Environmental consequences of the flooding of the Bay Park Sewage Treatment Plant during Superstorm Sandy

Swanson, R Lawrence; Wilson, Robert; Brownawell, Bruce; Willig, Kaitlin

Environmental consequences of the flooding of the Bay Park Sewage Treatment Plant during Superstorm Sandy

2017

Swanson, R Lawrence | Wilson, Robert | Brownawell, Bruce | Willig, Kaitlin

Failure of the Bay Park Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) during Superstorm Sandy led to adverse effects in the waters of Hempstead Bay, Long Island, NY. These appear to be related to large discharges of partially treated sewage through its primary and auxiliary outfalls. Modeled dilution discharges indicate that sewage infiltrated the bay, remaining up to 10days. Water column impacts included salinity and dissolved oxygen declines, and biological oxygen demand and nitrogen concentration increases. While the STP does not appear to have released fecal coliform, there were elevated levels of enterococci within the bay for a considerable period following the storm, probably from multiple sources.The STP's reduced functioning and associated environmental impacts, even with resilience upgrades, are not conducive to removing the bay from the list of Impaired Water Bodies. The results reinforce the need to transfer the discharge from the existing outfall to the ocean.

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