The North River Wastewater Treatment Plant in Harlem is back in action and the DEP says our waterways are safe for swimming again. But are they really? A new Riverkeeper report regarding the Hudson Estuary says yes—most of the time. Also? Be grateful you don't live in Albany. more ›

Bleccch: Westchester County dumped 4.4 million gallons of treated sewage into the Hudson River last month—and didn't say a word, according to the Journal News. The disgusting event was apparently an "accident," which is no excuse for environmental group Riverkeeper. Riverkeeper's John Lipscombe said, "They've got to warn when there's a release — accidental or planned. It's unethical not to." more ›

The following post is from our advertiser, Riverkeeper.

The NY State Department of Environmental Conservation denied a water permit for Indian Point, the nuclear power plant in Buchanan, NY, noting that two of the plant's cooling units "do not and will not comply with existing New York State water quality standards." (PDF of letter.) The permit is required for the plant to extend its federal license by 20 years. Entergy, which owns the plant, vows to appeal the ruling and points out the DEC's action is only a draft but environmental advocacy group Riverkeeper says, "This is a huge victory for citizens of the tri-state area, and a devastating blow for Entergy." more ›

Just hours after a coyote was spotted in Chelsea and a seal turned up on the shores of Staten Island, a teacher from the Urban Assembly New York Harbor School reportedly saw a dolphin swimming in the Newtown Creek. According to a press release issued by the environmental group Riverkeeper, the educator and a colleague alerted authorities after seeing a dolphin in the fetid body of water, which could soon be deemed a Superfund site like the Gowanus Canal. more ›

The Gowanus Canal, currently in the midst of a battle over Superfund status, now has Riverkeeper watching its slimy, green, polluted back. Reportedly the folks at the organization are prepared to sue property owners along it, "including the city, for ongoing pollution problems ... [including] illegally dumping garbage into the already fetid corpse of water." The litterbugs have 60 days to clean up before they'll file the suit. more ›

A coalition of bottled water companies—including Nestle Waters, which owns Poland Spring, and Keeper Springs, a smaller company owned by environmental advocate Robert F. Kennedy Jr.—filed a lawsuit yesterday to challenge a new state law that would require bottled water companies to charge a 5 cent deposit fee. The complaint argues that the law violates the Constitution’s equal protection clause because it exempts drinks with sugar added, such as competitors like Glacéau, makers of Vitamin Water. Lawyers also say the deposit would violate the Constitution’s interstate commerce protections the law because it could be interpreted as prohibiting companies from selling the New York-labeled bottles in other states. more ›

Good news for metro mammals; the New York City tap water is still safe to drink, according to a report card released yesterday by Riverkeeper and the Clean Drinking Water Coalition. The longstanding environmental advocacy group gives our water system A grades for reducing fecal coliform from waterfowl, managing stormwater runoff and waterborne disease risk assessment. High-five! more ›