The New York League of Conservation Voters is stepping up our fight against sewage pollution, which harms New York's environment and threatens public health.

Untreated sewage is the most common threat to water quality in the New York Harbor.Next week, NYLCV will participate in a key lobby day in support of the Sewage Right to Know Act [1]. 

This bill is one of NYLCV's top priorities for the year [1]. The Assembly unanimously approved [1] the legislation last month, and NYLCV is helping to lead the fight for it in the State Senate -- along with our coalition partners at Riverkeeper [2] and Citizens Campaign for the Environment [3]. 

Untreated sewage is the most common contaminant of New York's waterways. But if the public doesn’t know that sewage is being discharged into our rivers and streams, nothing will be done to stem the flow. Plus, if we don’t know about sewage releases -- planned, accidental or chronic -- we’re unable to make an informed decision about where and when we get in the water.

The Sewage Right to Know Act would change that. It requires sewage treatment plants to notify the public when raw or partially treated sewage is discharged into New York waters. The public notification must include the volume, date, and time of the discharge, as well as an estimate of the time it will take to end it and updates on the steps being taken to contain the sewage contamination. 

More than 20 states have already passed Sewage Right to Know laws that require timely public notification of sewage contamination in public waterways. It's time for New York to follow suit.

Keep an eye out next week for an Action Alert from NYLCV on this important environmental and health issue.