When rainstorms flood the pipes that feed New York City's municipal sewage plants, plant operators are left with no choice but to release the mixture of storm water and untreated waste directly into local waterways, which the public uses for recreation.
To mitigate the problem, the New York Department of Environmental Protection has developed a pilot program that will provide instantaneous monitoring at five of the city's 423 outfall locations. Drains that connect to the East River, Newtown Creek, the Gowanus Canal, the Bronx River, and Gravesend Bay will be outfitted with devices that measure the rate and direction of flow, allowing the department to better alert citizens about growing public health emergencies.
The city has received criticism in the past for failing to notify the public about sewage contamination in a reasonable timeframe.
