79 



Is there any means for cleaning it up before those waters are pol- 

 hited in the offshore areas ? 



Dr. HiRSCH. Not storm water. There have been studies of storm 

 water control in New York City, and there is one pilot storm water 

 treatment plant being operated in New York near Jamaica Bay, and 

 that plant is an effort to demonstrate what can be accomplished by 

 treating these waters that run off the streets. 



By and large they are not treated. They simply either run into the 

 river, or pass through an overflow system or something of that nature. 



Senator Ste\t:xs. Is there any study on the tests of that water, how 

 much petroleum is in those waters, if you know ? 



Dr. HiRSCH. I believe there are analyses, but I will have to provide 

 that for the record. 



Senator Stevens. Would you do that ? I think that is going to be an 

 important thing for us to try to keep track of, the extent to which 

 there is pollution from these everyday uses that people don't even 

 consider. 



[The following information was subsequently received for the 

 record :] 



Concentrations of Oil in New York City Stormwater 



Studies of oil concentrations in stormwater from New York City have been 

 condticted by the Interfstate Sanitation Commission under contract to the En- 

 vironmental Protection Agency, and by consultants for the New York City Depart- 

 ment of Water Resources. 



The Interstate Sanitation Commission Study ' sampled flows from a combined 

 sewer system serving a mixe<l residential-industrial area. The study showed 

 that concentrations of oil and grease in the sewage flow during dry weather 

 periods ranged from about 9 to 53 parts per million. In wet weather periods, 

 concentrations of oil and grease as high as almost 9,000 parts per million were 

 observed. 



A New York City Department of Water Resources study ^ sampled flows from 

 a residential area draining to Jamaica Bay. Dry weather flows contained about 

 5 parts per million : while wet weather flows were as high as 95 parts per million. 



These studies indicate that substantial increases in oil discharges occur during 

 wet periods. These increases can stem from oily wastes retained in sewers during 

 dry weather flow and from street and surface run-off. It should be noted that 

 these wastes represent oils and greases of various sorts, and not only petroleum 

 wastes associated with gas stations and automotive sources. 



Mr. HiRSCH. To elaborate on that point. Senator, I think that is the 

 type of information we are trying to get from our project. There have 

 been studies of many individual and obvious sources of oil and other 

 contaminants. 



We want to know in an area like the New York Bight what is the 

 total loading, where is it coming from, and where is it winding up. 

 How significant is this oil you are mentioning as contrasted with oil 

 from a tanker operation ? 



Senator Stevens. The tanker is obvious and the other is not obvious. 



"What about the studies going on along the rest of the coast ? "Where 

 else are we doing research other than the New York Bight ? 



Dr. HiRSCH. There is work of a somewhat similar nature in Chesa- 

 peake Bay being funded by the NSF being done by some Chesapeake 



1 Combined Sewer Overflow Study for the Hudson River Conference. EPA-R2-73-152. 

 January, 1973. 



2 Draft Report on Year One of the Snrlnp Creek Anxiliarv Water Pollution Control 

 Project. Department of Water Resources. New York City, May, 1970. 



