Kiera Jefferson
The Delaware River is a major river in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States and is the longest free-flowing river in the Eastern United States. It has been recognised as one of the country's Great Waters by the National Wildlife Federation. The river has a long history of pollution, dating back to the early eighteenth century when it was used as a dumping ground for public and industrial waste. Today, it is still impacted by pollution from sewage, industrial activities, and agricultural runoff. In recent years, there have been efforts to clean up the river and improve water quality, but it still faces challenges with pollution and does not meet the standards for swimming and recreation set by the Clean Water Act.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| River length | 282 miles (454 km) |
| River course | Forms in Hancock, New York, and flows along the borders of New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware |
| River branches | Two, the West Branch and the East Branch |
| River basin | Drains an area of 13,539 square miles (35,070 km2) |
| Drinking water | Provides drinking water for 17 million people |
| Pollution | High levels of pollution, including untreated sewage, stormwater, toxic algae, industrial waste, pesticides, PCBs, and dioxins |
| Clean-up efforts | The Clean Water Act has helped improve water quality, but pollution remains an issue in some areas |
| Wildlife | Supports abundant wildlife, including bald eagles, herring, striped bass, and blue heron |
| Recreation | Used for boating, camping, hunting, hiking, and wildlife watching |
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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
Industrial waste and sewage
The Delaware River has long been associated with high levels of pollution. By the early eighteenth century, pollution was a recognised problem, largely due to rapid population growth and increased industrial activity. The river's water was so foul that it would turn the paint of docked ships brown. By the height of World War II, the tidal Delaware River was considered an open sewer for public and industrial waste.
The Clean Water Act, passed in the 1970s, was instrumental in tackling this issue. It provided funding for upgrades to wastewater treatment plants and helped reduce industrial discharges and raw human waste from entering the river. The Act brought about a biological approach to treating wastewater, using microbes and oxygen to eliminate bacteria. Sewage treatment plants, such as Philadelphia's southwest sewage treatment plant, were transformed, and the river began to recover.
Despite these improvements, pollution remains a concern. Industrial waste and sewage continue to impact the river. In 2015, the EPA identified the Delaware River as a site of mass pollution, especially in the Greater Philadelphia and Chester, Pennsylvania areas. The Delaware County Regional Water Authority (DELCORA) was tasked with addressing this issue, with plans to spend $200 million to remove sewage and pollution from the waterway. However, DELCORA was fined $1.4 million for its failure to prevent pollution and comply with the Clean Water Act.
The river continues to be vulnerable to industrial waste and sewage pollution. In March 2023, a chemical plant in Bristol, Pennsylvania, released over 8,000 gallons of latex finishing material into the Otter Creek tributary, impacting the water supply in Philadelphia. Additionally, billions of gallons of untreated sewage and stormwater are still dumped into the river each year, posing risks to both human health and wildlife.
The Clean Water Act and advancements in technology have provided tools to address industrial waste and sewage pollution in the Delaware River. However, ongoing challenges persist, and continued efforts are necessary to ensure the river's health and sustainability.
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Toxic algae
The Delaware River has been affected by pollution for centuries, with the river being considered an open sewer for public and industrial waste during World War II. While the Clean Water Act and other initiatives have helped to improve water quality, the river still faces challenges with pollution, including toxic algae.
In Delaware, blue-green algae blooms occur annually in ponds, lakes, and some tidal freshwater areas. While there have been no reported cases of illness associated with blue-green algae exposure in the state, certain strains can produce toxins. Human health effects from skin contact with contaminated water can include rashes, hives, and blisters, while swallowing water containing the toxin can cause diarrhea, vomiting, liver toxicity, kidney toxicity, and neurotoxicity.
The growth of toxic algae is fueled by excessive nitrogen and phosphorus, nutrients from fertilizers, and untreated waste. These nutrients act as food for the algae, allowing them to proliferate and form dense blooms. To control the growth of toxic algae, it is essential to reduce the amount of these nutrients reaching the rivers. This can be achieved through improved wastewater treatment, agricultural best practices, and the reduction of industrial discharges.
The presence of toxic algae in the Delaware River highlights the ongoing challenges faced by the state in maintaining water quality and protecting public health. While efforts such as the Clean Water Act and the Delaware Estuary Toxics Management Program have made significant improvements, further work is needed to address the complex issue of water pollution and its impact on the environment and human well-being.
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Pollution from oil refineries, chemical plants, and slaughterhouses
The Delaware River has been a significant waterway for the United States, but it has also been a recipient of pollution from various sources, including oil refineries, chemical plants, and slaughterhouses. These industrial facilities have contributed to the degradation of water quality and have had ecological and economic impacts on the region.
Oil refineries, such as the Delaware City Refining Company, located near the Delaware River, have a history of repeated pollution violations. In 2021, the company was the second-highest producer of nitrogen emissions among refineries in the US, releasing approximately 3,283 pounds of nitrogen emissions per day. Oil refineries inherently release pollutants, and while there are legal limits, some events exceed these parameters. For instance, in October 2022, a machinery failure at the Delaware City Refinery resulted in the release of uncontrolled gases into the atmosphere, causing visible air pollution.
Chemical plants along the Delaware River have also been responsible for discharging toxic chemicals. In March 2023, a pipe burst at the Trinseo Altuglas chemical plant, releasing over 8,100 gallons of an acrylic latex polymer solution that eventually made its way into the river. This incident caused concern among Philadelphia residents, as the river is a source of drinking water for the city. Monroe Energy's Trainer Refinery has also reported releasing carcinogenic and persistent bioaccumulative toxic (PBT) chemicals within federal limits.
Slaughterhouses have historically contributed to the pollution of the Delaware River by discharging blood, guts, and other waste directly into the waterways. The March Packing Co., for example, was documented in 1928 along the Bridgeport Canal, releasing untreated waste that affected aquatic life and the appeal of the river as a recreational space.
The Clean Water Act, established in the 1960s and 1970s, made it illegal to discharge pollutants into waterways without a permit, and agencies like the Delaware River Basin Commission were formed to address water quality issues. While the river's health has improved, with increased dissolved oxygen levels, it continues to be vulnerable to pollution from these industries due to outdated technology-based standards for pollution control systems.
Overall, the pollution from oil refineries, chemical plants, and slaughterhouses has had significant ecological, social, and economic impacts on the Delaware River and the communities that rely on it.
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Agricultural runoff and non-point sources of pollution
The Delaware River is a vital source of drinking water, as well as a habitat for wildlife and a place for recreation. However, it has been affected by pollution, with 97% of Delaware's waterways deemed polluted. The Clean Water Act has helped to improve water quality, but agricultural runoff and non-point sources of pollution continue to be a problem.
Agricultural runoff occurs when excess nutrients, pesticides, and other pollutants from farms and other agricultural activities wash into nearby waterways. In the case of the Delaware River, agricultural runoff has been a significant contributor to water pollution. The state's large number of factory farms and slaughterhouses has led to wastewater with high levels of fecal bacteria being sprayed onto corn fields, ultimately contaminating drinking water sources. In addition, nutrients from fields can wash into rivers and streams, leading to algal blooms and fish kills.
Non-point sources of pollution are those that do not originate from a single, identifiable source, such as a pipe or drain. Instead, they come from diffuse sources, such as fertilizer from agriculture, runoff from urban areas, and the application of wastewater to land that eventually seeps into water bodies. These types of pollution can be challenging to regulate due to their indirect and widespread nature.
The Clean Water Act, passed in 1972, has helped to reduce pollution in the Delaware River by banning point source pollution without proper permits and providing funding for upgrades to wastewater treatment plants. However, there are still weaknesses in the law that allow agricultural runoff and other non-point sources of pollution to go unregulated. For example, the law currently only mandates voluntary measures for addressing runoff and non-point sources.
To address agricultural runoff and non-point sources of pollution in the Delaware River, the Environmental Integrity Project and other advocates are calling for stronger enforcement of regulations, upgraded technology for treatment plants, and improved standards. Closing the loophole for agricultural runoff and non-point sources of pollution in the Clean Water Act could also help reduce pollution in the Delaware River and other waterways.
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Lack of flood control
The Delaware River has experienced a number of serious flooding events due to the lack of flood control measures in place. While the river has seen some success in cleaning up pollution, it is still vulnerable to flooding due to snow melt and heavy rainfall. Record flooding occurred in August 1955 due to the passing of two separate hurricanes, Connie and Diane, in less than a week. This flood caused the deaths of 99 people and remains the most devastating flood in the river's history.
More recently, in 2004, 2005, and 2006, the river experienced three major floods that severely damaged homes and land in the middle portion of the basin. These floods were caused by a combination of heavy rainfall and snow melt, resulting in high runoff potential and near-record flooding conditions. While the lower part of the basin, from Philadelphia southward, is not prone to river-related flooding, the upper and middle portions of the basin have been significantly impacted by flooding events.
The failure to construct a dam at Tocks Island, north of the Delaware Water Gap, has also contributed to the lack of flood control on the river. The dam was intended to control water levels and generate hydroelectric power, creating a 37-mile (60 km) lake in the center of the present-day recreation area. However, due to environmental opposition, insufficient funding, and safety concerns, the project was abandoned, leaving the river vulnerable to flooding.
The Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC), local governments, and FEMA have been working to address the issue of flooding. However, progress has been slow due to insufficient federal funds. The DRBC has implemented various programs and regulations to improve water quality and control pollution, but the work is ongoing, and parts of the river still do not meet the standards for fishing and swimming.
In conclusion, the lack of flood control on the Delaware River has resulted in a number of serious flooding events, impacting residents and the environment. While efforts are being made to address the issue, the river remains vulnerable to the impacts of heavy rainfall and snow melt, highlighting the need for continued focus on flood control measures.
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Frequently asked questions
The Delaware River has been associated with high levels of pollution due to various factors, including industrial activities, sewage discharge, and agricultural runoff. The river's pollution problem began in the early 18th century and persisted for over 200 years due to rapid population growth and increased industrialisation. During World War II, the river was heavily polluted by public and industrial waste, resulting in rampant pollution and waterborne illnesses.
The Delaware River is contaminated with pollutants such as fecal bacteria, nitrogen, phosphorus, pesticides, PCBs, and dioxins. These pollutants can have severe ecological and human health impacts, including fish kills, waterborne illnesses, and potential links to birth defects, infertility, and cancer.
Several efforts have been made to improve the water quality in the Delaware River. The Clean Water Act, enacted in the 1970s, played a significant role in reducing pollution and improving water treatment processes. The Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC), established in 1961, has implemented various programs and regulations to monitor and reduce pollution. Additionally, wastewater treatment plants have undergone upgrades, and new technology has been employed to detect and manage pollution. Despite these efforts, challenges remain, and the river still faces issues with flood control and non-compliance with the Clean Water Act.
