Sustainable Things to Do in NYC: Earth Day Special
In honor of Earth Day, we’re offering an extended list of events continuing through April 23 to help you celebrate the environment in our great city!
Earth Day Celebration at Grand Central: The annual event includes three days of interactive exhibits, sustainability talks, live music, and kids’ activities. Saturday, April 20-Monday April 22, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Earth Week at Queens Libraries: From a week-long green film festival to a wide range of eco-friendly crafts, Queens Libraries are getting into the spirit. Various locations and times.
Electronic Waste Recycling Day: The Lower East Side Ecology Center extends there collection of unwanted electronics to the Upper West Side. Drop off your old tech gear on Amsterdam Ave. between West 74-75th Streets. Sunday, April 21, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Family Volunteer Day: What better way to celebrate Earth Day than by helping to beautify Central Park? Saturday, April 20, 10 a.m. – noon.
Federal Agency Earth Day: Head across the street from EPA’s downtown offices for an afternoon of informational talks and displays from the EPA, FEMA, and Baruch College on topics of sustainability and emergency response. Tuesday, April 23, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
New York City Green Festival: The second annual green festival celebrates a wide variety of solutions to lead people to healthier lives and greener communities. Saturday, April 20, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. and Sunday, April 21, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
SAFE Disposal Event: The NYC Department of Sanitation is holding five SAFE Disposal Events this spring to provide a one-stop method to get rid of potentially harmful household products. Bring your hazardous household materials to Yankee Stadium on Saturday, April 20, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
St. George Day: An Earth Day festival that includes a celebration of dragons?! Head to Staten Island to find out what it’s all about. Saturday, April 20, noon-7 p.m.
Waking Up the Farm: Learn more about urban farming, enjoy a mid-afternoon healthy snack, and help with general farm work at Hattie Carthan Herban Farm in Brooklyn. Monday, April 22, 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Worm Festival: South Brooklyn Children’s Garden is holding a worm festival for kids to learn about compost and why worms are beneficial for gardens. Saturday, April 20, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
20th Annual EarthFest Celebration: Pelham Bay Park in the Bronx hosts environmental exhibits, educational programming and children’s activities for this annual event. Sunday, April 21, noon – 3 p.m.
Editor's Note: The opinions expressed in Greenversations are those of the author. They do not reflect EPA policy, endorsement, or action, and EPA does not verify the accuracy or science of the contents of the blog.
By Marcia Anderson
On the third day of the 2013 Rodent Academy, participants visited numerous sites around lower Manhattan to improve their ability to identify rat burrows, runways, harborages and food sources.
The Rodent Academy participants visited Collect Pond Park which lies atop one of New York City’s foremost sources of fresh water prior to the American Revolution. Collect Pond was a large, 60-foot deep pool fed by an underground spring and was a favorite spot for picnics and ice-skating. In the 17th century the Dutch settlers called it “kolch” meaning “small body of water.” By the early 19th century, the pond had become a communal open sewer. In 1805, in order to drain the garbage-infested waters, a 40-foot wide canal was opened that today is known as Canal Street. Even after the pond was drained, due to the area’s high water table and the improper filling of the pond with garbage over an active spring, the site remained swampy and mosquito-ridden. Throughout the 19th century, nearly all of the city’s cholera outbreaks originated in the former Collect Pond neighborhood. By 1811, the City completed the filling of Collect Pond and had become known as “Five Points.” Today, this area is known as the Civic Center, due to the presence of many governmental offices.
What does all of this history have to do with rats? Think about it. This is a legacy dump site with buried garbage. There are lots of legacy rodent tunnels, developed over 100 years ago, 20’-60’ deep underground, complete with cosmopolitan rodent freeways and rodent apartments. And better yet, they connect to the human subway system providing a regular source of food.
Eyewitness accounts from security guards in surrounding buildings speak of large rats running back and forth from burrows in the park to the subway and storm drains and back again. We also noticed a lot of pigeon activity. The birds were feasting on worms and other bugs from the rich soil dug up from centurys old buried garbage.
This site is similar to much of NYC and other cities around the world, such as Rome. The new neighborhoods and cities are built on the remains of the old cities containing legacy garbage, legacy rats, ancient tunnels and rat infrastructure deep below current city streets.
Despite the cards being stacked against the New York City Department of Health and other rodent control professionals, progress is being made. There are new technologies in monitoring, backed up by expanding knowledge about rodent behavior that is being used against them. In addition, neighborhoods are actively helping the City to identify and exclude rodent access and working to eliminate food sources. The City is also deploying new types of rodent proof garbage can/compactors.
About the Author: Marcia is the bed bug and vector management specialist for the Pesticides Program in Edison. She has a BS in Biology from Monmouth, second degree in Environmental Design-Landscape Architecture from Rutgers, Masters in Instruction and Curriculum from Kean, and is a PhD in Environmental Management candidate from Montclair – specializing in Integrated Pest Management and Environmental Communications. Prior to EPA, and concurrently, she has been a professor of Earth and Environmental Studies, Geology and Oceanography at Kean University for 14 years.
Editor's Note: The opinions expressed in Greenversations are those of the author. They do not reflect EPA policy, endorsement, or action, and EPA does not verify the accuracy or science of the contents of the blog.
By Marcia Anderson
Rat Management
The New York City 2013 Rodent Academy was sponsored jointly by the NYC Department of Health (NYCDOH) and the EPA Region2. The academy also drew people involved in rodent control from the National Parks Service and pest management professionals from Illinois, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Alaska.
The responsibility of dealing with rats in the city is shared among NYCDOH, city building owners, and the City Departments of buildings, transportation, sanitation and parks. Unlike the other city departments, however, the NYCDOH has an ‘Emergency Response Team’- a group of exterminators to help out other city agencies with severe rodent challenges. A call to NYC’s 3-1-1 number about a rodent issue brings a prompt response.
We learned that NYC is taking an aggressive and proactive approach to pest management including inspections and compliance assistance. Inspectors go out into the community, block by block, and inspect for evidence of rodent activity, rodent entry points, runways, harborages, and more. They educate building managers, home owners and the general public on how to prevent rodents and conduct up to 140,000 of these inspections per year. After they educate those responsible for properties in violation, they follow-up at sites where people have remediated rat infestation problems. These proactive inspections were first conducted in the Bronx and Manhattan, and now include Brooklyn and Queens.
This pest inspection program uses hand held devices to reduce paperwork enabling more people to remain on the streets and in the communities to deal with rodent problems. The results of this work are available on the NYC Rat portal website.
The NYC DOH does not just bait and trap. They use Integrated Pest Management (IPM) which is a science-based decision-making process that identifies and reduces risks from pests and pest management related strategies. IPM employs horticultural, mechanical, physical and biological controls with selective use of pesticides when needed. This information, in combination with available pest control methods, is used to manage pests by the most economical means and with the least possible hazard to people, property, and the environment. IPM is not a single pest control method but, rather, a series of pest management evaluations, decisions and controls.
Rats are monitored to determine the extent of the rodent problem at any site. Participants learned that NYC is not only monitoring with tracking powders, but is utilizing some new biomarkers. After consumption of new baits, a bio-florescent marker is left in the rodent droppings making the droppings visible by black light. This helps to identify how rodents are traveling from nest to food sources and back. It can also help measure a rat colony range, and determine if rodents are entering from the outside and invading buildings along a particular wall or through a specific opening that needs to be sealed.
In NYC, rats have had at least 200 years to become established, multiply and learn areas and harborages in which to feed, hide and thrive. City infrastructure like sewers, stream and water tunnels, subways, parks, refuse collection, highways, streets and seaports provides innumerable harborage sites throughout our metropolis. Some hidden harborages may include: ground earthen burrows, beneath sidewalks and curbs, within interior and exterior structure voids, old sewer system tunnels, subway platforms and track tunnels, and within construction materials.
On the third day, the Rodent Academy participants visited numerous sites around lower Manhattan to improve their ability to identify rat burrows, runways, harborages and food sources. Look for a discussion of some of these sites in upcoming ‘Rodent Academy Part 2’ blog.
About the Author: Marcia is the bed bug and vector management specialist for the Pesticides Program in Edison. She has a BS in Biology from Monmouth, second degree in Environmental Design-Landscape Architecture from Rutgers, Masters in Instruction and Curriculum from Kean, and is a PhD in Environmental Management candidate from Montclair – specializing in Integrated Pest Management and Environmental Communications. Prior to EPA, and concurrently, she has been a professor of Earth and Environmental Studies, Geology and Oceanography at Kean University for 14 years.
Editor's Note: The opinions expressed in Greenversations are those of the author. They do not reflect EPA policy, endorsement, or action, and EPA does not verify the accuracy or science of the contents of the blog.
Upcoming Weekend Activities: NYC
Check out our top ecofriendly weekend recommendations and feel free to share your own in the comments section.
Electronic Waste Recycling: The Lower East Side Ecology Center is helping you clear old and unwanted electronics out of your closets without trashing the environment! Drop off your tech gear in front of Tekserve in Chelsea to have it responsibly recycled. Saturday, April 6, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Grow to Learn Grant Writing Workshop: Find out how to apply for a Grow to Learn mini grant and get started on designing a school garden. RSVP required. Saturday, April 6, 10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Music and Bronx Seaside Trolley: Head to the Bronx for First Fridays – an evening of music and exploration at the Bartow Pell Mansion. Free trolley rides make loops from the 6 train to the mansion. Friday, April 5, 5:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
New York City of Trees Exhibit: Photographic portraits of trees from around the five boroughs bring viewers up close to some of the arboreal residents of the city. Arsenal Gallery of Central Park, Monday to Friday through April 26, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
SAFE Disposal Event: The NYC Department of Sanitation is holding five SAFE Disposal Events this spring to provide a one-stop method to get rid of potentially harmful household products. Bring your hazardous household materials to Prospect Park on Sunday, April 7, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Table Tennis Tournament: New York City Parks sponsors this annual event at the Greenbelt Recreation Center on Staten Island. Saturday and Sunday, April 6-7, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Tartan Day Parade: Take part in the largest Scottish outdoor event in Manhattan. The annual celebration of the historic links between Scotland and the U.S. takes place along 6th Avenue on Saturday, April 6.
Editor's Note: The opinions expressed in Greenversations are those of the author. They do not reflect EPA policy, endorsement, or action, and EPA does not verify the accuracy or science of the contents of the blog.
By Marcia Anderson
This month EPA Region 2 is conducting nationwide training for state and federal inspectors and for Customs and Border Protection Officers on how to distinguish between legal and illegal pesticides. This effort is to keep dangerous, illegal pesticide products from entering the United States and reaching consumers. Despite all of our efforts, our borders and ports are extensive and sometimes lethal products do slip in. Here is what consumers should know:
By definition, pesticides are designed to kill. If the label says that it kills, destroys, mitigates or repels any pest (including microbes), it is a pesticide. (With the exception of products used exclusively in or on the human body.)
Under federal pesticides law, all pesticide products sold in the U.S. must be registered with the EPA. Before a pesticide product is registered, the producer of the product must provide data from tests done according to EPA guidelines to ensure that the product does not make people sick, when directions on the label are followed. If a product is not registered, the EPA cannot be certain of the toxicity and efficacy of the product. Illegal products have not been tested and their labels have not been reviewed for use directions and safety warnings. Second, illegal pesticides may contain unknown ingredients and may be harmful to people and/or the environment, and may be banned for use in the United States.
Consumers should pay close attention to the pesticides that they use in and around their homes. These illegal pesticides can easily make their way into New York City stores and markets. An easy way to tell if a product is likely to be legal: Its label must be in English. Labels can be bilingual, but English must be one of the languages. Second, it must have an EPA Registration or Establishment Number clearly on the front panel of the label. If you see a dead bug illustration, if the product is in another language, and you do not see EPA numbers, take a photo of the product, jot down the address where you found it and contact your EPA regional pesticides office.
Beware! Four of the most dangerous pesticides sold on the streets:
- Tres Pasitos (“Three Little Steps”) is a rodent poison produced in the Dominican Republic or Mexico. Swallowing even a very small amount of Tres Pasitos can be dangerous, especially to children, and can cause vomiting, dizziness, shortness of breath, and death due to paralysis of the nervous system. The active ingredient: Aldicarb, is not approved for use as a household pesticide in the U.S. because of its toxic effects on people and pets.
- “Cat be Unemployed” is a rodenticide from China. The active ingredient is brodifacoum, the most lethal of the second generation anticoagulants. It is classified as extremely toxic, and the illegal product has 60 times more concentrated active ingredient than the maximum allowable in any registered U.S. product! It is highly lethal to children and pets. Just by touching it, (dermal exposure) it will easily penetrate intact skin.
- Insecticide chalk, also known as “Miraculous Chalk” or “Chinese Chalk” is sold in small stores or on the street for about $1 and looks like regular school or play chalk. Exposure to Deltamethrin, the active ingredient, can cause vomiting, stomach pains, convulsions, tremors, coma and death due to respiratory failure.
- Chinese Rodenticide containing Tetramethylenedisulfotetramine (TETS) is a highly lethal neurotoxic rodenticide. TETS is an odorless, tasteless, white powder that is potentially many times more toxic to humans than potassium cyanide and strychnine. TETS exposure can cause seizures, coma, blindness and death. Severe poisonings are usually fatal within three to 13 hours after consumption.
About the Author: Marcia is the bed bug and vector management specialist for the Pesticides Program in Edison. She has a BS in Biology from Monmouth, second degree in Environmental Design-Landscape Architecture from Rutgers, Masters in Instruction and Curriculum from Kean, and is a PhD in Environmental Management candidate from Montclair – specializing in Integrated Pest Management and Environmental Communications. Prior to EPA, and concurrently, she has been a professor of Earth and Environmental Studies, Geology and Oceanography at Kean University for 14 years.
Editor's Note: The opinions expressed in Greenversations are those of the author. They do not reflect EPA policy, endorsement, or action, and EPA does not verify the accuracy or science of the contents of the blog.
Eco-friendly New York City Weekend Events
Finally this weekend we should get a taste of spring! Get out and celebrate with some of our suggestions for sustainable things to do in the NYC area.
The Art of Nesting: Come out to the Brooklyn Botanic Garden to learn about animal architects and the ways they make homes from plant materials. Children will have a chance to try their own nest-making skills and can bring home a nesting bag for the birds on their block. Friday, March 29, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Community Environmental Center EcoHouse: Explore this mobile environmental education exhibit at Inwood Hill Park. Friday, March 29, 3 p.m. – 5 p.m., Saturday, March 30, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Early Spring Bird Walk: Hike around the Jamaica Bay ponds and uplands to look for the first birds of spring. See ospreys, oystercatchers, ibis, great egrets, laughing gulls, and phoebes, to name a few. Saturday, March 30, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Exploring Clouds: Discover the different types of clouds and what they can tell us about upcoming weather patterns. Fort Trotten Park Visitor’s Center, Queens. Saturday, March 30, 1 p.m.
Herb Planting: Check out the Lefferts Historic House in Prospect Park to see how their herb gardens are coming along. Plant your own pot of herbs to take home using newspaper, soil and seeds. March 29, 1 p.m. – 3 p.m.
SAFE Disposal Event: The NYC Department of Sanitation is holding five SAFE Disposal Events this spring to provide a one-stop method to get rid of potentially harmful household products. Bring your hazardous household materials to Citi Field on Saturday, March 30, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Spring Egg Hunt: Visit the Queens Botanical Garden for a family friendly spring egg hunt. Other activities include seed planting, face painting and a visit from Flora the Flower. Saturday, March 30, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Volunteer Meadow Shearing: Head uptown to Sherman Creek Park for a unique volunteer opportunity. Learn about preparing flower beds for spring and help cut back grass and wildflowers in the meadow to help the park get ready for the warmer season. Saturday, March 30, 1 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Editor's Note: The opinions expressed in Greenversations are those of the author. They do not reflect EPA policy, endorsement, or action, and EPA does not verify the accuracy or science of the contents of the blog.
By Marcia Anderson
I just got a panicked call from Amanda, a mom whose daughter and roommate came home from a spring break trip to Panama City, Florida, with bed bugs. Amanda told me that a recent cold front brought temperatures down to near freezing in Northern Florida, so instead of partying on the beach, 20 or so students crammed into a beachside motel where some friends were staying and they returned to New York City with more than they bargained for.
Luckily, New York University has extensive experience with bed bugs and has a lot of useful information on its website.
Here is some additional advice for Amanda and other parents of traveling students if they suspect that their offspring came home with a few hitchhikers:
Upon arriving home, never place luggage or clothing directly on the bed. Sprinkle a little talcum powder on the bottom of the bathtub and have your student drop their luggage in the bathtub along with all of their outer clothing. A bathtub provides a slippery surface hindering the bed bugs from climbing out and crawling around. The talcum powder makes even less traction for the bed bug.
Heat dry all clothing, including sneakers, sandals and jackets, in a clothes dryer set on high for a half hour. Use a large garbage bag to transport the clothes to the dryer. Dispose of the bag, and place the clean clothes in a clean bag.
Inspect and wipe down all other items, such as packages, very carefully. If you are unsure about some items, like books, place them in a zip-lock bag and freeze for a week.
Don’t forget to vacuum your student’s path from the front door to the bathroom drop site. When finished, vacuum up a little talcum powder as well. It will make the insides of the vacuum too slippery for vacuumed bed bugs to crawl out. Place the vacuum bag and contents in a plastic bag, knot it or seal it tightly and dispose of it properly.
Take your time and do a thorough job, as bed bugs can hide in the tiniest of cracks or crevices and can live for over six months without a meal. In addition, it only takes one pregnant female bed bug to be responsible for creating 32,000 additional bed bugs in six months.
What about the car that transported her home? A steam cleaning of the interior should take care of any unwanted hitchhikers.
Still worried? Purchase bed bug interceptors and place them under all bed, couch and upholstered chair legs. Keep the interceptors in place for at least six months. Move the bed a few inches away from the wall, so that these tiny vampires can’t find a way up onto the bed to feed on a sleeping victim. Remove anything stored under the bed. You can also sprinkle a little Diatomaceous Earth (DE) under the bed, couch or recliner. Follow all label directions. DE works to kill bed bugs physically, not chemically.
Amanda, next year for spring break, send your daughter and her friends with the EPA Bed Bug Traveler card. It’s the size of a credit card, but packs a lot of important information.
About the Author: Marcia is the bed bug and vector management specialist for the Pesticides Program in Edison. She has a BS in Biology from Monmouth, second degree in Environmental Design-Landscape Architecture from Rutgers, Masters in Instruction and Curriculum from Kean, and is a PhD in Environmental Management candidate from Montclair – specializing in Integrated Pest Management and Environmental Communications. Prior to EPA, and concurrently, she has been a professor of Earth and Environmental Studies, Geology and Oceanography at Kean University for 14 years.
Editor's Note: The opinions expressed in Greenversations are those of the author. They do not reflect EPA policy, endorsement, or action, and EPA does not verify the accuracy or science of the contents of the blog.
Spring Pigeon Roosting Season is Fast Approaching: Humane Ways to Minimize Pigeon Damage and Risks
By Marcia Anderson
Pigeons, pigeons, everywhere. They are an integral part of New York City living, as common as yellow cabs and street vendors. Getting rid of all the pigeons is unrealistic and on the positive side, these birds perform valuable services in removing food waste and/or eating harmful insects. But urban pigeon problems can range from excessive noise to large quantities of excrement deposited on sidewalks, cars, and buildings.
When they roost in an area, pigeons leave behind feathers and nesting material, fleas and bird mites, and of course, most of all, they leave lots of droppings. Pigeon droppings are not only unsightly, they are also highly caustic and can wear down stone, degrade marble statues and building materials, corrode metal and car paint, and potentially threaten structural integrity. For example, pigeon excrement on gas station canopies can clog downspouts leading to their collapse during rainfall. The droppings are also unsanitary; they are high in nitrogen, and can grow fungus or bacteria. People can inhale the fungal spores and contract the lung disease histoplasmosis. Pigeons also carry salmonella, cryptococcosis, and other diseases.
If pigeons are a nuisance on your building here are a few tips to try:
Exclusion: A variety of products are available to prevent birds from loafing on ledges.
- Inspect for nests, and remove them every two weeks. Focus on keeping pigeons out of buildings and other spaces.
- Screen all soffit vents and other potential entry points with rust-proof wire mesh.
- Keep pigeons off ledges by covering them with a sloping piece of plastic or sheet metal. The bird slope is a humane method to discourage roosting of birds on buildings and ledges. As the name suggests, the triangular-shaped item made of heavy plastic attaches to gutters or ledges with the slope facing outward. The bird slope leaves birds without any way to roost or land on the building.
- Nonelectric products include spikes, coils, and wires. They are easily installed and have a high rate of success. Bird spikes are placed on building ledges and gutters with the spikes spaced closely together leaving birds with no place to roost or land. They are made of heavy plastic, resemble toothpicks and work on flat or curved surfaces. This device is also a humane way to prevent roosting pigeons.
- Electric products employ nonlethal electric pulses to discourage birds from roosting. These devices may be powered through plugging the charger into an electrical outlet or by solar panels that charge a battery.
- Light Mylar streamers and raptor silhouettes move easily in the wind and temporarily scare off birds. However, pigeons can quickly grow accustomed to them.
Habitat Modification: The best way to control pigeon populations is through the removal of food, water and roosting sites.
Solutions that either don’t work or are potentially dangerous to non-target wildlife:
- Loud noises are more likely to annoy neighbors than pigeons. City birds are used to city noises and don’t seem to startle easily.
- Ultrasonic noises: ultrasonic sound waves bounce off objects, creating spots where pigeons can avoid the sound, plus they may damage the hearing of cats and dogs.
- Pigeon poisons and chemical repellents are available, but they can kill or sicken other birds or animals.
- Sticky repellents are not recommended. Other birds may come into contact with the repellent, which may impair their ability to fly or stay warm if the product comes into contact with their feathers.
About the Author: Marcia is the bed bug and vector management specialist for the Pesticides Program in Edison. She has a BS in Biology from Monmouth, second degree in Environmental Design-Landscape Architecture from Rutgers, Masters in Instruction and Curriculum from Kean, and is a PhD in Environmental Management candidate from Montclair – specializing in Integrated Pest Management and Environmental Communications. Prior to EPA, and concurrently, she has been a professor of Earth and Environmental Studies, Geology and Oceanography at Kean University for 14 years.
Editor's Note: The opinions expressed in Greenversations are those of the author. They do not reflect EPA policy, endorsement, or action, and EPA does not verify the accuracy or science of the contents of the blog.
After the Flush
A decentralized wastewater treatment system – a package plant – serving an apartment building in Suffolk County, New York.
By Kristina Heinemann
What happens after you flush a toilet in New York City? In most cases household sanitary waste, as well as domestic wastewater from your kitchen and laundry, travels to a central wastewater treatment plant. But that is not always the case! In some areas, for example in many parts of Suffolk County, New York and in less developed areas of both New York and New Jersey, domestic wastewater is treated right where it is generated. In these instances wastewater from sinks, tubs, washing machines and toilets typically flows into in a septic tank and then is distributed or dispersed to a larger area where wastewater flows under the ground and is further treated by natural chemical and biological processes within the soil. This type of wastewater treatment is referred to as decentralized wastewater treatment to distinguish from instances where wastewater flows through large sewer pipes to a centralized wastewater treatment plant. Despite being more common in rural areas, decentralized onsite treatment can even be found in the outer boroughs of New York City and in one instance has been incorporated into the award winning design of a high rise apartment building, the Solaire* in lower Manhattan.
*The Solaire was awarded LEED® Gold Certification by the United States Green Building Council.
Precast concrete rings of the type used in residential leaching pools in Suffolk County, NY
Just what is decentralized wastewater treatment?
Decentralized wastewater treatment consists of a variety of approaches for collection, treatment, and dispersal/reuse of wastewater. The systems are part of the nation’s permanent infrastructure and can be managed as stand-alone facilities or integrated with centralized sewage treatment systems. They provide a range of treatment options from simple, passive treatment with soil dispersal, commonly referred to as septic or onsite systems, to more complex and mechanized approaches, such as advanced treatment units that collect and treat waste from multiple buildings and discharge to either surface waters or the soil.
Why use decentralized wastewater treatment?
Decentralized wastewater treatment can be a smart alternative for communities considering new systems or modifying, replacing, or expanding existing wastewater treatment systems. For many communities, decentralized treatment can be:
- Cost-effective and economical
- Avoiding large capital costs
- Reducing operation and maintenance costs
- Promoting business and job opportunities
- Green and sustainable
- Benefiting water quality and availability
- Using energy and land wisely
- Responding to growth while preserving green space
- Safe in protecting the environment, public health, and water quality
- Protecting the community’s health
- Reducing conventional pollutants, nutrients, and emerging contaminants
- Mitigating contamination and health risks associated with wastewater
The bottom line is …
Decentralized wastewater treatment can be a sensible solution for communities of any size and demographic. Like any other system, decentralized systems must be properly designed, maintained, and operated to provide optimum benefits. Where they are determined to be a good fit, decentralized systems help communities reach the triple bottom line of sustainability: good for the environment, good for the economy, and good for the people.
Stay tuned for more information on how to care for a decentralized treatment system and EPA’s Septic Smart tips. See http://water.epa.gov/infrastructure/septic/septicsmart.cfm for a preview!
About the Author: Kristina works in the Clean Water Division and coordinates the Region’s decentralized wastewater treatment (also known as septic systems, onsite wastewater treatment systems) activities in New Jersey, New York and the Caribbean. She lives in Suffolk County, New York and there has had the opportunity to experience first-hand living with and maintaining an onsite wastewater treatment system. Although retirement is still a number of years away, Kristina does sometimes dream of using her golden years to create a decentralized community wastewater treatment system and septic management district in her neighborhood to further protect groundwater and surface water quality.
Editor's Note: The opinions expressed in Greenversations are those of the author. They do not reflect EPA policy, endorsement, or action, and EPA does not verify the accuracy or science of the contents of the blog.
Sustainable Things to Do in NYC This Weekend
St. Patrick’s Day may be the ‘greenest’ holiday of the year, but that doesn’t mean it’s actually eco-friendly. We’ve got recommendations to make sure your weekend is sustainable as well as fun!
Bronx Historical Society Free Public Lecture: Find out more about historical buildings and the Grand Concourse in the Bronx. Saturday, March 16, 11 a.m.
Brooklyn Navy Yard Bike Tour: Explore Brooklyn’s urban industrial park on your bike and check out the solar and wind-powered street lamps and New York City’s first building-mounted wind turbines. Sunday, March 17, noon.
Family Art Project at Wave Hill: Search for real animal tracks on the garden grounds, then using simple printmaking methods make some bold prints of your own. Saturday, March 16, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Grow Our Grassroots: Join NYC government agencies and non-profits while networking with residents committed to making our city more sustainable at this second annual summit. Saturday, March 16, 9:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Irish Arts Center Open House: Celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day with an afternoon of authentic Irish music, language, crafts and film. March 17, noon – 5 p.m.
Maple Weekend: Head upstate for this annual weekend event hosted by the New York State Maple Producers Association. Learn how maple syrup and other related products are made. Tastings and activities vary depending on location. March 16 – 17, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
School Garden Raised Bed Construction Workshop: Join Green Thumb Community Gardens to learn how to build raised beds for your garden. Saturday, March 16, 11 a.m. – noon.
Union Square Park Walking Tour: Join Big Onion Walking Tours for a free, 90 minute tour of the Union Square neighborhood. Saturday, March 16, 2 p.m.
Waking up the Farm: Volunteers and future members are invited to come help clean up, start seeds and plant bulbs at La Finca Del Sur – the first women-led urban farm in the Bronx. Saturday and Sunday, March 16-17, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Editor's Note: The opinions expressed in Greenversations are those of the author. They do not reflect EPA policy, endorsement, or action, and EPA does not verify the accuracy or science of the contents of the blog.
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