Pollution in New York

1) Water pollution

A cause of the water pollution is the sewage water. It doesn’t take much storm water to overwhelm the city’s sewer system and the overflow is then pumped into New York Harbour. Much of the waterfront and public beaches are unsafe after storms because the runoff contains building sewage combined with dirty water from the streets.

This shows that New York city’s sewage system is not effective as it overflows quickly and discarded into the New York Harbour. If possible, capital should be invested into improving the sewage system so it will not overflow so easily. Also, as the sewage water affects the public beaches and waterfront after storms because of the discarded dirty water, this would mean that many outdoor activities such as sailing or surfing would have to be stopped because of unsafe waters. This not only causes activities to be delayed or cancelled, it also effects the efficiency and productivity of the people. More importantly, this water pollution affects the environment as well as the overflows damage fish habitats and impair navigation.

To tackle this problem, increased tree and vegetation planting which has the potential to decrease the harmful effects of runoff were planted to deter the overflow problem.

2) Air pollution

Air pollution in New York City is an environmental threat which contributes to an estimated 6% of annual deaths. This significant air pollution problem causes premature death for many people and a negative impact onto the New Yorker’s health as well. Ozone, or smog, is the biggest problem. It is caused by sunlight interacting with vapours released from motor vehicles, factories and fuel-burning sources. Fine particulate matter is another culprit, and it is caused by ash, soot, diesel fumes and chemical emissions.

This causes health problems as the particulates burrow their way deep into the lungs and cause asthma, chest pain, wheezing and cancer. The many health problems caused would cause the developed city of New York to face a greater population decline if the problem of smog is not cleared.

Responding to this problem, MillionTreesNYC, an environmental program that combines the expertise of community groups, volunteers and government agencies, is introduced to solve pollution problems in the city. Trees reduce street temperatures and clean city air of the dust and pollutants that contribute to respiratory illness. The tree canopy in NYC helps offset the harm of global warming. Green spaces also encourage the city’s residents and visitors to get out and enjoy the beauty and wildlife of the city.

The City of New York will plant 70% of trees in parks and other public spaces. The other 30% will come from private organizations, homeowners, and community organizations.

Parks (street trees)	220,000
Parks (reforestation and landscape), other agencies, and zoning regulations	480,000
Private Partners	300,000
Grand Total	1 Million New Trees