Swimming in NYC's Hudson River: Exploring the Safety and Potential

In an episode of Seinfeld, the adventurous yet sometimes thoughtless Kramer faces the frustration of crowded New York City pools. Determined to find a new swimming spot, he makes an unconventional decision - swimming laps in the East River. This raises a question: Can you swim in the New York Harbor, and is it safe? Surprisingly, the answer is yes, but with a few caveats.

From my office window, which happens to be in the southernmost building on Manhattan Island, all I can see is water. However, there are no beaches or readily accessible entry points nearby, so I set out to investigate the safety of swimming in the NYC waters. To my surprise, I discovered that the water regularly tests safe, with people frequently swimming in it without any adverse effects. Organizations like Urban Swim and New York Open Water even hold races in the harbor legally, provided they avoid restricted areas and do not interfere with boat traffic. In over ten years of staging open water swims, there has been no reported instance of swimmers falling sick due to the water quality.

Despite these facts, there remains a stigma surrounding swimming in NYC's waters. The history of industrialization around Manhattan saw companies dumping chemicals straight into the water, and post-World War II, human waste and trash polluted the waterways, rendering them uninhabitable for marine life. The upper Hudson River suffered from toxic chemical compounds dumped by companies like General Electric, leading to a 200-mile stretch of contaminated water. However, over the last four decades, the city has made considerable efforts to improve water quality, investing billions of dollars in the process.

Various measures have been implemented to achieve cleaner water, including upgrading sewage treatment facilities and incorporating green infrastructure like green roofs, permeable pavement, and rainwater catchments to reduce runoff. The aim is to soak up all rainwater, a challenge given the city's design, but progress has been made. The Department of Environmental Protection asserts that the rivers, harbors, and bays are currently cleaner than they have been since the Civil War. While occasional garbage may be seen on the shoreline, the deeper parts of the waterway are remarkably clean.

To determine the safety of swimming, environmental nonprofits regularly monitor post-storm water quality at 74 different locations, measuring factors such as salinity, oxygen levels, temperature, suspended sediment, chlorophyll, and most importantly, fecal indicator bacteria. The results have been encouraging, with the harbor's tidal nature aiding in self-cleaning.

However, one significant factor affects the safety of swimming - combined sewer overflows. The city's majority was built before 1950 and relies on a combined sewer system where a single pipe carries rainwater runoff and sewage from buildings. During heavy rainstorms, overflow can occur, sending untreated water and contaminants directly into the harbor. Over 20 billion gallons of this overflow is discharged annually, an improvement from 110 billion gallons in 1985. To ensure safety, it is best to avoid swimming for 48 hours after heavy rainfall.

Despite these considerations, there are many recreational possibilities offered by the water in and around New York City. Organized swims around iconic landmarks like the Statue of Liberty provide unique perspectives and unforgettable experiences. Embracing such opportunities helps build awareness and encourages people to care about the water's condition and take action to protect it.

In conclusion, swimming in NYC's Hudson River and harbor is technically safe, and efforts to improve water quality have been fruitful. The stigma surrounding these waters is gradually fading as people embrace recreational opportunities and become more aware of the ongoing conservation efforts. However, it is essential to stay informed about weather conditions and potential sewer overflows to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience in these iconic waters.