How Much Sewage and Stormwater NY Releases into Environment Every Year?
Published on by Water Network Research, Official research team of The Water Network in Academic
About 6.5 billion gallons of combined sewage and stormwater were released into the environment last year in New York state, according to a new report from the state comptroller.
By Glenn Coin
That sewage reached 220 water bodies, said the report.
Representative image, Source: PxHere, Labeled for Reuse
"The details are troubling: raw sewage being flushed directly into rivers, streams and lakes that are also used for recreation including boating, swimming, fishing and in some cases, drinking water," the report said.
The problem is that in many communities in New York, from New York City to small towns, storm water runs into sewage systems and overwhelms treatment plants. Anything the plants can't handle during a heavy rain or snow melt ends up in creeks and lakes.
About half of the sewage overflow comes from the New York City system, the report says, while Albany, Buffalo and Syracuse combine for a quarter of the total.
Anytime an overflow occurs, municipalities have to notify the public via a statewide alert system. New federal requirements that go into effect this year will tighten those requirements.
Municipalities are trying to solve the problem in a variety of ways, the report notes, from separating sewers from storm drains to building green infrastructure projects that let water flow into the ground instead of running off into the drains.
Read full article: NYUP
Full report: A Partially Treated Problem: Overflows From Combined Sewers
Media
Taxonomy
- Sewage Treatment
- Raw Sewage Recycling
- Urban Water
- Sewage
- Urban Resource Management
- Infrastructure
- Integrated Infrastructure
- Urban Drainage System
- Urban Water Infrastructure
- Infrastructure Management
- Sewage & Allied Waste