Jingyu Wang^1,2*

Show more
¹ Chemistry and Chemical Technology Department, Bronx Community College, New York, USA.
² Earth, Environmental and Geospatial Sciences Department, Lehman College, New York, USA.
Show less

Abstract: The Harlem River, a 9.3-mile channel that flows from the Hudson River to the East River, has experienced decades of industrial abuse and remains gritty and industrial. During heavy rains, the pipes discharge raw sewage into the river through combined sewer overflows (CSOs) that can contain bacteria and cause illness. Water samples were collected from CSO discharge point and several adjacent sites along the river in the Bronx side close to River Park Towers at Richman Plaza and Manhattan side at Wards Island. Nutrients, bacteria, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and fish consumption safety have been analyzed. Results showed that phosphorus, ammonia concentration as well as fecal coliform, E.Coli, enterococcus levels increased significantly during heavy rainstorms. Ammonia concentration was up to 2.725 mg/L during tropical storm Arthur on July 2, 2014 and rainstorm in May 2013, and soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) or orthophosphate was up to 0.197 mg/L during heavy thunderstorm in April 2011; both nutrients were exceeded EPA regulation for ammonia (0.23 mg/L) and phosphate (0.033 mg/L) for New York City (NYC) waters. The colonies of fecal coliform were more than 5 million MPN/100ml (most probable number per 100 ml) during tropical storm Arthur in July 2014 and heavy rainstorm in April 2014, and fecal coliform was more than 10,000 MPN/100ml during storm in July and November 2013; E.Coli reached more than 5000 MPN/100ml during tropical storm Arthur and storm in May 2013; enterococcus reached more than 10,000 MPN/100ml during tropical storm Arthur and heavy rainstorm in April 2014. These bacteria (pathogen) levels in the Harlem River were significantly higher than EPA standards (fecal coliform: 200 MPN/100ml, E.Coli: 126 MPN/100ml, enterococcus: 104 MPN/100ml), especially during rainstorm/tropical storm. Of particular significance, nutrients and bacteria were analyzed before and after Hurricane Sandy devastated NYC in late October 2012; results determined that bacteria and ammonia concentrations increased after this monumental storm, elucidating the environmental impact of large storm events. PCB 11 (3,3’-dichlorobiphenyl, C₁₂H₈C_l2), the high molecular weight (MW), an indicator of raw sewer and storm water runoff in the NYC harbor waters, is the major polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in the Harlem River. PCBs are carcinogenic, which could bioaccumulate via food chain from fish and seafood, endangering public health. Oyster farming has been used to purify water and improve water quality in the river. CSOs and storm water runoff have degraded water quality and been threatening environmental ecosystem and public health. This research will help local communities understand CSO impact on nutrients, bacteria, PCBs contamination and fish consumption safety, and make contributions on CSOs reduction as well as improve water quality and environmental ecosystem in the Harlem River.

Keywords: CSOs, Ammonia, Phosphate, Fecal Coliform, E.Coli, Enterococcus, PCBs, Fish Consumption Safety

Cite this paper: Wang, J. (2014) Combined Sewer Overflows (CSOs) Impact on Water Quality and Environmental Ecosystem in the Harlem River. Journal of Environmental Protection, 5, 1373-1389. doi: 10.4236/jep.2014.513131.

References

[1]   Even, S., Mouchel, J., Servais, P., Flipo, N., Poulin, M., Blanc, S., Chabanel, M. and Paffoni, C. (2007) Modelling the Impacts of Combined Sewer Overflows on the River Seine Water Quality. Science of the Total Environment, 375, 140-151.

[2]   US EPA (2001) Source Water Protection Practices Bulletin. Managing Sanitary Sewer Overflows and Combined Sewer Overflows to Prevent Contamination of Drinking Water. EPA 916-F-01-032.
http://www.epa.gov/safewater/sourcewater/pubs/fs_swpp_ssocso.pdf

[3]   Diaz-Fierros, T.F., Puerta, J., Suarez, J. and Diaz-Fierros, V.F. (2002) Contaminant Loads of CSOs at the Wastewater Treatment Plant of a City in NW Spain. Urban Water, 4, 291-299.

[4]   Passerat, J., Ouattara, N.K., Mouchel, J., Rocher, V. and Servais, P. (2011) Impact of an Intense Combined Sewer Overflow Event on the Microbiological Water Quality of the Seine River. Water Research, 45, 893-903.

[5]   US EPA (2011) FY 2011 National Water Program Guidance (NWPG). Office of Water Fiscal Year 2011.
http://water.epa.gov/grants_funding/cwf/upload/nwp_program_guidance508_050510.pdf

[6]   Boet, P., Duvoux, B., Allardi, J. and Billiard, J. (1994) Incidence des oragesestivaussur le peruplementpiscicole de la seine a l’aval de l’agglomerationparisenne (biefandresy-mericourt). La HouilleBalanche, 1/2, 141-147.

[7]   Gasperi, J., Garnaud, S., Rocher, V. and Moilleron, R. (2008) Priority Pollutants in Wastewater and Combined Sewer Overflow. Science of the Total Environment, 407, 263-272.

[8]   Varlero, M.A.C., Johanson, M. and Mara, D.D. (2007) Enhanced Phosphorus Removal in a Waste Stabilization Pond System with Blast Furnace Slag Filters. Desalination and Water Treatment, 4, 122-127.

[9]   Chen, X., Chen, X., Wan, X., Weng, B. and Huang, Q. (2010) Water Hyacinth (Eichhorniacrassipes) Waste as an Adsorbent for Phosphorus Removal from Swine Wastewater. Bioresource Technology, 101, 9025-9030.

[10]   Dubrovsky, N.M. and Hamilton, P.A. (2010) Nutrients in the Nation’s Streams and Groundwater: National Findings and Implications: US Geological Survey Fact Sheet 2010-3078.
http://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/2010/3078/

[11]   US EPA (2007) National Estuary Program Coastal Condition Report. Chapter 3: Northeast National Estuary Program. Coastal Condition, New York/New Jersey Harbor Estuary Program, 131-141.
http://water.epa.gov/type/oceb/nep/upload/2007_05_09_oceans_nepccr_pdf_
nepccr_nepccr_ne_parti.pdf

[12]   amNew York (2011) 2011 Section 04 Earth Day: Water.
http://www.amny.com/

[13]   Itasaka, N., Takanashi, H., Hirata, M. and Hano, T. (1999) Development of Adsorbents for Removal and Recovery of Phosphorus in Low Concentration from Wastewater. Journal of Water and Waste, 41, 195-203. (in Japanese)

[14]   Hu, W. (2013) Helping the Bronx River by Giving Oysters a New Home. The New York Times.
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/24/nyregion/in-bronx-river-helping-
oysters-stage-comeback.html

[15]   Bopp, R.F. (1979) The Geochemistry of Polychlorinated Biphenyls s in the Hudson River. Ph.D. Thesis, Columbia University, New York.

[16]   Pataki, G.E. and Crotty, E.M. (2002) Hudson River Estuary Action Plan 2001. New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, The Hudson River Estuary Program.
http://www.dec.ny.gov/docs/remediation_hudson_pdf/actionplan2001.pdf

[17]   Riverkeeper (2013) Hudson River PCBs.
http://www.riverkeeper.org/campaigns/stop-polluters/pcbs/

[18]   Rodenburg, L.A., Du, S., Xiao, B. and Fennell, D.E. (2011) Source Apportionment of Polychlorinated Bipheyls in the New York/New Jersey Harbor. Chemosphere, 83, 792-798.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2011.02.058

[19]   Rodenburg, L.A., Guo, J., Du, S. and Cavallo, G.J. (2010) Evidence for Unique and Ubiquitous Environmental Sources of 3,3’-Dichlorobiphenyl (PCB11). Environmental Science and Technology, 44, 2816-2821.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/es901155h

[20]   Totten, L.A. (2005) Present-Day Sources and Sinks for Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) in the Lower Hudson River Estuary. In: Panero, M., Boehme, S. and Munoz, G., Eds., Pollution Prevention and Management Strategies for Polychlorinated Biphenyls in the New York/New Jersey Harbor, New York Academy of Sciences, New York.

[21]   US EPA (1999) Hudson River PCBs, PCBs and Human Health.
http://www.epa.gov/hudson/humanhealth.htm

[22]   Chillrud, S.N. (1996) Transport and Fate of Particle Associated Contaminants in the Hudson River Basin. Ph.D. Thesis, Columbia University, New York.

[23]   The Hudson River Dredging Project (2013).

[24]   US EPA (2013) Hudson River Cleanup.
http://www.epa.gov/hudson/cleanup.html

[25]   New York State Department of Health (NYS DOH) (2013) New York City Region Fish Advisories.
http://www.health.ny.gov/environmental/outdoors/fish/health_advisories/
regional/new_york_city.htm

[26]   New York State Department of Health (NYS DOH) (2011) Information for a Healthy New York. New York City: Health Advice on Eating Fish You Can Catch, 2010-2011.
http://www.health.ny.gov/publications/2784/index.htm

[27]   Wagner, R.F. (2009) South Bronx Environmental Health and Policy Study, Water Quality in the South Bronx Watershed. Institute for Civil Infrastructure Systems. Graduate School of Public Service, New York University, New York.
http://www.icisnyu.org/south_bronx/WaterQuality_001.html

[28]   USGS (2012) Science for a Changing World. Prepared in Cooperation with US National Park Service, New York City Department of Environmental Protection. Urban Waters Initiative-Bronx & Harlem Rivers.
http://ny.cf.er.usgs.gov/nyprojectsearch/projects/images/2012
HarlemRiver_conference_USGS.pdf

[29]   Bronx Council for Environmental Quality (BCEQ) (2008) Reclaiming the Harlem River Waterfront. Envisioning a Better Future for the Bronx and the Harlem River with the Harlem River Working Group.
http://www.bceq.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/HRWG-Complete-
Presentation.pdf

[30]   New York City Department of Environmental Protection (NYC DEP) (2002) Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for the Croton Water Treatment Plant at the Harlem River Site. NYCDEP Marine Science Section.
http://www.nyc.gov/html/dep/pdf/croton/7-15waterresources.pdf

[31]   Phillip, N. (2010) Environmental Science-ENV 11 Laboratory Manual. Chemistry Department, Bronx Community College, City University of New York, New York.

[32]   National Research Council (NRC), New York City Department of Environmental Protection (NYC DEP) (2006) Reducing Harmful Phosphorus Pollution in the New York City Reservoirs through the Clean Water Act’s “Total Maximum Daily Load” Requirements: A Case Study of the New Croton Reservoir and Recommendation to EPA.
http://www.ag.ny.gov/sites/default/files/pdfs/bureaus/environmental/
phosphorus_report.pdf

[33]   US EPA (2000) Ambient Water Quality Criteria Recommendations. Information Supporting the Development. Office of Water 4304. EPA 822-B-00-018.
http://water.epa.gov/scitech/swguidance/standards/criteria/nutrients/
upload/2007_09_27_criteria_nutrient_ecoregions_rivers_rivers_7.pdf

[34]   New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYS DEC) (2006) Description of Proposed Action for 2006 Revision to 6NYCRR Part 700-704. In: Final Amendments to Water Quality Standards Regulations, 6 NYCRR Parts 700-704. Background Regarding Proposed Amendments to Water Quality Standards Regulations. Compendum of Water Quality Standards Rule Making Documents.
http://www.dec.ny.gov/docs/water_pdf/propwqsreg.pdf

[35]   US EPA (2012) Recreational Water Quality Criteria. Office of Water 820-F-12-058.
http://water.epa.gov/scitech/swguidance/standards/criteria/health/recreation/
upload/RWQC2012.pdf

[36]   NYS DEC (2014) Part 703: Surface Water and Groundwater Quality Standards and Groundwater Effluent Limitations.
http://www.dec.ny.gov/regs/4590.html#16132

[37]   Riverkeeper (NY’s Clean Water Advocate) (2013) Water Quality Testing Locations, New York City, Harlem River-Willis Ave. Bridge; Harlem River-Washington Bridge.
http://www.riverkeeper.org/water-quality/locations/nyc-hudson-bergen/
harlem-river-willis-ave-bridge/
http://www.riverkeeper.org/water-quality/locations/nyc-hudson-bergen/
harlem-river-washington-bridge/

[38]   Riverkeeper (NY’s Clean Water Advocate) (2014) Water Quality Testing Locations, New York City, Harlem River-Willis Ave. Bridge; Harlem River-Washington Bridge.
http://www.riverkeeper.org/water-quality/hudson-river/nyc-hudson-bergen/
harlem-river-willis-ave-bridge/
http://www.riverkeeper.org/water-quality/hudson-river/nyc-hudson-bergen/
harlem-river-washington-bridge/

[39]   Foderaro, L.W. (2013) Harlem River, Cut off from Public, Is Getting a Push Out of Isolation. The New York Times.
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/23/nyregion/harlem-river-cut-off-from-
public-is-getting-a-push-out-of-isolation.html

[40]   Wikipedia (2010) Harlem River. Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for the Croton Water Treatment Plant at the Harlem River Site.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harlem_RiverMain
Wikipedia (2014) Geography and Environment of New York City Geography of New York City.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geography_and_environment_of_New_York_City

[41]   Hu, W. (2014) In South Bronx, Visions of a Bustling Shoreline. The New York Times.
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/08/nyregion/in-the-south-bronx-a-plan-is-
unveiled-to-develop-its-waterfront.html?ref=todayspaper

[42]   Phillip, N. (2008) Environmental Science-ENV 11 Laboratory Manual. Department of Chemistry, Bronx Community College of City University of New York Department of Chemistry.

[43]   US EPA (US Environmental Protection Agency) (1992) ESS Method 310.1: Ortho-Phosphorus, Dissolved Automated, Ascorbic Acid. Environmental Sciences Section Inorganic Chemistry Unit, Wisconsin State Lab of Hygiene, Madison.
http://www.epa.gov/grtlakes/lmmb/methods/methd310.pdf

[44]   US EPA (2007) Method 8082A. Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) by Gas Chromatography. Revision 1.
http://www.epa.gov/osw/hazard/testmethods/sw846/pdfs/8082a.pdf

[45]   Eganhouse, R.P. and Sherblom, P.M. (2001) Anthropogenic Organic Contaminants in the Effluent of a Combined Sewer Overflow: Impact on Boston Harbor. Marine Environmental Research, 51, 51-74.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0141-1136(00)00035-0

[46]   Wang, J. and Pant, H.K. (2012) Estimation of Phosphorus Bioavailability in the Water Columns of the Bronx River. Journal of Environmental Protection, 3, 316-323
http://www.scirp.org/journal/jep/
http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/jep.2012.34040

[47]   Wang, J. and Pant, H.K. (2011) Land Use Impact on Bioavailable Phosphorus in the Bronx River, New York. Journal of Environmental Protection, 2, 342-358.
http://www.SciRP.org/journal/jep
http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/jep.2011.24038

[48]   Wang, J. and Pant, H.K. (2011) Assessments of Potential Spatial-Temporal Variations in Phosphorus Distribution and Fractionation in River Bed Sediments. Clean—Soil, Air, Water, 39, 148-156.
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/clen.201000088/pdf
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/clen.201000088

[49]   Wang, J. and Pant, H.K. (2010) Phosphorus Sorption Characteristics of the Bronx River Bed Sediments. Chemical Speciation and Bioavailability, 22, 171-181.
http://tinyurl.com/32cdd64
http://dx.doi.org/10.3184/095422910X12827492153851

[50]   Wang, J. and Pant, H.K. (2010) Enzymatic Hydrolysis of Organic Phosphorus in River Bed Sediments. Ecological Engineering, 36, 963-968.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoleng.2010.03.006

[51]   Wang, J. and Pant, H.K. (2010) Identification of Organic Phosphorus Compounds in the Bronx River Bed Sediments by Phosphorus-31 Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 171, 309-319.
http://www.springerlink.com/content/e6t72u36676gxj06/
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10661-009-1280-3

[52]   Ahlgern, J., Tranvik, L., Gogoll, A., Waldeback, M., Markides, K. and Rydin, E. (2005) Sediment Depth Attenuation of Biogenic Phosporus Compounds Measured by 31P NMR. Environmental Science and Technology, 39, 867-872.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/es049590h

[53]   Zhang, R.Y., Wu, F.C., Liu, C.Q., Fu, P.Q., Li, W., Wang, L.Y., Liao, H.Q. and Guo, J.Y. (2008) Characteristics of Organic Phosphorus Fractions in Different Trophic Sediments of Lakes from the Middle and Lower Reaches of Yangtze River Region and Southwestern Plateau, China. Environmental Pollution, 152, 366-372.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2007.06.024

[54]   Neal, C., Jarvie, H.P., Williams, R.J., Neal, M., Wickham, H. and Hill, L. (2002) Phosphorus-Calcium Carbonate Saturation Relationships in a Lowland Chalk River Impacted by Sewage Inputs and Phosphorus Remediation: An Assessment of Phosphorus Self-Cleaning Mechanisms in Natural Waters. Science of the Total Environment, 282-283, 295-310.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0048-9697(01)00920-2

[55]   Edwards, A.C. and Withers, P.J.A. (1998) Soil Phosphorus Management and Water Quality: A UK Perspective. Soil Use and Management, 14, 124-130.

[56]   Correll, D.J. (1999) Phosphorus: A Rate Limiting Nutrient in Surface Waters. Poultry Science, 78, 674-682.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ps/78.5.674

[57]   The Gala Institute (2014)
http://thegaiainstitute.org/

[58]   Mankiewicz, P. (2010)
http://tedxkrakow.com/en/videos/14-paul-mankiewicz-integrating-ecosystems-
with-urban-and-industrial-landscapes

[59]   Harlemriverrenaissance (2014)
http://harlemriverworkinggroup.org/

[60]   Mankiewicz, P. (2013)
http://vimeo.com/groups/focusforwardfilms/videos/51886928