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Schuylkill River Revived, But Sewage Threatens to Undermine Progress To the Lenape Indians the Schuylkill River was "M'neyung" or "Manayunk," meaning where we drink. But this designated scenic river has not always been suitable for drinking. Development and industrialization starting in the 1800s polluted the river, turning a source of drinking water into a virtual sewer and discouraging people from recreational rowing, a popular pastime on the Schuylkill. Champion rower Darlene Messina practices on the Schuylkill River five days a week and is concerned that the Bush administration is undermining Pennsylvania's efforts to clean up not only this river but all of the waters in the state. photo: Robin Mann Thanks to many improvements sparked by the passage of the Clean Water Act, including updating and expanding the sewage infrastructure, the Schuylkill River is now cleaner than it has been in well over a century, and better river conditions are once again attracting rowers to the river. Today, more than 1,750,000 people get their drinking water from the Schuylkill and its tributaries. The waterway has also been designated as a scenic river, and is appreciated by a host of Philadelphia residents and visitors who enjoy activities ranging from canoeing on the river to jogging along its tree-lined banks. Even so, the Schuylkill River is again in danger because of development along its banks and an aging sewage-, and water-treatment infrastructure. Today the river is plagued with pollution, especially stormwater and untreated sewage overflowing into the river from local communites. But because the Bush administration has cut funding for managing and treating sewage, it's a health problem that puts communities increasingly at risk. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, 36 of the 118 sewage treatment plants in southeastern Pennsylvania have existing or projected overloads. An overload results in sanitary sewer overflows that spill untreated sewage into waterways of the Philadelphia region. Typically overflows are the result of system deterioration, lack of maintenance, or excessive intake. The overflows of many of these facilities run into waters within the Schuylkill River watershed. Contact with sewage-infested water can cause gastrointestinal and respiratory illnesses. Exposure poses the greatest risk for children, the elderly, and those with weakened immune systems. Sewage-contaminated water also costs more to treat before it becomes safe to drink. Keeping sewage out of the Schuylkill River is essential for protecting the drinking water supply for the roughly 900,000 customers in and around Philadelphia, as well as keeping the river clean for recreational uses. Darlene Messina, a health professional working for the Philadelphia Department of Public Health, has lived near the Schuylkill River for 27 years. A competitive rower for the past 20 years, she practices 5 days a week, 9 months a year, on the Schuylkill. "Sometimes when I'm on the river, I see discharges and you can't really tell if they're legal or not. It's disturbing and I think it concerns everybody on the river," explains Darlene. She has since turned her angst into action by founding Friends of the Manayunk Canal, a conservation and advocacy group dedicated to preserving the canal and protecting and improving the watershed. But the Bush administration is undermining Pennsylvania's work toward cleaner water in several ways. The administration's latest budget slashes funding for sewage treatment and management (one of the greatest threats to the Schuylkill River) by one-third. Moreover, the Bush administration has withheld EPA regulations that would warn communities and public health officials of sewer overflows. These regulations were developed as consensus recommendations of federal, state, and local officials, sewer operators, public health authorities, and the environmental community to ensure the health and safety of local communities. The Bush administration has placed communities at risk from sanitary sewer overflows by withholding the information and cleanup that they need. Without support from the Bush administration, untreated sewage will continue to hinder the river cleanup efforts of Darlene Messina and other concerned community members. As Darlene puts it, "Our riverside park and river recreation are important to our city because residents need access to aesthetically pleasing open space and are naturally drawn to river recreation opportunities. Our river must continue to improve in order to ensure residents and visitors alike can continue to safely enjoy the river and its scenic setting." For more information contact: Robin Mann Sierra Club Pennsylvania Chapter (610) 527-4598 robinmann@earthlink.net Delaware Riverkeeper Network, Schuylkill Office (610) 469-6005 www.delawareriverkeeper.org Philadelphia Water Department (215) 685-6300 www.phillywater.org Up to Top HOME | Email Signup | About Us | Contact Us | Terms of Use | © 2008 Sierra Club