In a world where almost nothing is sacred anymore, one of the few things that remains untouched and unspoiled is the Hudson River. The river runs for about 270 miles from upstate New York to the Atlantic Ocean. It’s not just an ordinary river, it’s also one of the most famous rivers in America. This majestic waterway has inspired writers, artists, and photographers for hundreds of years with its natural beauty and serenity. Today, however, this picturesque landmark is more known for its pollution than anything else. But how accurate are these claims? Do we really know if the Hudson River is that dirty? Let’s find out!
Is The Hudson River Dirty?
Yes, the Hudson river is dirty in that it is teeming with all manner of garbage, from discarded tarps to plastic bottles to discarded furniture. But it can also be quite beautiful, covered in fog or reflecting the lighting of the city of New York across from which it flows.
Why Is The Hudson River Dirty?
1. Pollution from New York
The Hudson River is a tidal estuary, meaning that it flows both ways, in and out. It is fed by the tides of the Atlantic Ocean, which means that when the tide comes in, it brings with it all of the pollution that accumulates on the shoreline. The Hudson River then serves as a conduit for this pollution to flow into New York Harbor and from there into Long Island Sound. The result: one of the most polluted bays in America.
2. Pollution from Newark Bay
Newark Bay also flows into Long Island Sound and is one of the most polluted bodies of water in America as well. So much so that local authorities have had to turn off its water circulation pumps because they couldn’t handle any more pollution. Newark Bay is not only severely polluted by sewage but also by toxic chemicals such as PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls). PCBs are pollutants that were once used widely as coolants and lubricants in electrical equipment. They were banned in the 1970s but are still found in landfills and old electrical devices around the country.
3. Pollution from Harlem River
The Harlem River is another New York waterway that flows into the Hudson, and it is also severely polluted with sewage, heavy metals, PCBs, and other toxic chemicals. In fact, the pollution is so bad that it has been declared a Superfund site by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The EPA has stated that even though it will eventually clean up this river, its restoration will take decades!
4. Pollution from New Jersey
New Jersey doesn’t exactly have an enviable reputation when it comes to environmental issues either. Its largest city, Newark, was once called “the armpit of America” by former President Bill Clinton because of its notorious crime rate and pollution problems. Newark’s sewage treatment plants are amongs, but it’s estimated that more than one million pounds of PCBs are still released into the environment every year. They tend to get absorbed by the fat in fish and other marine life, and because they are so stable, they remain in the environment for a long time.s but continue to pollute the environment because they do not break down easily and can remain active in the environment for decades.
5. Pollution from the Hudson River itself
The Hudson River is polluted by garbage that is dumped into it. In fact, the river has been so polluted that it’s earned a reputation as one of America’s dirtiest rivers. This has led to a number of campaigns to clean up the river, including a campaign by photographer James Balog to document its gradual deterioration and death. He has taken aerial photos of the river on every single day for more than a decade, which he chronicles in his book “The Last Season: A Year in the North Woods.”
6. Dredging operations along its banks
Another source of pollution is caused by dredging operations along its banks and shores, which are undertaken to keep shipping channels open for large commercial vessels that sail through this part of New York Harbors because of their toxicity and the fact that they accumulate in living tissue.
7. Oil Spills and Leaks
Oil spills are a fact of life in America. One of the largest oil spills ever was in Alaska’s Prince William Sound, which killed thousands of birds, fish, and other marine life. The Exxon Valdez spill was so bad that it caused some people to consider moving away from Alaska altogether. because oil spills are a part of life there. Every year there are dozens of oil spills in America, but most never make the news because they happen on land or at sea far from human habitation. Oil leaks also happen all the time along the Hudson River as well as elsewhere along the coastlines and shoreline areas throughout America.
Why Is There So Much Sewage In The Hudson?
- The city of New York has always had a sewage problem. They are constantly building new sewer lines, but there are still many problems. Overflowing sewage is one of the biggest issues. Many times the sewers are not big enough to handle all the sewage and it ends up in the Hudson River. The increase in population also contributes to this problem because more people means more sewage, which needs to go somewhere.
- Another reason for all the sewage in the Hudson is that it’s very close to New York City, making it easier for raw sewage to be dumped straight into the river instead of going through a treatment facility first. This causes an immediate problem because people swim, fish, and boat in the river and could get sick from coming into contact with raw sewage.
- Finally, another reason why there is so much sewage in the Hudson River is that New York City had a lot of old pipes and infrastructure that was not updated or replaced when needed because it was too expensive. The city is now working on this problem, but it will take a long time to fix.
- Another reason for all the sewage in the Hudson is that it’s very close to New York City, making it easier for raw sewage to be dumped straight into the river instead of going through a treatment facility first. This causes an immediate problem because people swim, fish, and boat in the river and could get sick from coming into contact with raw sewage.
- Finally, another reason why there is so much sewage in the Hudson River is that New York City had a lot of old pipes and infrastructure that was not updated or replaced when needed because it ot of old pipes and infrastructure that was not updated or replaced when needed because it was too expensive. The city is now working on this problem, but it will take a long time to fix it.
How To Get Rid Of The Hudson River’s Dirty
- The first step to cleaning up the Hudson river is to stop dumping any more pollution into it. There are various ways that this can be done. One way would be to put a toxin tax on all companies that dump pollutants into the water. Another would be to give a tax break to companies that remove pollutants from the water and recycle them back into society. There are many other solutions, and they will not all work for everyone, but we need to start somewhere.
- The second step is to clean up what has already been dumped into the river by companies and towns over the years. This can also be done in many ways, but we need action now! We need people who are willing to go out on boats and clean off the debris in order for fish populations to grow again, and for people who want jobs cleaning up the river banks so that they do not get washed away by floods or storms!
- The third step is education about what is happening in our world and how it is affecting the Hudson river. We need to teach people not just about the Hudson, but also about all of our other water sources. People need to understand that we are going to run out of clean water if we do not take action now!
- The fourth step is to create jobs for people who want to help clean up the river, and get rid of all the pollutants in it. There are many jobs that can be created in this area, and they are not just for scientists or engineers! We need farmers who will grow crops that are used in bioremediation, we need people who will build boats to clean up debris from the river, and we need people who will
Conclusion
The Hudson River is one of the most famous rivers in America. This majestic waterway has inspired writers, artists, and photographers for hundreds of years with its natural beauty and serenity. Today, however, this picturesque landmark is more known for its pollution than anything else. The Hudson River has been polluted for many years. New York City has been one of the main contributors to the pollution of the river. The city has tried to clean the river up for many years but hasn’t been able to do enough to keep the river clean. Although the Hudson River is polluted, we can still do something about it.
