Water Regulations and Harbor Water Quality

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Water Regulations and Harbor Water Quality
In most developed countries, water treatment is one of the ways through which citizens
get enough water for domestic and industrial use. In New York, there are several waterways that
are used for a wide range of activities including transport and ecological services. If relevant
authorities do not manage these waterways well, there is a possibility that the nations hosting
them will cease enjoying the benefits with which they exist. Hence, New York City has
improved the quality of the water in waterways so that the town can enjoy its benefits more.
One of the waterways is the East River which is a saltwater estuary that runs from the
Upper New York Bay to Long Island Sound. It was once called the Sound River due to its
connection to the Long Island Sound. Formerly, it was used for marine activity within New York
City because its entire course of about 16 kilometers is navigable. Presently, people use it for
many activities like fishing and swimming, although some sections near the ocean have led to the
deaths of a few people, about ten, per year.
During and before the nineteenth century, residents of New York and New Amsterdam
dumped garbage and sewage wastes into the river. This led to increased levels of nitrogen and
consequently, eutrophication. Between 2007 and 2017, the NYC Department of Environmental
Protection cleaned up the river slowly that it became fit for activities like swimming and fishing.

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However, in 2017, there was a spill of the dielectric fluid into the system but the Riverkeepers
department cleared up the mess. There are two primary organizations involved in keeping this
system safe; the Riverkeepers and the New York Department of Environmental Protection
(DEC).
After significant amendments in 1972, the federal water pollution act changed its name to
the clean water act. This law deals with the regulation of the quality standards of surface water
and prohibits the release of pollutants into water bodies. EPA, under the CWA, has come up with
measures to make sure that national water is safe and there are standards controlling the
discharge of wastewater from industries (EPA).
Aquatic life depends on dissolved oxygen. During summer, atmospheric temperatures
rise above normal and this may make the level of dissolved oxygen in waterways. This may lead
to the death of plants and sea animals like fish. The oxygen content may also reduce when there
are pollutants like phosphoric compounds. These compounds may accelerate the rate at which
algae grow. Once the content of oxygen reduces, these plants may die off and start decaying,
thus making the water unfit for human use. Therefore, dissolved oxygen is important in
waterways since it is an assurance that the water is fit for human use and it prevents the death of
aquatic life in the rivers (LLWIA).
Other aspects of water that professionals consider include physical characteristics like
color, sediment suspension, and temperature. Information about chemical characteristics like
contaminants, acidity, and salinity is also vital. Lastly, authorities also consider biological
aspects like the existence of bacteria and algae.