Newtown Creek, which runs between Brooklyn and Queens, is one of New York City’s most polluted waterways, and every time it rains, combined sewer overflows (CSOs) send a mix of polluted stormwater and raw sewage into it. Right now, the State is deciding what goals the Creek’s water quality should be held to for decades to come.
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYS DEC) has proposed goals for pollution control and recreation that fall short of the mark. Riverkeeper supports a stronger standard: water that is safe for swimming.
The NYS DEC should set the goal as safe for swimming, require the City to complete further CSO reduction projects, and set a clear, enforceable process for reviewing when more improvements become attainable.
You can send a letter or call NYS DEC (script provided):
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