The New Jersey Toxics Reduction Workplan for New York - New Jersey Harbor: Phase One POTW, SWO, and CSO Studies: Research Project Summary

Abstract

The presence of toxic chemicals in water and sediments throughout New York-New Jersey Harbor has resulted in reduced water quality, fisheries restrictions/advisories, and general adverse impacts to the estuarine and coastal ecosystems. To help remediate the harbor, Phase One of the New Jersey Toxics Reduction Workplan for NY-NJ Harbor (NJTRWP) included a set of ambient water quality studies designed to provide the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) the information it needs to identify sources of the toxic chemicals of concern, and to prioritize these sources for appropriate action. In addition, discharges from the twelve New Jersey publicly-owned wastewater treatment plants (POTWs) and selected stormwater outfalls (SWOs) and combined sewer overflows (CSOs) that discharge to the harbor were sampled.