Billions of Gallons of Sewage Contaminate NY Waters

AP

ALBANY, N.Y.—Billions of gallons of untreated sewage flow into New York waterways annually, but it remains difficult to tell when and where to avoid contact despite a new law mandating prompt public notice.

Overflows of combined storm water and human waste from municipal sewer plants occur often after heavy rains into big rivers like the Hudson, Mohawk and Niagara as well as smaller tributaries and other waterways. A storm July 19 knocked out the sewage treatment plant in Niagara Falls, sending more than 100 million gallons of wastewater into the Niagara River.

Plant shutdowns and broken pipes among aging systems can dump less frequent but more concentrated human wastewater from toilets, showers, laundry drains and factories.

The law effective May 1 requires municipal plant operators to notify health officials within two hours of a spill and the public within four hours. But that’s not happening yet.

Read more at http://www.theepochtimes.com/n3/211572-billions-of-gallons-of-sewage-contaminate-ny-waters/