Water Quality

Groups applaud critical DEC report; call for legislature to pass Drug Take Back Act before end of session Safe drug disposal of unused and expired prescription drugs critical to address opioid crisis and protect waters from contamination Albany, NY—A coalition of environmental, public health, and product stewardship organizations are praising the Governor and DEC for their recently released report, which calls for a robust, statewide safe pharmaceutical disposal program that is funded by the pharmaceutical industry. Governor Cuomo called for the report when he vetoed a poorly crafted pharmaceutical disposal […]

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Seven communities, representing 100,000 people who rely on the river as source of drinking water, create Hudson River Drinking Water Intermunicipal Council Municipal leaders from the Towns of Esopus, Lloyd, Hyde Park, City and Town of Poughkeepsie and the Village and Town of Rhinebeck meet for signing ceremony in Poughkeepsie Poughkeepsie, N.Y. – Municipal leaders from “The Hudson 7” – the seven communities that draw drinking water from the Hudson River – gathered at the Marist Boathouse in Poughkeepsie Thursday, May 31, to make history by signing a formal agreement […]

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Waterkeeper Alliance and Riverkeeper say DEC permit violates NY Conservation Law and the Clean Water Act. New York — Riverkeeper and Waterkeeper Alliance filed suit in New York State Supreme Court against the New York Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) for issuing a statewide general water pollution permit, known as the Multi-Sector General Permit (MSGP). The permit regulates how thousands of industrial facilities discharge polluted stormwater during and after rainstorms. The organizations behind the complaint say that the permit violates New York State and federal water quality laws and fails […]

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Diverse coalition calls on Assembly and Governor to follow suit in final budget Safe drug disposal of unused and expired drugs critical to address opioid crisis and protect waters from contamination Albany, N.Y. – A broad group of public health, sportsmen, product stewardship, and environmental organizations are calling on the Governor and Assembly to support the Drug Take Back Act in the final state budget. The Act was included in the New York State Senate’s budget proposal. The legislation would establish a robust, statewide program to provide safe pharmaceutical disposal […]

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Toxic algae affected 30 miles of the Wallkill River in 2016 Contacts: Dan Shapley, Riverkeeper, [email protected] or 845-797-2158 Jason West, Wallkill River Watershed Alliance, [email protected] or 845-532-7584 Riverkeeper and the Wallkill River Watershed Alliance are calling on state leaders to include the Wallkill River in a recently announced initiative to address Harmful Algal Blooms in New York State. The groups made the request in letters to Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and state Legislators, including all representatives of the Wallkill River Watershed: Senator George A. Amedore, Jr.; Senator John J. Bonacic; […]

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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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