AS TRUMP’S EPA SLASHES INVESTMENT FOR NATION’S WATERWAYS, SCHUMER AND RIVERKEEPER ANNOUNCE LAUNCH OF NEW HUDSON RIVER ONLINE WATER QUALITY PORTAL TO COLLECT DATA & FILL IN THE[...]

With $250,000 In Fed Funding Secured By Schumer, Riverkeeper Launches Fully-Revamped And Expanded Water Quality Portal, Which Shows An Interactive Map Along The Hudson River - From The NY Harbor To The Adirondacks - Which Shows Where It Is Safe To Swim, How Clean Drinking Water Is, Health Of The Region's Fish, And More

Senator Says: Now More Than Ever We Must Invest In Science To Ensure Safety Of Our Waters & Environment, And To Turn The Tide On Pollution In The Hudson

Schumer: We Must Protect The Hudson River And Ensure The Safety Of Our Waterways

U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer and Riverkeeper today announced Riverkeeper's new, fully revamped and expanded "Water Quality Portal," an interactive map that shows users when and where it is safe to swim and boat, how clean their drinking water is, and the health of the region's fish. The software and portal, made possible by $250,000 in federal funding secured by Schumer, make it more accessible for the community to understand data collected by Riverkeeper and partners on the status of the Hudson River watershed.

With the EPA retreating in gathering scientific data and in protecting the country's waterways from pollution, Schumer said this new portal will help the public access data on the sanitation and safety of waterways like the Hudson River.

"As the Trump administration slashes funding and cuts staff at the EPA, our waterways are at increased risk for pollution and degradation. I say we need to invest in protecting New York's waterways and keep toxic PFAS and other dangerous chemicals out of our drinking water. We cannot turn back the clock when it comes to the safety of our drinking water, and the millions of New Yorkers who rely on the Hudson River, from the New York harbor to the Adirondacks. That is why I am thrilled to join with Riverkeeper to launch a new online Water Quality Portal to collect data, fill in the gaps, and help arm communities with the resources they need to ensure our waterways remain clean. Science-supporting members of Congress must work together with public health groups to step up and protect clean drinking water from pollution and contamination," said Senator Schumer. "This fully revamped interactive map will make it easier for New Yorkers to see where it is safe to swim and boat, how clean drinking water is, how healthy fish are, and more. I'm grateful for Riverkeeper's partnership in keeping the Hudson River cleaner and safer and for preserving the health of the Hudson River for generations to come."

"As federal agencies cut staff and pull long-standing data systems offline, gaps in information grow wider and tools like Riverkeeper's Water Quality Portal become more vital," said Riverkeeper President and Hudson Riverkeeper Tracy Brown. "New Yorkers shouldn't have to live with blind spots when it comes to knowing if their water is clean or not. That's why Riverkeeper is stepping up to keep this knowledge accessible. We thank Senator Chuck Schumer for his generous support, which made this project possible."

Riverkeeper and partners currently test the water at nearly 250 sites from New York Harbor all the way up to the Adirondacks. The data shows where treatment plants are falling short, where outdated combined sewer systems send untreated sewage streaming into the river, and how conditions shift after rainstorms and through periods of drought. They also show where infrastructure investments, restoration programs, and years of Riverkeeper advocacy are paying off.

Schumer delivered $250,000 in federal funding in the FY2023 budget bill for the Riverkeeper Water Quality Portal that made this project possible.

See the Riverkeeper Water Quality Portal at data.riverkeeper.org.

With the EPA rolling back protections for waterways, Schumer emphasized it is more important now than ever to invest in tools that keep the public informed of how safe and clean the water they rely on is. For example, the EPA shut down its Office of Research and Development, which conducts water monitoring studies that help people understand the concentration of various contaminants. This new portal will make environmental water quality data available. The EPA also eliminated most of its Environmental Justice departments, which support communities that bear a disproportionate burden of pollution from industrial facilities, waste sites, and other environmental hazards. This new portal will map out these areas. In addition, the EPA plans to weaken limits on some "forever chemicals" in drinking water. This new portal will help people easily see if they have PFAS in their drinking water.

In addition to this core Riverkeeper offering, the expanded tool provides a host of other useful data, including the location of environmentally sensitive areas and potential pollution sources. It shows residents where their drinking water comes from, where they can access the river for recreation, and provides easy access to fish consumption advisories to protect people from unwitting exposure to PCBs and other contaminants in local fish.

ABOUT RIVERKEEPER

Riverkeeper protects and restores the Hudson River and safeguards drinking water supplies through community partnerships, science, and law. Our core programs improve water quality, restore habitat for an abundance of life, and address the impact of climate change on our waterways. Founded in 1966 as the Hudson River Fishermen's Association, Riverkeeper became the model for more than 320 Waterkeeper organizations around the world and helped establish globally-recognized standards for waterway and watershed protection. We continue to work toward the goal of a swimmable, fishable, and drinkable Hudson River for all. Learn more, get updates, and support our work by visiting riverkeeper.org

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