Sewage spill in the Hudson is a reminder of why this work matters
July 10, 2026
Riverkeeper Team
The holiday-weekend discharge of massive amounts of sewage into the Hudsonfrom a treatment plant in Yonkers is a critical reminder of why Riverkeeper’s work to reduce sewer and stormwater pollutionmatters so much.
Riverkeeper recently won a lawsuit against New York City for the city’s failure to properly notify the public when city sewers discharge raw sewage and polluted stormwater into local waterways. Thanks to this win, the city must improve its public notifications whenever combined sewer systems overflow.
We're also working upstream of the problem. As part of our work to eliminate sewage pollution, we're advocating for a new wastewater treatment facility to replace the jail on Rikers Island.
Sewage pollution isn't going away on its own, and as our climate continues to change, the stakes only get higher. Riverkeeper will keep fighting for real solutions.
Riverkeeper recently won a lawsuit against New York City for the city’s failure to properly notify the public when city sewers discharge raw sewage and polluted stormwater into local waterways. Thanks to this win, the city must improve its public notifications whenever combined sewer systems overflow.
We're also working upstream of the problem. As part of our work to eliminate sewage pollution, we're advocating for a new wastewater treatment facility to replace the jail on Rikers Island.
Sewage pollution isn't going away on its own, and as our climate continues to change, the stakes only get higher. Riverkeeper will keep fighting for real solutions.
Related campaigns
Sewer and stormwater pollution
Working to keep sewage and street pollution out of our waterways
Water quality monitoring
Riverkeeper is the go-to source for information about the quality of the water along the Hudson River and its tributaries
Swimming and public access
Working to make it safe and free for everyone to swim in the Hudson
Related news
June 10, 2026
Legal victory wins New Yorkers the right to know when raw sewage is spewing into their waterways
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July 2, 2026
Progress on the push for Renewable Rikers
Update