Water data back to 1806 are available online. Many Pittsburgh-area plastics end up in landfills or the environment. The study found microfibers from clothing and textiles in all of the waterways sampled. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. For Clark, one big one is combined sewage overflows (CSOs) which gush rainwater combined with wastewater into the rivers. He suspects that chloride is from legacy contamination from coal mining in the area. Click to reveal Additionally, our ability to test for turbidity is continually improving with more precise instrumentation and analysis in our lab We have yet to encounter evidence suggesting that microplastics are of concern to the current health of our water distribution system. Myrna Newman, the executive director of Allegheny Cleanways, an environmental organization that focuses on waterway and land cleanup operations, said that, on average, their cleanups remove about three to four tons of plastic and trash a year from waterways in Allegheny County. I think the focus on only shale gas is kind of misleading, Vengosh said, noting that all the wells produce naturally-occurring brine water, which can be much saltier than seawater, and also contain heavy metals and natural radiation. Many prominent individuals opposed the construction of the dam at that time because of the damage it would do to Seneca lands, including Pennsylvania Congressman John P. Saylor of Johnstown, and Howard Zahniser, executive director of The Wilderness Society and native of Tionestaa small settlement located along the Allegheny River several miles downstream from Warren. Pollution persists in Allegheny River in Western Pennsylvania Published: Nov. 12, 2012, 11:58 p.m. NEW! OLEAN The removal of contaminated sediment in the Allegheny River near Green and South Seventh streets has been completed. I think that the big issue for us [Allegheny Cleanways] is that for years, weve been wanting some policies and some procedures and have been working with other organizations, working in collaborations and so forth to get some change. "Today's criminal charges shed light on years of mismanagement and malfeasance. Founded in 2009, Three Rivers Waterkeeper is an advocacy group that aims to improve and protect the water quality of Pittsburghs rivers. After re-entering Pennsylvania, the river is joined from the east by Kinzua Creek 10 miles (16km) upstream of Warren; from the north by Conewango Creek at Warren; from the west by Brokenstraw Creek; from the east by East Hickory Creek at East Hickory; from the east by Tionesta Creek at Tionesta; from the north by Oil Creek at Oil City; from the west by French Creek at Franklin; from the east by the Clarion River, a principal tributary, at Parker; from the east by Crooked Creek southeast of Kittanning; and from the east by the Kiskiminetas River, another principal tributary, at Schenley. A plateful of plastic: Visualizing the amount of microplastic we eat. [14][15][16], The river enters both Allegheny and Westmoreland counties, the Pittsburgh suburbs, and the City of Pittsburgh from the northeast. His 2023 budget barely starts the process. Of over 500 industrial facilities studied nationwide, only six facilities surpassed Eastman Chemical and SCIGraterfordthreefacilities in Arkansas and one each in California, Colorado and Ohio. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. 67 Bedford SquarePittsburgh, PA 15203 "PWSA has fully cooperated with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Justice on this investigation. Levels of chloride contamination in Pine Creek are eight times higher than when the creek was studied in 2013. We do not specifically target microplastics in our treatment process, said Rebecca Zito, senior manager of Public Affairs at Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority. Its tributaries reach to within 8 miles (13km) of Lake Erie in southwestern New York. United States. State and federal officials must tighten enforcement of the Clean Water Act. However, the current levels of contamination have not yet affected the fish, according to Rick Lorson, area fisheries manager of the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission. We are fortunate to draw our water from the Allegheny River. Microplastics are defined as pieces of plastic that are less than five millimeters, about the size of a sesame seed. The staggering amount of microplastics we found likely means that no river, lake or stream is safe from this increasingly common contaminant.. That for me doesnt make any sense.. The pollution has not affected the aquatic life in the Kiski River, which has made a miraculous comeback after decades of abandoned mine drainage pollution, according to Lorson. Neither do we. Contributors. LOCATE ME . Tunungwant "Tuna" Creek joins the river from the south in Carrollton, New York (flowing north from Bradford, Pennsylvania); the Great Valley Creek and Little Valley Creek join the river from the north at Salamanca, New York before becoming the Allegheny Reservoir. Chuckling, he said, theres not just going to be these three-eyed toxic monsters that we pull out from there.. The PWSA is also pleading guilty to falsifying reports about the amount of sludge it was sending the ALCOSAN's waste treatment facility. The company will also contribute $250,000 to a Pennsylvania nonprofit water research center. suggests that microplastics are a concern to the current health of the water distribution system. 17 August The best thing is to cut plastics off at the source., Pennsylvanias General Assembly and local governments are currently unable to enact or enforce any law, rule, regulation or tax on single-use plastics or packaging due to an omnibus. Oil and natural gas extraction in the region at the start of the 1900s is another possibility, he added. We are disappointed that the WIP does not see the amount of progress that we were hoping for, so our policy of tough love will continue, said EPA regional administrator Adam Ortiz. Pennsylvania deserves clean water. Pennsylvanias General Assembly and local governments are currently unable to enact or enforce any law, rule, regulation or tax on single-use plastics or packaging due to an omnibus bill passed in May 2020. Pittsburgh, USA - March 15, 2015 As the snow melts, higher water levels and pollution/trash can be seen on the Allegheny River from the North Shore of the City of Pittsburgh. Kevin Sunday, a spokesman for the Department of Environmental Protection, said many other sources of bromide exist beyond oil and gas wells. The report identifies 10 Pennsylvania companies responsible for the most water pollution. Heather Hulton Vantassel, executive director of Three Rivers Waterkeeper, distributes paddles to kayakers at the Deer Creek Boat Ramp on the Allegheny River on Aug. 6, 2022. was introduced in Congress last year. Dr. David Velinsky, the vice president of the Academy of Natural Sciences at Drexel University and a technical consultant for the report, said that the plastic allows for contaminants, like polychlorinated biphenyls [, ] and dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethanes [. Although the building of the railroads lessened the importance of the river somewhat, the lower river (navigable as far as East Brady, Pennsylvania through locks) has continued to serve as a route of commercial transportation until the present day. She can be reached at 724-226-4691 or mthomas@tribweb.com. And we need to make the creators of this environmental hazard start to take responsibility for the products that they put in the marketplace., Weve known for a while now about the harm that single-use plastic causes to our environment, and this report is a startling reminder that plastic specifically microplastics threaten our health as well. Though the rivers are in a healthier state than they have been in over 100 years, Clark said he often meets people who think the water is in much worse shape than it actually is.. Please refer to the Future Litters page for planned breedings and pregnancy . Help us inform people in the Pittsburgh region with more stories like this support our nonprofit newsroom with a donation. There are some emerging technologies, but theres nothing right now that is effective to get microplastics out of our environment, there really is no solution, Savitz said. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the Donate ENVIRONMENT Kayaking the healing, but polluted, Allegheny River system Three Rivers Waterkeeper introduces paddlers to a river system that has improved since the region's industrial era, but continues to face a variety of threats. Pennsylvania isnt meeting its goals to reduce annual pollution to the bay by 34 million pounds of nitrogen, 531 million pounds of sediment, and 700,000 pounds of phosphorus. Buffalo Creek enters at Freeport, Chartiers Run enters at Lower Burrell, Bull Creek enters at Tarentum, Pucketa Creek enters near New Kensington, Riddle Run enters at Springdale, and Girtys Run enters at Millvale. Clare Sheedy is a visuals intern at PublicSource. The Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority [PWSA] currently, drinking water from the Allegheny River and said they have not encountered evidence that. These microplastics can come from litter, waste in landfills or incinerators. Unfortunately, thats not the case and a lot of that is due to the industrial pollution that flows illegally into our rivers every year.. (412) 697-2933, Ohio River Amy Sisk / StateImpact Pennsylvania, Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Pennsylvania emissions rule for conventional oil and gas sites moves ahead, What you need to know about the massive gas leak in Cambria County, Gasland driller will pay millions for new water system in Dimock, Pennsylvania boosts carbon capture research with investment in state geological survey, How facing your fears about the climate crisis is better for you and the planet, A Philadelphia couple wrote a childrens book to help parents have The Climate Talk, Inversions trap pollution in Allegheny County this fall, despite new rule, U.S. Steel fined $458K by Allegheny County for air violations, Pa. Chesapeake Bay cleanup plan falls short for third time, EPA says, This thing isnt over: Avian flu outbreak reaches 4.4 million birds in Pennsylvania, Restoring the American Chestnut with Genetic Engineering Splits the Conservation Community. And they say the individual indicted hasn't worked at PWSA since March 2017. . (Photo by Jay Manning/PublicSource), Microplastics were found in major waterways across Pennsylvania, according to a. released on March 3 by PennEnvironment. Paul Martino will have more on this story on KDKA at 6 p.m. First published on November 18, 2020 / 1:32 PM. Theres still a lot of plastics in our environment that are misplaced, that are on our streets, in our creeks, on our riverbanks and in our trees for goodness sake. She is a senior at the University of Pittsburgh, where she studies English literature and digital media. Eastman Chemicals national headquarters has not responded to a request for comment. However, the contamination can degrade the quality of the waterway for wildlife and outdoor recreation. The Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority [PWSA] currently draws drinking water from the Allegheny River and said they have not encountered evidence that suggests that microplastics are a concern to the current health of the water distribution system. [8], The following account of the origin of the name Allegheny was given in 1780 by Moravian missionary David Zeisberger: "All this land and region, stretching as far as the creeks and waters that flow into the Alleghene the Delawares called Alligewinenk, which means 'a land into which they came from distant parts'. Develop an early warning system for priority, high quality, and other important water sheds in the Allegheny River Basin, in and around Indiana County. Right now, the staff at Three Rivers Waterkeeper is keeping an eye on the Shell ethylene cracker plant, which is set to begin operation in the fall along the Ohio River in Potter Township. Please go to the Prices & Policy page for a full description of this select reservation process. It's hard to imagine pollution from industry and domestic sewage freely discharging into local streams and rivers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Sep 8, 2022 1:52 PM A second former drinking water plant supervisor for the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority was sentenced Thursday to probation for conspiracy to pollute the Allegheny. Proudly powered by Newspack by Automattic. [11] In New York, areas around the river are often named with the alternate spelling Allegany in reference to the river; for example, the Village of Allegany and Allegany State Park. The advent of the railroads obviated any interest Pennsylvania might have had in participating to improve navigation on the river. And we need to make the creators of this environmental hazard start to take responsibility for the products that they put in the marketplace. Environmental authorities have been monitoring the bromide problem since 2010, when the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority (PWSA) discovered a significant increase in bromides in Allegheny River water and trihalomethanes in drinking water. Gainey pledged to overhaul Pittsburghs bridges. PennEnvironment lists the top 10 industrial polluters to Pennsylvanias rivers. PWSA said, in an emailed statement, that they do not test the water for microplastics and have not encountered evidence that suggests that microplastics are a concern to the current health of the water distribution system. [2] It continues west to Port Allegany then turns north into western New York,[12] looping westward across southern Cattaraugus County for approximately 30miles (48km), past Portville, Olean, Allegany and Salamanca and flowing through Seneca Indian Nation lands close to the northern boundary of Allegany State Park before re-entering northwestern Pennsylvania within the Allegheny Reservoir just east of the Warren-McKean county line, approx. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Three Rivers Waterkeeper introduces paddlers to a river system that has improved since the regions industrial era, but continues to face a variety of threats. With the rain gone, the group left the kayaks and waded under a fresh sky, discussing other dangers threatening Pittsburgh-area rivers. The results are part of the fourth year of the Three Rivers Quest (3RQ) study, one of the most comprehensive surveys in the region covering more than 30,000 square miles of the Upper Ohio River Basin. [10] It drains a rural dissected plateau of 11,580 square miles (30,000km2) in the northern Allegheny Plateau, providing the northeasternmost drainage in the watershed of the Mississippi River. She is a senior at the University of Pittsburgh, where she studies English literature and digital media. WPC > A Cleaner Clarion River Share this page: Watershed Conservation Restoration and Conservation Methods Aquatic Science Riparian Plantings Now, most shale wastewater is sent to deep underground waste wells in Ohio or recycled. Also, preliminary research by a Duke University team found a similar problem in a tributary of the Allegheny, professor Avner Vengosh told The Associated Press on Monday. Due to heavy rain, all photos were taken with disposable waterproof cameras. The plants accept wastewater from oil and gas drilling and other industrial activities. 67 Bedford SquarePittsburgh, PA 15203 According to the report, industrial facilities across the country exceeded federal water pollution levels 8,100 times between January 2016 and September 2017. Former Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority supervisor gets probation for Allegheny River pollution Torsten Ove Pittsburgh Post-Gazette tove@post-gazette.com Aug 17, 2022 6:30 AM The former. This story is produced in partnership with StateImpact Pennsylvania, a collaboration among The Allegheny Front, WPSU, WITF and WHYY to cover the commonwealth's energy economy. TribLIVE's Daily and Weekly email newsletters deliver the news you want and information you need, right to your inbox. Microplastics were found in major waterways across Pennsylvania, according to a study released on March 3 by PennEnvironment. Historically, the Allegheny was considered to be the upper Ohio River by both Native Americans and European settlers. Under a 2013 agreement between DEP and Fluid Recovery Services, the company agreed not to discharge wastewater from unconventional oil and gas wells until they have the state permits and treatment equipment. The conflict over the expansion of British settlement into the Allegheny Valley and the surrounding Ohio Country was a primary cause of the French and Indian War in the 1750s. In its upper reaches, the Allegheny River is joined from the south by Potato Creek 1.7 miles (2.7km) downstream of Coryville, Pennsylvania and from the north by Olean Creek at Olean, New York. That one fell 9.8 million pounds short of achieving its nitrogen target. One body of water had microbeads from cosmetic products. The rivers are part of Pittsburgh, and we have to value them as such.. Help us inform people in the Pittsburgh region with more stories like this support our nonprofit newsroom with a donation. November 18, 2020 / 1:32 PM The DEP wastewater request doesnt apply to conventional oil and gas well wastewater, and Vengosh said that doesnt make sense. Contaminants like DDT, PCBs, and many others are considered hydrophobic, meaning they dont like to be in the water. Ortiz said its not a lack of willingness among the commonwealths communities or farmers that is causing its pollution issues, but a matter of scale. In 1859, the first U.S. petroleum was drilled north of the river at Titusville. BECOME A MEMBER. . The Delaware River Basin Commission said its decision will control future pollution, protect public health and preserve the waters of the basin. But environmental advocates say the findings are clear cause for concern. Large volumes of water, along with sand and hazardous chemicals, are injected underground to break rock apart and free the oil and gas. 2022 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. But four years later, one environmental group is worried that industrial pollution threatens to make the Monand other Pennsylvania riversimpaired again. The Pittsburgh skyline rises above the waters of the Ohio River, which starts at the confluence of the Monongahela and Allegheny Rivers in Pittsburgh, in this photo from Feb. 17. Continued high levels of bromides, which can form the carcinogen trihalomethane (THM), in Blacklick Creek in Indiana County. In connection with the accusations, 69-year-old Glenn Lijewski was indicted earlier this month. Allegheny River at Kittanning, PA Important Legacy real-time page Monitoring location 03036500 is associated with a STREAM in ARMSTRONG COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA. The Allegheny River (/leni/ AL--GAE-nee) is a 325-mile (523km) long headwater stream of the Ohio River in western Pennsylvania and New York. Porter estimates bromide levels on Blacklick Creek are on the order of about five times greater than what is detectable in other streams. News never stops. Moreover, the individual indicted in the investigation has not worked at PWSA since March 2017. EPA started enhanced enforcement in Pennsylvania in April. On our Watershed Stewardship page are some tips on actions that you and your friends can take to help your watershed. The study looked at the Air Quality Index in . Although not considered a pollutant by themselves, the bromides combine with chlorine used in water treatment to produce compounds that can threaten public health. Another 10 instances went over by more than 500 percent, exposing the Mon River to chemicals including zinc, aluminum and nitrate. Long-term exposure to THMs might cause liver, kidney or central nervous system problems and increase the risk of cancer, according to the federal Environmental Protection Agency. Weve found that industrial facilities dumped excessive pollution into Pennsylvania waterways 633 times, she explained. The plea covers violations related to discharges from the Aspinwall Water Treatment Plant to the Allegheny River, and reporting violations related to residuals we send to ALCOSAN for treatment.. Currently, there are no state of federal mandates for drinking water to be tested specifically for microplastics. EPA data suggest that the prison exposed the Wilson River to fecal matter, ammonia and other pollutants 80 times in less than two years. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. The shallow river has been made navigable upstream from Pittsburgh to East Brady by a series of locks and dams constructed in the early 20th century. Dave Mashek, a spokesman for the Pennsylvania Independent Oil and Gas Association, said that state regulators dont set a limit on bromide discharges and that the amount of wastewater that comes from conventional wells is decreasing. A water advocate for Three Rivers Waterkeeper, Friss explained that motor oil and gas from the nearby roadway can stream into the river when it rains especially when theres not enough grass to absorb the runoff. Sheltering in the trunk of her SUV, Jess Friss eyes followed a puddle leaking across the parking lot. The canal was closed in 1877 and the right-of-way sold to the Genesee Valley Canal Railroad. Some Pennsylvania Democrats are also pushing for the passage of the Zero Waste for PA legislation as a starting point to reducing plastic waste in the environment. During the 19th century, the river became a principal means of navigation in the upper Ohio valley, especially for the transport of coal. All rights reserved (About Us). Monitoring location 03036500 is associated with a STREAM in ARMSTRONG COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA. Those plastics are then eaten by the surrounding wildlife and make its way up the food chain. Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement updated 7/1/2022). The reality is that theres a lot [of plastic] in the environment right now, Newman said. Please enter valid email address to continue. Water data back to 1806 are available online. The Allegheny River rises in north central Pennsylvania, on Cobb Hill in Allegany Township in north central Potter County,[1][2] 8miles (16km) south of the New YorkPennsylvania border and a few miles northwest of the eastern triple divide. After discovering high levels of chloride the highest in the Pittsburgh-area portion of the study several years ago in Pine Creek in Pittsburgh's North Hills, researchers learned more about the pollution this year. Pennsylvania turned in its final amended plan on July 18. That there is a problem with and potentially, we dont know yet since the research is still out on the impact on human health, but potentially a public health issue with plastics, in our environment. Myrna Newman, executive director of Allegheny Cleanways. Downtown Pittsburgh in. PITTSBURGH (AP) High levels of an ultra-salty compound that could be linked to oil and gas drilling persist in the Allegheny Rivers Pittsburgh-area watershed, while the levels declined in the nearby Monongahela River, recent research shows. Austin-area authorities investigating 2 . Although no major pollution issues popped up on the Allegheny River this year, researchers further documented persistent water contamination in some tributaries and waterways that drain into. Since it flows from the north where there is less industry and population, it offers higher quality source water. Researchers found microplastics, which are fragments of plastic less than 5 millimeters in length, in all 300 water samples taken from 53 waterways in the state, including seven waterways in Allegheny County. A study by the World Wildlife Fund in 2019 found that on average humans unknowingly consume about 5 grams of microplastics every week, about the equivalent weight of a credit card, and about 21 grams of microplastics a month, enough to fill up half a rice bowl. Nevertheless, the British, after gaining control of the area in the 1763 Treaty of Paris, kept the area closed to white settlement, in part to repair and maintain relations with the Native Americans. Water from Blacklick eventually ends up in the Allegheny River, the drinking water source for the majority of Alle-Kiski Valley residents. Air quality index (AQI) and PM2.5 air pollution in Brea. While research is still being done to understand how these are being consumed, WWFs report concluded that microplastics were mostly being ingested through drinking water and animals like shellfish. Sometimes when the river was low, officials say birds could be seen walking on the so-called island. Although no major pollution issues popped up on the Allegheny River this year, researchers further documented persistent water contamination in some tributaries and waterways that drain into the Allegheny, according to Brady Porter, Duquesne University associate professor of biology and one of the study's principal investigators. Some of the larger tributaries of this watershed join the Allegheny River outside New York State and eventually empty into the Gulf of Mexico. However, we monitor turbidity levels, which we believe would help detect microplastics.. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Water quality on the Allegheny River continues to be good but pollution concerns persist on Blacklick Creek in Indiana County and Pine Creek in Allegheny County. The bay gets half of its freshwater from the Susquehanna River. W.J., 1978, Impact of mine drainage on a mountain stream in Pennsylvania: Environmental Pollution, v. 17, p. 53-73. And what this study does is provide some really good, concrete evidence that what we were saying all along, is true. A suspected source is Fluid Recovery Services' waste processing plant in Josephine, Indiana County. The Allegheny joins with the Monongahela River at the "Point" in downtown Pittsburgh to form the Ohio River.[17]. Researchers found microplastics, which are fragments of plastic less than 5 millimeters in length, in all 300 water samples taken from 53 waterways in the state, including seven waterways in Allegheny County. There was a lot of debris in the water that didnt belong there. Last update at 18:00, Nov 5 (local time) 24.8K people follow this city. Get reviews, hours and local expert estimates from Allegheny Bolt & Screw Corporation and residential certified and insured professionals in . Cloudflare Ray ID: 7761e9d6cd7ed540 The group first set off toward the Hulton Bridge and stopped at the mouth of Guys Run. Clearly, it is cheaper to prevent pollution than to clean up after the fact.. His 2023 budget barely starts the process. The Allegheny Valley has been one of the most productive areas of fossil fuel extraction in United States history, with its extensive deposits of coal, petroleum, and natural gas. A recent Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority report found that high levels of bromides persisted this year in the Allegheny just downstream from industrial brine treatment plants. Mary Ann Thomas is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Under a plea bargain agreement, PWSA agreed to establish a $500,000 fund to bring the plant in compliance and further agreed not to raise rates to come up with that half-million. However, despite the dramatic progress on the wastewater recycling, there haven't been equally clear declines in river bromide levels. She estimates it would take decades to remove all the plastic in the environment. The PennEnvironment study looked specifically at four types of microplastics: fibers, film, fragments and microbeads. The stream flows south and passes under Pennsylvania Route 49 11 miles northeast of Coudersport where a historical marker that declares the start of the river is located. This data is important because pollution from non-point sources* is the number one cause of water quality impairment in Pennsylvania . The Authority has altered the treatment plant to make these discharges to the river physically impossible. The plea covers violations related to discharges from the Aspinwall Water Treatment Plant to the Allegheny River, and reporting violations related to residuals we send to ALCOSAN for treatment. An official website of the United States government. Under new leadership, PWSA has the financial resources to appropriately invest in the water treatment plant and is working with the U.S. EPA to ensure that the Authority and its employees comply with all environmental laws,' said PWSA Chief Executive Officer, William Pickering.". The persistent, elevated levels of bromides, which 3RQ documented several years ago, is likely caused by a combination of legacy abandoned mine discharge as well as discharge from the Josephine plant, according to Porter. Three rivers, the Allegheny, Monongahela and Ohio, cross through Pittsburghs metropolitan area. Lock Evan Clark, a water keeper with Three Rivers Waterkeeper, said that while the booms are effective, he believes oil seeped into surrounding soil and that it will leak from there into the river for a long time to come.. Location: Southwestern New York State Most of Cattaraugus and Chautauqua Counties, and But on Monday, the Environmental Protection Agency said the states latest revised Watershed Implementation Plan will miss its nitrogen goal by more than 9 million pounds. [7] The Geographic Names Information System lists O-hee-yo and O-hi-o as variant names. Rebecca Zito, Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority senior manager of public affairs. The post Kayaking the healing, but polluted, Allegheny River system appeared first on PublicSource. [21] The team began at the river's source in Warren, Pennsylvania on July 22 and finished at the "Point" in Downtown Pittsburgh on August 21. There are 54 sampling locations along the Allegheny, Monongahela and Ohio rivers and at the mouths of their major tributaries. In 2020, Allegheny Cleanways reported that during one of their river cleanups at the Monongahela River they had collected over 4,800 pounds of plastic and trash. After decades of polluting at its Ford City waste site near the Allegheny River, PPG will finally be required to have a pollution permit and treat its polluted water for the first time ever. Do you feel more informed? The construction of the dam and the filling of the Allegheny Reservoir also necessitated the elimination of the small village of Corydon, which was located at the confluence of Willow Creek with the Allegheny River; and the small village of Kinzua, which was located at the confluence of Kinzua Creek with the Allegheny River. The Allegheny River Watershed is part of the headwaters of the larger Ohio River Basin (204,000 square miles). The groups regional director, Ashleigh Deemer, said Pennsylvania companies top the list. We produce approximately 65 - 75 million gallons of water every day, and it can take up to three days for the water to complete the treatment process. While Clark said it remains to be seen what effect that plant will have on the water directly, the plant is permitted to be a significant polluter in our region.. The Monongahela merges with the Allegheny in Pittsburgh. Your IP: We continue to work with our federal partners, including the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service, to implement projects and practices that demonstrate real on-the-ground results, and we look forward to new funding through the Pennsylvania Clean Streams Fund to further accelerate local water quality improvement, Klenotic said in a statement. "'These historical compliance violations are an unfortunate product of decades of disinvestment in PWSA's water system and disinvestment in the people who were charged with its operations. Microfibers are shed by clothing made from synthetic fibers when they are worn or washed. Regulators contend that water and air pollution problems are rare, but environmental groups and some scientists say there hasnt been enough research on these issues. The river is approximately 325 miles (523km) long, running through the U.S. states of New York and Pennsylvania. If pollution is prevented from becoming larger problems we will avoid additional and larger costs in the future when damage could increase and become extensive. 2. PennEnvironmentprepared their findings based on compliance data from the Environmental Protection Agency. Source: PennEnvironment. "Today, the U.S. Department of Justice and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced the plea agreement recently reached with PWSA to address violations of the Clean Water Act. Help us inform people in the Pittsburgh region with more stories like this support our nonprofit newsroom with a donation. The strategy includes increased inspections for sources of pollution such as agriculture and industrial and municipal stormwater. Proudly powered by Newspack by Automattic. by the World Wildlife Fund in 2019 found that on average humans unknowingly consume about 5 grams of microplastics every week, about the equivalent weight of a credit card, and about 21 grams of microplastics a month, enough to fill up half a rice bowl. Although the polluters mentioned in thePennEnvironmentreport may not be literally in our backyard, they are upstream and should be held accountable, saidPrizio. treatment plants are able to filter out a high percentage of the microplastics from the water, Savitz from PennEnvironment said that research shows there is no way to filter all of them out yet. 2022 Advance Local Media LLC. However, he failed to follow through on his pledge upon becoming president. There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. It didnt smell that great to me over there. By The Associated Press The Pittsburgh skyline rises above the waters of the Ohio. Lawmakers set aside $154 million from the federal American Rescue Plan to create a new Clean Streams Fund, which is meant to help with bay cleanup goals. DEP requested local sewage authorities in 2011 which couldn't treat the water, only dilute it to voluntarily stop accepting the waste water for treatment. It wasnt natural debris, she said. 10miles (32km) northeast of Warren. The Department of Justice and the Environmental Protection Agency are committed to protecting you and your families by ensuring that the water you drink is produced safely and that the area's rivers are not polluted with waste.". Before kayaking with Three Rivers Waterkeeper, Jonas said she didnt know how much the rivers had improved only that they had. Now, nearly 50 years since the Clean Water Act passed, the rivers are able to support a growing population of over 70 fish species and top predators like bald eagles, Clark said. that water treatment processes can remove particles smaller than a micrometer, and advanced treatment can remove even smaller particles, aiding in the removal of microplastics. . I think that the big issue for us [Allegheny Cleanways] is that for years, weve been wanting some policies and some procedures and have been working with other organizations, working in collaborations and so forth to get some change. To help you understand the risk of microplastics and what could be done in mitigation, PublicSource compiled key facts and background and checked in with advocates, researchers and the authority responsible for providing clean water to Pittsburgh to hear their perspectives. We're still looking for answers, Moul said. The federal government says it will continue heightened enforcement in the state indefinitely. Now in its fourth year, 3RQ study is conducted by West Virginia and Duquesne universities and supported by the Colcom Foundation. Microplastics can potentially accumulate pollutants that are present in the environment at low, low levels, Velinsky said. Is recycling a solution or only a patch? Indians, including the Lenni Lenape and Iroquois, considered the Allegheny and Ohio rivers as the same, as is suggested by a New York State road sign on Interstate 86 that refers to the Allegheny River also as Ohiyo'. The stream flows southwest paralleling Route 49 to Coudersport. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS Our rivers are literally and figuratively tied to our regional identity. At high levels, chloride is toxic to aquatic life. Allegheny River aerial photograph from Monday, September 22, 2014. " What we want is to stop the harm of the Allegheny River and to force this coal plant to internalize the costs of their own pollution," Grenter said. We need to change the ways in which we deal with waste in order to tackle this form of pollution. A view of Downtown from the Allegheny River. Microplastics not only contain chemicals that are harmful to our health and to the health of wildlife but can also concentrate toxins that are already in the environment. Microplastics are also in a variety of products such as beads in certain cosmetic products or the small pieces of plastic that are used to make new plastic products. As Pittsburgh region increases plastics production, a leading scientist asks: How much of it will get in our water sources? But the boom in shale gas fracking raised concerns about pollution. On the shores of the Mon River in the South Side on Tuesday, representatives from environmental advocacy groupPennEnvironmentgathered with Allegheny County Councilwoman Anita Prizio and Pittsburgh City Councilwoman-Elect Erika Strassburger, who previously worked for the statewide group. It passes the North Side, downtown Pittsburgh, and Point State Park. For her, one noticeable change from her skiing days was the smell. Content page for USGS Circular 1202, Water Quality in the Allegheny and Monongahela River Basins Pennsylvania, West Virginia, New York, and Maryland, 1996-98. . The event was a training session for community members interested in learning to spot and report river pollution. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Those developing bugs that live at the bottom of the stream are early in the food chain for feeding everything else, Moul said. In 1992, 86.6 miles (139.4km) of the Allegheny River was designated Wild and Scenic. Some of the larger tributaries of this watershed join the Allegheny River outside New York State and eventually empty into the Gulf of Mexico. She can be reached at, Gainey budget would spend some parks tax money on trucks and none via nonprofit conservancy. And because you have these plastics in the water, just like other organics, the contaminants, these PCBs and DDTs like the stick to them. Current conditions of DISCHARGE, GAGE HEIGHT, and PRECIPITATION are available. The WWF. Thatstatusremained until 2014, when the DEP declared that the rivers sulfate levels had dropped to acceptable levels. EPA published its evaluation of that version on April 18 of this year and gave Pennsylvania 90 days to submit a final amended Phase III WIP. To be fair, it wasn't just. Allegheny Bolt & Screw Corporation in Paramount 90723 updated on April 09, 2022 and listed as licensed Home Improvement & Maintenance and our office is located at 16216 Gundry Avenue and you can contact us via email, fax or phone number (562)633-3124. [10] The river is called Ohi:'i:o` (river beautiful) in the Seneca language. A study by an environmental advocacy group found microplastic pollution in 53 streams, rivers and lakes in the state and calls for action to reduce it. Those plastics are then eaten by the surrounding wildlife and make its way up the food chain. But he is keeping an eye on Blacklick Creek's pollution. 2022 Trib Total Media | All Rights Reserved. The Josephine plant is authorized to discharge treated wastewater from conventional oil and gas formations, said Neil Shader, press secretary for the state Department of Environmental Protection. [6] There is a Lenape legend of a tribe called "Allegewi" who used to live along the river. These pollution issues have not impacted the quality of drinking water drawn from the Allegheny River, according to 3RQ researchers and area water authority managers. Diverse aquatic communities can be found in western tributaries. The pier built out into the Allegheny River to contain. / CBS Pittsburgh. This legislative package includes measures to prohibit and limit the use of single-use plastics and requiring producers of plastic packaging to take part in a recycling program. That creek flows into the Conemaugh, Kiski and, finally, Allegheny rivers. Bromides are not regulated by the state, so there is no legal limit. During her fellowship, Adelina has produced for NPR's Weekend Edition and alongside NPR's investigative unit. The WWF said that water treatment processes can remove particles smaller than a micrometer, and advanced treatment can remove even smaller particles, aiding in the removal of microplastics. We should feel safe and comfortable in our rivers. The rivers, once lined with factories and mills, were a hotbed for pollution. Curbing our single-use plastic intake is one of the main ways to tackle this problem, and I fully support Philadelphias legal challenge against Pennsylvanias municipal preemption of regulating them. Erika Strassburger, Pittsburgh City Council member. The river is 981 miles long and flows northwest out of Pittsburgh . Locked padlock Port Allegany, located along the river in Pennsylvania near the border with New York, also follows this pattern. . 2 December 2022 EpisodeChesapeake BayStateImpact. Air Quality Data contributor(s) Station(s) operated by. Plastic is not biodegradable and instead breaks down into smaller pieces of plastic known as microplastics. A federal judge ruled this week that PPG Industries Inc. is liable under environmental laws for decades of pollution in the Allegheny River from its old glass manufacturing waste dump site in Ford . Curbing our single-use plastic intake is one of the main ways to tackle this problem, and I fully support Philadelphias legal challenge against Pennsylvanias municipal preemption of regulating them., Some Pennsylvania Democrats are also pushing for the passage of the. PublicSource is a nonprofit news organization serving the Pittsburgh region. He said the volume of wastewater produced by conventional oil and gas wells is substantially lower than what comes from shale gas wells. They met for a free kayaking session organized by Three Rivers Waterkeeper, with kayaks provided by Venture Outdoors. During the summer months, thermal pollution from the steel mills made life nearly unsustainable in the rivers. Microplastics were found in major waterways across Pennsylvania, according to a study released on March 3 by PennEnvironment. The EPAs 1972 Clean Water Act established a permit system for industrial pollution, setting limits for individual facilities. And we need to take care of that.. She has also reported for the Beckley Register-Herald in West Virginia and 100 Days in Appalachia. In early 2011, the state Department of Environmental Protection called on shale gas drillers to voluntarily stop taking wastewater to public water treatment plants along rivers, and major companies and industry groups agreed to the request. While it was the final event in a series of similar kayaking and hiking events this summer, Three Rivers Waterkeeper has more educational events scheduled for the fall. Many additional streams enter or join with the Allegheny River along its course. The Seneca Pumped Storage Generating Station is associated with Kinzua Dam. US Steel fined $458K by Allegheny County , , . [13], It flows in a broad zigzag course generally southwest across Western Pennsylvania; first flowing southwest past Warren, Tidioute, Tionesta, Oil City, and Franklin, forming much of the northwestern boundary of Allegheny National Forest. Allegheny ranks 16th on the list of counties most polluted by year-round particle pollution. For more information about our watershed or land conservation efforts in the Clarion River, contact WPC's Allegheny Regional Office in Ridgway, Pa. at 814-776-1114 or alleghenyproject@paconserve.org. 37.187.76.173 Deemersaid she believes that Pittsburghs waterways are just as iconic as the bridges that cross them. Both compliance issues raised in the investigation have been rectified and had no impact on the quality or safety of the drinking water. The other two waterways, Chartiers Creek and Monongahela River, had fiber and film microplastics present. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. Philadelphia, West Chester, Narberth and Lower Merion announced on March 3 that they are suing the state for the preemption on plastic ordinances stating that it was unconstitutionally put into the state budget. . Weve known for a while now about the harm that single-use plastic causes to our environment, and this report is a startling reminder that plastic specifically microplastics threaten our health as well. Pennsylvania submitted a draft amended Phase III WIP to EPA on December 30, 2021. This legislative package includes measures to prohibit and limit the use of single-use plastics and requiring producers of plastic packaging to take part in a recycling program. [20], In 2008, Katie Spotz became the first person to swim the entire 325 miles (523km) of the Allegheny River; she was accompanied by safety kayaker, James Hendershott. The name Allegheny probably comes from Lenape welhik hane[4][5] or oolikhanna, which means 'best flowing river of the hills' or 'beautiful stream'. In Allegheny County, five of the waterways the Allegheny River, Nine Mile Run, Ohio River, Sewickley Creek and Turtle Creek had fiber, fragment and film microplastics present. Porter and Moul believe there are a number of places where mine water still could be accumulating despite the mines closing decades ago. Pollution Water This story comes from our partner, 90.5 WESA. Of those exceedances, half were 100 percent more than Eastman Chemicals permit allows. The proposed act includes strong bans on single use plastic bags, as well as polystyrene and includes producer responsibility requirements that would shift waste management responsibility to producers of plastic. Testing in August and September throughout the Pine Creek area, 3RQ found chloride in 47 percent of 19 water surface samples and in more than a quarter of 27 residential drinking water wells, according to Porter. That is the second highest number of exceedances in the country, second only to Texas.. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your California Privacy Rights (User Agreement updated 1/1/21. Its become very clear to me that our relationship to the rivers is, sometimes, a little stuck in the past, he said, adding that episodically and mindfully swimming in and eating fish from the rivers is safe. Cobb Hill is about a mile north. Back in May, three railroad cars derailed there, leaking petroleum and plastic pellets into the water. Pennsylvania is still falling short in its efforts to reduce pollution flowing to the Chesapeake Bay, in spite of budgeting millions in new money for clean-up. The Marcellus Shale lies under parts of Pennsylvania, Maryland, New York, Ohio, and West Virginia, and the procedure called hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, has made it possible to tap into deep reserves of oil and gas. Official websites use .gov Editors note: The following photos were taken during a free educational community kayaking session with the Three Rivers Waterkeeper group. The law remains in effect until either six months after Pennsylvanias coronavirus-related state of emergency is lifted or July 1, 2021, whichever comes last. The Break Free from Plastic Pollution Act was introduced in Congress last year. (Photo by Clare Sheedy/PublicSource), Gainey budget would spend some parks tax money on trucks and none via nonprofit conservancy. And because these plastics are unfortunately petroleum based, once attached, these plastics can move up the food chain, be consumed by fish, other aquatic organisms, even some birds and would move up the food chain Dr. David Velinsky, vice president of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University. Pittsburgh daytime downtown scene over the Allegheny River. Support syracuse.com. The state first submitted the plan in 2019. - Annual particle pollution: #14 most polluted metropolitan area - High 24-hour particle pollution days: #22 most polluted . She can be reached at danielle@publicsource.org. When their population goes down, the population of everything else goes down.. Three rivers,. The report outlines steps that local, state and federal agencies can take to lessen future exceedances, such as strengthening permits, funding more water pollution control grants, increasing inspections and issuing timely penalties. Vengosh said the source there appears to be from conventional oil or gas wells, not shale wells. The Kiski has come too far to go backwards.. Western Pennsylvania's trusted news source. EPA also increased permit oversight and may review federal funds to ensure they are spent more efficiently in the state to make progress toward 2025 goals. The PWSA studies revealed that discharges of oil and natural gas waste water, from both fracking and conventional wells, were the major source of bromides in the Allegheny River basin. Current conditions of DISCHARGE, GAGE HEIGHT, and PRECIPITATION are available. River Doodles is excited to announce that our new Breeder's Choice Reservation is now available! Back then, she said, we pulled up to the plant over here, referring to a nearby sewage treatment facility, and, I could smell the waste coming out. EPA started enhanced enforcement in Pennsylvania in April. Pennsylvania's Marcellus Shale gas drilling companies are now recycling more and more of their wastewater, in most cases complying with a request from state officials to keep the pollutants from being discharged into rivers that supply drinking water like these. We should not be fearful of going in the water and drinking the water, Strassburger said. We need to fundamentally change the way that society produces and markets the products that consumers buy. The best thing is to cut plastics off at the source.. Once we draw water from the river, it processes through the Water Treatment Plant before arriving at your tap as drinking water. Friss sees CSOs as an example of how unprepared we are for the changing climate and the changing weather going forward., Clark said combined sewer systems werent designed to keep sewage out of the rivers. Rather, they were designed to keep sewage off the streets.. Rachel McDevitt is a reporter for StateImpact Pennsylvania, based at WITF in Harrisburg. Water from the Allegheny River eventually flows into the Gulf of Mexico via the Ohio and Mississippi rivers. The Mon River was classified by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection as impaired, or too contaminated to drink, in 2002. {"requests":{"event":"https://www.publicsource.org/wp-content/plugins/newspack-popups/includes/../api/campaigns/index.php"},"triggers":{"trackPageview":{"on":"visible","request":"event","visibilitySpec":{"selector":"#cf17","visiblePercentageMin":50,"totalTimeMin":250,"continuousTimeMin":100},"extraUrlParams":{"popup_id":"id_1287505","cid":"CLIENT_ID(newspack-cid)"}}}}. allegheny river pollution. The Allegheny River runs from its headwaters just below the middle of Pennsylvania's northern border northwesterly into New York then in a zigzag southwesterly across the border and through Western Pennsylvania to join the Monongahela River at the Forks of the Ohio on the "Point" of Point State Park in Downtown Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 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