Water Quality - Press Releases

In testimony on historic water infrastructure investments, Riverkeeper identifies proactive strategies to protect water before it becomes contaminated.

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New analysis of 8,200 water samples finds 21% of Hudson River Estuary samples fail to meet safe swimming guidelines Despite progress improving water quality, combined sewer overflows, aging infrastructure, and some tributaries remain pollution sources Riverkeeper joined a delegation to Washington, D.C., to urge doubling of federal investment in water infrastructure nationwide, to $4.6 billion Ossining, N.Y. – In a new report, Riverkeeper has released a fresh analysis of water quality data, showing that 21 percent of Hudson River Estuary samples failed to meet federal safe-swimming guidelines. To improve water […]

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For Immediate Release Contacts: Cliff Weathers, Riverkeeper, 845-445-8257, [email protected] Laura McMillan, Save the Sound, 540-292-8429, [email protected] Kimiko Martinez, Natural Resources Defense Council, 310-434-2344, [email protected] Maia Raposo, Waterkeeper Alliance, 212-747-0622 x116, [email protected] Environmental Groups Sue over Unsafe Waters in New York City  Lax Oversight Allows City and State to Evade Health Protections, Continue Sewer Overflows of 20 Billion Gallons/Year NEW YORK (June 29, 2017) — A coalition of nine New York City, regional, and national environmental organizations, represented by the Pace Environmental Litigation Clinic, filed suit in federal court today against the […]

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Contact: Leah Rae, [email protected] (914) 478-4501 ext. 238 Swimmers, boaters, anglers and others can explore test results relevant to safe recreation at 425 locations in Hudson River Watershed Ossining, N.Y. – An expanded website allows members of the public to find water quality testing data from 425 locations throughout the Hudson River Watershed, from the Adirondacks to New York Harbor, along Hudson River tributaries and New York City shorelines. The data is displayed on interactive maps that have been expanded this year to include two-thirds more locations than a year […]

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7th annual ‘weeklong open-water swimming odyssey celebrates the mighty Hudson and the New York Harbor’ Contacts: Rondi Davies, 917-783-0078, [email protected] Laura Picardo, 732-996-7220, [email protected] Race directors David Barra and Rondi Davies, in collaboration New York Open Water, will present an unprecedented swimming event June 15-22: the 7th annual seven-day, seven-stage 8 Bridges Hudson River Swim. From the peaceful Catskills to the dramatic Narrows, 52 swimmers will cover more than half of the Hudson River’s great stream, from the Rip Van Winkle Bridge in Hudson down to the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge — […]

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Lax Oversight Allows City and State to Evade Health Protections, Continue Massive Sewer Overflows

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Public is invited to events in Glens Falls, Schuylerville and Albany to learn about ongoing water quality monitoring project; Volunteers sought to assist sampling For immediate release: April 7, 2017 Contact: Leah Rae, [email protected] (914) 478-4501 ext. 238 Riverkeeper is hosting three events in the Upper Hudson area Wednesday, April 12, to present data collected in 2016 as part of its first year of water quality sampling in the region and to recruit volunteers to assist with sampling in 2017. Riverkeeper has sampled the entire Hudson River Estuary since 2008, […]

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Plans Would Leave Billions of Gallons of Overflows for Decades to Come, Fail to Meet Federal Health Standards NEW YORK (April 4, 2017) — The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC)  quietly announced Friday afternoon that three weeks ago it approved long-term plans to address sewage pollution in five New York City waterways. Approvals were issued on March 7, but documentation was made available only yesterday. The affected waters are Flushing Bay, Flushing Creek and Alley Creek in Queens, and the Bronx and Hutchinson rivers in the Bronx. […]

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Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature have finalized a $2.5 billion Clean Water Infrastructure Act as part of the initial budget for the current fiscal year beginning April 1 – a huge boost to our efforts to stop sewage overflows and protect drinking water at its source. Paul Gallay, President and Riverkeeper, said: “After decades of underinvestment, New York is finally doing what’s needed to fix its aging water infrastructure. New Yorkers from Montauk to Buffalo will soon have cleaner drinking water and healthier waterways to visit and enjoy, […]

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