Greta Jimenez
The East River, a tidal estuary in New York City, has a long history of pollution that dates back to the industrial revolution. By the 1850s, the river was undergoing eutrophication, a process caused by increased nitrogen from excrement and other sources, leading to a decrease in free oxygen and a breakdown of the food chain. The East River's pollution was further exacerbated by industrial waste and sewage dumped by factories lining its banks. Despite the Clean Water Act of 1972, which aimed to improve water quality, the East River continues to face pollution challenges due to an aging sewer system. However, there have been recent signs of improvement, with reports of dolphins returning to the river and the water being cleaner than it has been in decades.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of highest pollution | By 1926 |
| Cause of pollution | Sewage, industrial waste, garbage, human-made chemicals, pesticides, an abundance of bacteria |
| Current status | Cleaner than it has been in decades, but still polluted |
| Actions taken | Clean Water Act of 1972, Mayor Mike Bloomberg's waterfront revitalization plan, Sewage Pollution Right to Know Act, ongoing efforts to address CSOs and other sources of pollution |
| Future plans | Installation of green roofs and permeable pavement to absorb rainwater, Plus Pool (a self-filtering floating pool) |
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What You'll Learn
The East River's pollution levels in 2013
The East River, a tidal strait connecting the Harlem River, the Long Island Sound, and the New York Harbor, has a long history of water quality issues. By the early 20th century, industrial pollution, sewage problems, and dredging had severely degraded the river, leading to the collapse of the oyster industry and a significant decline in fish populations.
While the East River's water quality has improved since the 1970s, with increased dissolved oxygen levels benefiting aquatic life, the river still faced pollution challenges in 2013. In that year, it was reported that the bacterial levels in the river met federal guidelines for swimming on most days. This improvement was attributed to various factors, including Mayor Mike Bloomberg's $20 billion waterfront revitalization plan, which aimed to clean up New York City's waterways.
However, it is important to note that bacterial counts were significantly lower in the middle of the river compared to the shores, and certain areas, such as Newtown Creek and the Gowanus Canal, remained designated as Superfund sites due to hazardous waste concerns. The East River also continued to be impacted by stormwater runoff, CSOs (combined sewage overflows), and mercury pollution, which posed risks to human health and aquatic life.
The return of events like the annual "'Brooklyn Bridge Swim,'" where hundreds of swimmers cross the East River, reflected the improving water quality in 2013. Nevertheless, the river still faced challenges from invasive species, such as the European green crab, and persistent pollution sources, underscoring the ongoing need for environmental controls and cleanup efforts.
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The Clean Water Act of 1972
The East River, which separates Manhattan from Long Island, has a long history of pollution. While it was heavily contaminated in the past, the river's water quality has improved significantly in recent years due to various factors, including pollution reduction efforts, cleanups, and environmental controls.
Now, let's focus on the Clean Water Act of 1972:
The Clean Water Act is primarily administered by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in collaboration with state governments. One of its key provisions is the regulation of discharges of pollutants, which includes setting wastewater standards for industries and establishing national water quality criteria for surface waters. The Act also introduced the NPDES permit program, which controls the discharge of pollutants from point sources into navigable waters.
To assist municipalities in managing wastewater treatment, the Act established a system of construction grants, with federal funds supporting 75% of project costs. This provision ensured that local communities had the necessary resources to build and expand sewage treatment plants, also known as publicly owned treatment works (POTW).
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Sewage and industrial waste
The East River, a 16-mile-long tidal strait in New York City, has suffered from severe pollution due to industrial waste and sewage. The river's path to its current state is a tale of environmental neglect during the city's industrialisation in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Factories lining the banks used the river as a convenient dumping ground, discharging industrial waste and chemicals directly into its waters.
The city's sewage system, designed for a smaller population, couldn't manage the increasing volume of waste. As a result, untreated sewage flowed freely into the river, further degrading its health and causing eutrophication. Eutrophication is a process where increased nitrogen from excrement and other sources leads to higher levels of phytoplankton, such as algae, and a decrease in other life forms, disrupting the established food chain.
By 1926, the level of dissolved oxygen in the river had fallen to 13%, below the point where most fish species can survive. The river became dangerous to people and marine life, with dolphins dying after entering its waters. The Clean Water Act of 1972 marked progress in improving water quality, but the ageing sewer system still causes ongoing pollution.
In recent years, the river has seen significant improvements due to clean-up efforts, pollution restrictions, and environmental controls. The water is now the cleanest it has been in over a century, and biodiversity is returning. However, challenges remain, and the river is still plagued by high bacteria levels and invasive species. Environmental groups advocate for upgrades to stormwater management infrastructure to address combined sewage overflows (CSOs) and prevent harmful spills of rainwater and sewage into the river.
The future of the East River depends on continued efforts to address pollution and prioritise the health of the river and its surrounding ecosystem.
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The river's biodiversity
The East River in New York City has a long history of pollution that dates back to the industrial revolution. The river's path to its current state is a result of environmental neglect and a testament to the challenges of cleaning heavily polluted waterways.
The East River's biodiversity has been significantly impacted by pollution. Historically, the river was central to the lives of the Native Americans who lived in the area, providing transportation, trading, and fishing opportunities. However, with the arrival of the Europeans and the subsequent industrialisation of New York City, the river became a convenient dumping ground for factories and human and animal waste. This led to a decrease in the river's animal life and the breaking of the established food chain.
The combination of increased sewage due to more potable water, indoor plumbing, the destruction of filter feeders, and the collapse of the food chain damaged the river's ecosystem almost beyond repair. By 1926, the level of dissolved oxygen in the river had fallen to 13%, below the point where most fish species can survive. The river became dangerous to people and sea creatures, such as dolphins or whales, who ventured into its waters.
However, in recent years, there have been substantial efforts to reverse the damage and improve the water quality. The Clean Water Act of 1972 marked progress in improving water quality, and the city has invested in cleaning up the water and revitalising the waterfront. The East River is now the cleanest it has been in a century, and signs of biodiversity are returning. Bacterial counts have decreased, and the river has become more inviting for marine life and humans.
The river continues to face challenges, such as invasive species and ongoing pollution from sewage overflows and stormwater runoff. Environmental groups are advocating for upgrades to the city's stormwater management infrastructure to address these issues and prevent harmful overflows. The future of the East River's biodiversity depends on continued efforts to learn from past mistakes and prioritise the health of the river and its surrounding ecosystem.
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Efforts to clean up the river
The East River, a saltwater tidal estuary in New York City, has been heavily polluted due to various human activities and natural factors. The river, which is central to the city's maritime history, has been the subject of numerous efforts to clean it up and restore its ecological balance.
One of the earliest efforts to clean up the East River was the relocation of sewer outfalls from the slips to the ends of piers in the 19th century. This was done to address the issue of waste buildup that was preventing dockage. However, the river continued to suffer from pollution, and by the 1850s, it was undergoing eutrophication, a process where increased nitrogen levels from waste led to decreased oxygen levels and a disruption of the established food chain.
In more recent times, there have been concerted efforts to improve the water quality of the East River. In 2013, it was reported that the level of bacteria in the river met federal safety guidelines for swimming on most days, although there were still concerns about higher bacterial counts along the shores and outflow from certain tributaries. The same year, the city promised to invest $5.2 billion towards cleaning up the water over the next decade, including installing green infrastructure to reduce rainwater entering the sewage system.
The New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has also played a significant role in cleaning up the East River. They have expanded their efforts to reduce nitrogen levels in the river, as excessive nitrogen promotes algae growth that endangers fish and other organisms. By modifying wastewater treatment processes at multiple plants, the DEP estimates a reduction of over 52% in nitrogen discharge.
In addition to these efforts, the Sewage Pollution Right to Know Act, passed in 2012, has increased awareness and transparency around sewage discharge into the water. The legislation requires municipalities to report when sewage is released into the water, empowering environmental advocates and concerned citizens.
While the East River still faces challenges, such as the impact of combined sewage overflows during rainfall, the water is cleaner than it has been in decades. The improvements are a result of sustained investments, upgrades to wastewater treatment infrastructure, and a growing awareness of the importance of clean waterways in New York City.
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Frequently asked questions
It is difficult to say when the East River was at its most polluted as pollution levels have fluctuated over the years. However, the river was severely polluted by the 1850s due to eutrophication caused by an increase in nitrogen from excrement and other waste. By 1926, the level of dissolved oxygen in the river had fallen to 13%, below the point at which most fish species can survive.
Yes, the East River in New York City is still polluted today. While substantial efforts have been made to clean up the river, it continues to be impacted by industrial waste, sewage, and bacterial contamination. As of 2013, the level of bacteria in the river met federal safety guidelines for swimming on most days, but readings can vary significantly, with certain areas of the river having higher levels of pollution.
Swimming in the East River is not recommended due to the presence of pollution and bacterial contamination. While the river is generally cleaner than it has been in previous decades, there are still health risks associated with swimming in the water. Environmental groups are actively working to improve the water quality and make it safer for human use.
