Peekskill Sewage Leak Addressed

After months of pollution, millions of gallons of raw sewage and toxic chemicals recently stopped flowing from a ruptured sewer line into the Hudson River, as a result of thorough investigations and quick action by Riverkeeper, Westchester County’s Director of Environmental Security, Ron Gatto and City of Peekskill officials.

In June, after receiving complaints of noxious odors, Riverkeeper found a flow of black putrid liquid gushing from the base of an embankment supporting the Southbound Rt. 9 off-ramp at Louisa Street in Peekskill and cascading into nearby Dicky Brook, which flows to the Hudson at Charles Point. The ramp is owned by the State Department of Transportation.

An initial lack of cooperation between City of Peekskill, Westchester County and State officials, coupled with an elusive pollution source, delayed early efforts to address the problem. Aware of the need for immediate action, Riverkeeper served notices of intent to sue DOT and the City under the Clean Water Act to ensure that the problem be rapidly and fully addressed. Riverkeeper also contacted Gatto, who was able to quickly bring together concerned parties, locate the pollution’s source and develop a remediation plan. Peekskill diligently carried out the remediation plan at the City’s expense.

Riverkeeper’s has learned that the State DOT is likely to have caused the spill, but the DOT has attempted to dodge the issue. Shoddy construction of the ramp and alterations to the City’s sewer line by DOT may well have caused the rupture, however, DOT has refused to acknowledge any responsibility and has failed to assist the City and Westchester County’s efforts to aggressively remediate the situation. The DOT’s position has been ‘not my pipe, not my problem’ but it appears that indeed it is their problem too.

This pollution site represented a serious threat to human health and the environment. The sewage contains fecal matter, household chemicals, as well as industrial carcinogens and heavy metals. Though not flowing directly into the river, these toxins are still illegally present in the sewer system. The sewage treatment plant is not designed to neutalize these dangerous pollutants before discharge into the Hudson. Ron Gatto is continuing his investigation to track down the industrial contaminents found in the sewage stream.