Friday, Nov 16, 2012
By Brian Thompson
...Mike DeFrancisci,(click here) executive director of the Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission, would only say "ASAP" when asked when repairs to the sprawling facility could be made.
Until then, the main outfall will continue dumping millions of gallons of partially treated human waste a day at a point close to the Statue of Liberty across from Manhattan.
"We've never had the facility flood like this," he said.
Pathogens in partially treated waste are a health hazard and public safety threat, officials said.
Fishing, crabbing and shellfishing bans in the New Jersey waters of the harbor will remain in effect, said Larry Ragonese, a Department of Environmental Protection spokesman....
This cannot go on forever without creating permanent damage. Truck the waste out of the sewage treatment plant. It is more expensive now, but, the long term view of the waters is an intact ecosystem. It is the only way to successfully stop it now and will allow the sewage treatment plant a chance to regain its capacity.
Sewage-contaminated water causes eutrophication, (click here) which is the increase in concentration of chemical elements required for life. The nitrates, phosphates, and organic matter found in human waste serves as a food for algae and bacteria. This causes these organisms to overpopulate to the point where they use up most of the dissolved oxygen that is naturally found in water, making it difficult for other organisms in this aquatic environment to live. The bacteria are basically strangling the other organisms. Some of the organisms that do overpopulate from this can also be disease-causing microorganisms. Phosphates are also found in soaps and detergents, but there are other household products that we use everyday that can be toxic to many animals and humans if they are dumped directly into a water body.
