Environmental Issues 

Overview 

The East River is definitely not known as a clean river; in fact most imagine it as an aquatic toxic wasteland. Decades of industrial, recreational and wastewater pollution have given the river a reputation of being dirty and polluted beyond repair. And to a certain point it's true; the river's been through years of industrial pollution from waterfront factories and industries and plastic pollution has also become a serious issue. However, not all hope is lost. Improvements in infrastructure, environmental regulations and cleanups have made the river the cleanest it has been in a century. 

Water Pollution

One major water pollution issue that the East River faces is bacterial, chemical and nutrient pollution from combined sewage overflows. A combined sewage overflow (CSO) occurs when a mix of stormwater and raw or partially treated sewage is discharged into a city's waterway. Combined sewage overflows are caused by heavy rainfall which causes local sewage infastructure to flood with excess stormwater. In the case of New York these CSO's discharge into the Hudson, East and Harlem Rivers, along with smaller waterways such as Flushing Bay and Newton Creek. The environmental impact of these overflows can be detrimental, as they can release harmful bacteria, various chemicals and nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus. 

In addition to stormwater and sewage pollution, the East River also faces industrial pollution. Years of oil spills and other industrial waste disposal has led the river to be contaminated with heavy metals, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and other pollutants. Historically, factories and other industries have operated along the banks of the river and dumped their waste directly into it. PCBs, for example, are chemicals formerly used in electrical equipment for their insulating qualities. PCBs were banned in 1979, however their impact still lives on due to them taking decades to break down. Additionally, tributaries such as Newton Creek provide additional pollution due to their own issues with industrial pollution. Newton Creek is considered one of the most polluted industrial sites in the country, containing an estimated 30,000,000 gallons of oil from years of spills and dumping. The pollution of the creek then flows directly into the East River. 

Plastic Pollution

Another major challenge the river faces is plastic pollution, as it contained a whopping estimated 556,000 plastic particles per square kilometer according to a NY/NJ Baykeeper report. The average for the report, including findings from the Hudson and Passaic river, and Raritan Bay. was about 256,000 particles per square kilometer. These microplastics are created when larger pieces of plastic debris break down into smaller and smaller pieces. These large pieces of plastic end up in the river when litter and trash from illegal or mismanaged waste is blown by the wind or flushed into storm drains. This type of pollution poses significant threats to aquatic life and ecosystems within the river. Fish, birds and other marine animals can mistake plastic debris for food, leading to starvation or injury. It can also have human impacts, as some New Yorkers use the East River along with the New York Harbor, which is just south of the river, as a source of fish.