'We are releasing some pretty scary news.' NYC Environmental Protection commissioner reveals study that found rising salinity levels in Croton System Reservoirs
During the gathering, Commissioner Rohit Aggarwala announced that a study conducted by his department found that there is a major threat to the area's water supply.
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New York City's Department of Environmental Protection held a press conference in Croton on Friday to announce that a new study found that salinity levels are rising in the Croton System Reservoirs.
The press conference took place at Croton Gorge Park. During the gathering, Commissioner Rohit Aggarwala announced that a study conducted by his department found that there is a major threat to the area's water supply.
"Looking at 33 years of data on the Croton System, we have found that the salinity in the Croton System, the salt we are putting in the Croton System, is going to mean the end of a more than 200-year history of serving New York City," Aggarwala said.
Officials said the system also serves people in Westchester and Putnam. However, they said no one will be able to drink its water because it will be too salty if current trends don't change by the end of this century.
"We're far below that now. Nobody should be worried about the quality of the water in their taps today, but the trend is problematic," Aggarwala said.
Officials said salinity levels have been rising because of road salt runoff and other human activities. Not only is it detrimental to the water supply, officials said high levels of salinity can also contribute to high blood pressure and hypertension and threaten the ecosystem.
State Sen. Pete Harckham said he's behind two bills that could help combat the problem.
"One is for an east of Hudson-specific task force," Harckham said. "The other is for a statewide action for DOT and DEC coming together to teach best practices to our DOT road crews, as well as our local road crews."
Harckham and other officials said they believe the time to act is now.
