Helena Joyce
Onondaga Lake in Syracuse, New York, has long been considered one of the most polluted lakes in the United States, if not the world. The lake's pollution stems from a combination of municipal waste and industrial dumping, with companies like Allied Chemical and Honeywell discharging sewage, toxic chemicals, and salty wastes into the lake for decades. The pollution has resulted in excessive algae growth, fish kills, and unsafe conditions for swimming and fishing, leading to bans on various activities over the years. Despite recent cleanup efforts and improvements, the lake's future remains uncertain, and it continues to be the subject of environmental concerns and legal battles.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Major Sources of Pollution | Municipal sewage, industrial dumping, mercury contamination |
| Companies Responsible | Allied Chemical, Honeywell, Solvay Process Company |
| Actions Taken | Clean Water Act passed in 1973, major industrial polluter closed in 1986, 15-year multi-stage program completed in 2017, ongoing land rights action by Onondaga Nation |
| Current Status | Improvement in water quality, increase in fish populations, final phase of cleanup set to begin |
| Historical Significance | Sacred site for Onondaga Nation, birthplace of Haudenosaunee democracy |
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What You'll Learn
Pollution from industrial waste and sewage
Onondaga Lake, located in Central New York, has suffered from severe pollution due to industrial waste and sewage. The lake, which is sacred to the Onondaga Nation, was once a beautiful destination with resorts and attractions along its shoreline. However, with industrialization and urbanization, the lake became severely degraded.
The main sources of pollution in Onondaga Lake were municipal sewage and industrial waste. Syracuse, the city adjacent to the lake, dumped human waste into the lake with little to no treatment, leading to high levels of ammonia and phosphates. This resulted in excessive algae growth, which, when it died, was decomposed by bacteria that consumed large amounts of oxygen. This led to eutrophic and low-oxygen conditions, choking out fish and plants, especially in the deeper areas of the lake.
Industrial activities also contributed significantly to the pollution of Onondaga Lake. The Solvay Process Company, for example, discharged waste material directly into the lake during its soda ash production, which began in 1884. The company produced about 20 tons of soda ash per day, and the waste slurry was pumped to the western shore of the lake. The wastebeds built to contain the waste continue to leech toxins into the lake, including methyl mercury, which is among the most poisonous chemicals known. Mercury contamination has been a significant issue, with levels in fish far surpassing federal and state standards.
Combined sewer overflow (CSO) also contributed to the pollution of Onondaga Lake. During heavy rain or melting snow, the sewers overflowed, discharging a combination of runoff and sanitary sewage into tributaries that flowed into the lake. This led to concerns about bacteria and chemical pollution, with companies like the Allied Chemical Corporation contributing to the contamination of the lake's surface water and sediments.
The pollution in Onondaga Lake had severe consequences. As early as 1901, ice harvesting was banned due to unsafe pollution levels. Swimming was banned in 1940, and fishing was prohibited in 1970 due to mercury contamination. The lake was officially listed as a Superfund Site in 1994, and despite cleanup efforts, it remained one of the most polluted lakes in the United States until multiple initiatives, including a 15-year multi-stage program, helped improve water quality and increase fish populations.
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Mercury contamination
Onondaga Lake, located in Central New York, has been a site of significant environmental concern due to its history of pollution, particularly mercury contamination. The lake holds cultural and religious significance for the Onondaga Nation, and their ancestral lands are the subject of an ongoing land rights action.
The mercury pollution had a significant impact on the lake's ecosystem and the surrounding communities. In 1940, swimming was banned in the lake due to bacterial contamination, and in 1970, fishing was prohibited due to mercury contamination. The US Attorney General sued Allied Chemical in 1970 to halt the dumping of mercury, and the company ceased the discharge of mercury into the lake.
Despite these interventions, mercury contamination remained a persistent issue. In 2002, a remedial investigation found mercury contamination throughout the lake, with particularly high concentrations in the sediments of the Ninemile Creek delta and the southwestern portion of the lake. Even in recent years, elevated mercury levels in fish have led to advisories against consuming certain fish species from the lake.
Cleanup efforts have been ongoing, with Honeywell International, the successor to Allied Chemical, leading remediation projects. Between 2009 and 2016, mercury levels in fish from Onondaga Lake fell by 70%, demonstrating the positive impact of the cleanup initiatives. However, it is estimated that 7 million cubic yards of lake sediments remain contaminated, underscoring the long-term challenges of restoring the lake's health.
The Onondaga Nation has been actively involved in advocating for more comprehensive cleanup efforts, highlighting the cultural and historical significance of the lake. While improvements have been made, mercury contamination continues to be a concern, and long-lasting restoration solutions are still being pursued.
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Algal blooms
Onondaga Lake in Syracuse, New York, has long been considered one of the most polluted lakes in the United States. The lake's pollution stems from a combination of municipal waste and industrial dumping, which has resulted in excessive algae growth, or algal blooms.
The Onondaga Nation, for whom the lake holds religious and cultural significance, has been at the forefront of the legal battle for land rights and environmental justice. Despite the passage of the Clean Water Act in 1973 and the closure of a major industrial polluter in 1986, it was not until a 15-year multi-stage program was implemented and completed in late 2017 that the lake finally met the criteria required by environmental protection agencies.
Although improvements have been made, algal blooms continue to be a concern for Onondaga Lake. Recent upgrades at Syracuse's main sewage facility have helped reduce the levels of phosphorus and ammonia entering the lake, but these nutrients still enter the ecosystem through combined sewer overflows (CSO). As a result, the lake remains vulnerable to the negative impacts of excessive algae growth, including oxygen depletion and the potential emission of harmful and foul-smelling gases.
In recent years, there have been reports of harmful algal blooms in Onondaga County waters, leading to the indefinite closure of a beach and a lake for swimming. While the specific causes of these blooms may vary, they underscore the ongoing challenges faced by the Onondaga Lake ecosystem and the need for continued monitoring and remediation efforts.
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Cleanup efforts
Onondaga Lake in Syracuse, New York, was once known as one of the most polluted lakes in America due to a combination of municipal waste and industrial dumping. The lake's pollution can be traced back to the late 19th century when European-Americans began building resorts along its shoreline. The industrialization of the region led to severe degradation of the lake, with domestic and industrial waste being dumped directly into the lake.
The cleanup of Onondaga Lake has been a long and ongoing process involving various entities, including federal, state, and local organizations, residents, and lake users. Here is a timeline of the significant cleanup efforts:
- 1907– The New York State Attorney General threatened the Solvay Process Company with legal action over the direct discharge of waste into the lake.
- 1916– The Semet-Solvay Process Company erected a large water system to remove water from the lake, treat it, and return over 95% of it "purer than before" to the lake.
- 1955– The State Water Pollution Control Board indicted municipalities and industries for their continued pollution of Onondaga Lake and its waterways.
- 1973– The Clean Water Act was passed, but Onondaga Lake remained highly polluted.
- 1986– The major industrial polluter, the Solvay Process Company, ceased operations.
- 1994– Onondaga Lake was designated a federal Superfund site, recognizing the severity of its contamination.
- 2006– An article in the New York State Conservationist magazine highlighted the history of Onondaga Lake's pollution and the ongoing cleanup efforts.
- 2012– Honeywell, the successor to Allied Chemical (a major polluter), cleaned factory sites and built an underground barrier wall to prevent contaminated groundwater from seeping into the lake.
- 2014– Dredging of the contaminated lake bottom was completed, removing toxic mud and reducing the risk of contaminants impacting human health.
- 2017– A 15-year multi-stage cleanup program was completed, allowing the lake to meet the criteria required by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the United States Environmental Protection Agency.
Despite these efforts, some members of the Onondaga Nation, who consider the lake sacred, argue that the cleanup is not sufficient for a site of such cultural and historical significance. They believe that more comprehensive remediation is necessary to truly restore the lake and ensure its protection for future generations.
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Onondaga Nation's legal battle
Onondaga Lake, located in Central New York, has long been a site of industrial waste dumping, resulting in severe pollution and environmental degradation. The Onondaga Nation, whose territory encompasses the lake, has been engaged in a protracted legal battle to assert their land rights and seek environmental justice.
The Onondaga Nation's territory originally spanned over 2 million acres, but their present-day land holdings have been significantly reduced to approximately 7,300 acres just south of Syracuse. The industrialization of the region led to the contamination of the lake, with companies like the Solvay Process Company discharging waste directly into the water body as early as 1907.
In 2005, the Onondaga Nation took legal action by filing a federal lawsuit against the State of New York, the City of Syracuse, Onondaga County, and several corporations, including Honeywell International, Inc., for illegal land takings and environmental damage. The Onondaga Nation argued that New York State violated federal law by seizing their traditional homelands, which included Syracuse and Onondaga Lake, stretching south of Binghamton and north of Watertown. However, in 2010, the U.S. Federal Court ruled in favour of New York State, dismissing the Onondaga Nation's case to avoid disruption for the people of New York.
Undeterred, the Onondaga Nation continued their legal battle by taking their land rights case to the World Court at the United Nations in 2014. They asserted that the pollution and environmental degradation had deprived them of the usage of the water, which was once vital for fishing, hunting, and swimming. The Onondaga Nation also highlighted the cultural and archaeological significance of the mining areas, which were being exploited by companies like Hansen Aggregates and its subsidiaries, impacting the nation's cultural heritage.
The Onondaga Lake's reputation as one of America's most polluted lakes sparked cleanup efforts. Despite the passage of the Clean Water Act in 1973 and the closure of a major industrial polluter in 1986, it was only after a 15-year multi-stage program completed in 2017 that the lake finally met the required environmental standards.
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Frequently asked questions
Onondaga Lake's pollution can be traced back to the late 19th century when European-Americans built resorts along its shoreline. However, the severe degradation of the lake began with industrialization, which brought about the dumping of domestic and industrial waste into the lake.
The lake was polluted by a combination of municipal waste and industrial dumping. This included sewage and toxic waste, with Allied Chemical being a major contributor. The city of Syracuse also played a role, with its growing population leading to increased pollution.
The pollution had severe ecological and recreational impacts. It led to excessive algae growth due to high levels of ammonia and phosphates, causing low-oxygen conditions that choked out fish and plant life. Swimming and fishing were banned due to mercury contamination, and the lake gained a reputation as one of the most polluted lakes in America.
Efforts have been made to clean up Onondaga Lake, and it is no longer considered one of the most polluted lakes. The Clean Water Act was passed in 1973, and a major industrial polluter closed in 1986. A 15-year multi-stage program completed in 2017 brought the lake to the required criteria, and there have been recent upgrades to Syracuse's sewage facilities. However, some concerns remain about the effectiveness of the clean-up, and there are still restrictions on consuming fish from the lake.
