CMCE 2454 - Applied Hydraulics: Water Regulations and Quality

This homework assignment examines water quality concerns in New York City's harbor, focusing on the importance of regulations and monitoring to protect local waterways. The solution delves into the history of water quality issues, highlighting the impact of pollution from sewage and industrial waste on waterways like the East River and Hudson River. It discusses the role of organizations like the NYC Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and the Clean Water Act in improving water quality through wastewater treatment plants, stormwater management, and pollution control. The assignment also explores the significance of dissolved oxygen and other physical, chemical, and biological factors in maintaining healthy aquatic ecosystems. The solution concludes with recommendations for further improvements, such as implementing permeable pavements and planting more trees to reduce stormwater runoff and improve the efficiency of sewer systems.

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Student’s name
Professor’s name
Course
Date
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.

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Just like the East River, pollution has been a common problem to the other valley like the
Hudson River that served as a host to many pollutants in the nineteenth and twentieth century.
The other river valleys are also important fishing grounds due to the growth of plants like
planktons that attract and enhance the habitation of fish. However, the Hudson River hosts more
tourists than the East River due to the surrounding and condition of the river. There are also
many parks around the valley, including the Battery and Liberty State parks.
To improve the quality of the water in New York, authorities have facilitated the
establishment of wastewater treatment plants to ensure water from domestic and industrial use is
not released into water bodies directly. The water is first treated to meet the required standards
before it is disposed of. Secondly, the city is designed in a way that gathers all the stormwater to
flow in definite channels that have been engineered to make the water flow into the combined
sewer systems. This way, all the water that enters open water bodies has to go through the
process of treatment to make sure it will not affect the health of the citizens (FALL).
In my opinion, the city should adopt the concept of having permeable pavements,
planting more trees, and grass. This will reduce the surface runoff that burdens the sewer systems
and flushes untreated sewage into water bodies (NRDC).

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Works Cited
DEC. Water Quality Concerns. 2017. <http://www.dec.ny.gov/chemical/69240.html>.
EPA. Summary of the Clean Water Act. 2017. <https://www.epa.gov/laws-regulations/summary-
clean-water-act>.
FALL. IMPROVING NEW YORK CITY'S WATERWAYS. 2017.
<http://www.nyc.gov/html/dep/pdf/green_infrastructure/improving-water-quality-by-
reducing-the-impacts-of-csos-fall-2017.pdf>.
LLWIA. The Importance of Dissolved Oxygen. 2010. <https://loonlakesteubenny.com/who-we-
are/loon-lake-health/dissolved-oxygen-testing/the-importance-of-dissolved-oxygen/>.
NRDC. New York City to Clean Up Waterways by Greening Roadways and Roofs. 30 January
2008. <https://www.nrdc.org/media/2008/080130>.