizations working to advance the cleanup, restoration, and stewardship of the Lower Passaic River. The Partnership is guided by a steering committee that includes representatives from the EPA, USACE, the NY-NJ Harbor & Estuary Program, and other organizations. The EPA has also been working with residents, local governments, community groups, and environmental groups to involve residents in the river cleanup process and promote sustainable development along the riverbanks.
In 2016, the EPA finalized plans for the third phase of the cleanup, which involved a full bank-to-bank remediation of the lower eight miles of the river, from Newark to Belleville. The full 17-mile cleanup is expected to cost up to $1.8 billion. The EPA also announced a $1.7 billion plan to remove 4.3 million cubic yards of toxic mud from the bottom of the lower eight miles of the river. This project is considered one of the largest toxic cleanup projects ever undertaken in the nation.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, the Passaic River is considered one of the most polluted waterways in the US.
The pollution was caused by industrial waste discharges and improper waste disposal practices on adjacent land.
Pollutants include dioxins, furans, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), DDT and other pesticides, and mercury, lead, and other metals.
No, the river has been polluted for over 150 years. It was targeted for industrial development as far back as George Washington's presidency and severely polluted during the industrial revolution of the 1800s.
Cleanup efforts have been ongoing for decades, with two cleanups completed and a third planned for the lower eight miles of the river. The EPA has designated the Passaic River a Superfund site, and corporate defendants have paid the state of New Jersey millions in ecological damages.
