Exploring the Water Quality of Manhattan's Lesser-Known Bodies of Water
- Published:
- Updated: December 14, 2024
Summary
Manhattan’s hidden water bodies, like the Collect Pond and Harlem Meer, offer a glimpse into the city’s aquatic ecosystem. Here’s a closer look:
- Water Quality Parameters: Understanding temperature, pH levels, and dissolved oxygen is crucial for assessing water health.
- Harlem Meer: Despite urban surroundings, it thrives with biodiversity, thanks to careful management.
- East River: Efforts to improve water quality focus on reducing pollution and rejuvenating this vital waterway.
Manhattan is a place we think of in the minds of our generation as high rises, bustling avenues, iconic architecture. But there are also hundreds of waterbodies on this city island, invisible among the concrete jungle. These lesser-known lakes have a lot to do with the city’s beauty, biodiversity and entertainment.
The Water Quality Parameters
We don’t start with water quality in Manhattan small bodies of water until we are clear about what ‘water quality’ entails. Water quality is the physical, chemical and biological properties of water. Parameters of water quality of significance are:
Temperature: Impacts on dissolved oxygen, as well as aquatic life health.
Acidity/alkalinity: Calculates acidity or alkalinity of water.
Gases That Dwell: Key to fish and other aquatic life.
Scathing: Refers to water’s haze.
Each waterbody might show differently for different combinations of these parameters, depending on where they are located, how they are used, how the weather is doing, and what human activities occur nearby.
The Collect Pond: History and Current State
The Collect Pond was once the major freshwater aqueduct for early Manhattan, and sits where Foley Square now sits. But in time this natural pond became polluted by development and industry. The opening of it thus happened in the early 18th century.
Now the spot is a suburb with no obvious relic of the pond. But the memory of Collect Pond is one that reminds us all too clearly of how people affect water bodies and the importance of being savvy with water quality.
Harlem Meer: Water Quality Status
Harlem Meer is a biodiverse ecosystem in the northeast corner of Central Park. Even though it’s in a busy urban park, Harlem Meer’s water quality is well-regulated.
The Central Park Conservancy, the park’s maintenance agency, keeps tabs on water quality and cleans it up regularly. But the Meer is littered and has algae blooms, so there’s a constant management regime for keeping it a good fish tank.
The Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir: Balancing Aesthetics and Water Health
Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir is a piece of Central Park, which looks beautiful. But more than beauty, water quality is a fundamental to its longevity and the abundance of life it harbours.
No longer a reservoir for the city’s water, but a habitat for many species of birds, and part of the park’s character. Its water quality is constantly surveyed and controlled for biodiversity and scenic appeal.
The East River: More Than a Saltwater River
Conceived of as a river, the East River is actually a tidal strait, made up of Atlantic salt and Hudson River freshwater. It’s a crowded canal, overlooked for leisure time because of high sea levels and pollution in the past.
There are attempts at bringing its water back to normal. Whether it’s wastewater treatment or industrial air pollution, the goal is to remake the East River and make it a healthier river.
Water Quality in Manhattan’s Decorative Fountains
The fountains dotted around Manhattan bring peace to the hustle and bustle of city. But the water quality in these fountains is less-known. You want to avoid allowing in a bunch of pathogens and keep the fountains fresh and protected.
Cleaning and treating the water are some of the cleaning and treatment, and in certain cases, water recirculation systems. This saves water and leaves the fountains safe and refreshing in the cityscape.
What is the role of rainwater and runoff in Manhattan's water quality?
Rainwater and urban runoff play a significant role in the water quality of Manhattan’s water bodies. When it rains, water flows over the city’s surfaces, picking up various pollutants, from litter and debris to chemicals and sediments.
This runoff can end up in the city’s water bodies, impacting their quality. Strategies to manage runoff, like green roofs and permeable pavements, are becoming increasingly important in urban water quality management.
Initiatives and Efforts to Improve Water Quality in Manhattan
We do more than just attempt to improve and clean the water of Manhattan’s watersheds. Some of these initiatives include:
The efforts of local conservancies to keep water clean and healthy.
Installation of green infrastructure to treat stormwater run-off.
Proponent of sustainable waste disposal to cut pollution.
These and other projects represent a shared vision of securing Manhattan’s waterways, a little-known yet critical part of the cityscape.
The quality of the water in Manhattan’s hidden aquifers tells us a lot about the city as a whole. It needs to be understood, preserved and maintained in a way that involves everyone – from urban planners to citizens and visitors. Clean water bodies are, after all, not only a healthier environment; they’re a cleaner, happier Manhattan.
Share this on social media:
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Next Article:
Related Posts
