EPA proposes 'no discharge zone' for NY’s Lake Cayuga, Lake Seneca, Seneca River

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) agreed today with a petition from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation to create a “no discharge zone” surrounding Lake Cayuga, Lace Seneca and Seneca River.

The petition, which is part of an ongoing effort between the two agencies, would also include the navigable tributaries between the water bodies, which are drinking water sources for the area. The lakes and river are also important due to their ecological, economic and public health significance.

Discharging sewage in these water bodies could impact water quality, the health of local populations and the native aquatic life, due to the release of chemicals such as formaldehyde, phenols and chlorine.

In light of the petition, the EPA has found that facilities around the lakes would be more suitable for pumping sewage into. The agency has requested public comment on its proposed approval of the measure until May 17.

The partnership between these agencies has already seen the creation of “no discharge zones” for Lake Erie, Lake Ontario, Lake Champlain, Lake George, the New York State Canal System and the Hudson River, among others.