Advancing Public Health in Perth Amboy, NJ

An Examination of Combined Sewer Overflows and the Corresponding Health Risks

Alexander McClean Fall 2012

Table of Contents  History of the City  Problem Overview  Maps and Demographic Data  Federal Response and Redevelopment Efforts

Currently Underway

Community Background

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Founded in 1683 and subsequently chartered in 1718

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Served as New Jersey’s capital until 1790

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Famous for being the site of the signing of both the Bill of Rights (1790) and the first vote by an African American following the passage of the Fifteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution (1870).

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Conveniently located near the intersecting points of roadways (i.e. the Garden State Parkway, NJ Turnpike, and I‐287), rail lines (i.e. NJ P.A.T.H, connections to Penn Station and Newark via the New Jersey Transit), and water ways (i.e Arthur Kills to the East, the Raritan River to the South, and Raritan Bay to the Southeast).

‐ It is a type of sewer infrastructure typically found in older

municipalities and are designed to transport sewage, industrial wastewater, and rainwater runoff in the same pipe to wastewater treatment facilities. ‐ Currently, this type of infrastructure serves roughly 40 million people in 772 communities across the country.

United States. Environmental Protection Agency. Keeping Raw Sewage & Contaminated Stormwater Out of the Public’s Water. New York: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 2 Office, 2011. Web. December 2012. < http://www.epa.gov/region2/water/sewer‐report‐ 3‐2011.pdf>

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In the event of heavy rain or snowfall these systems can become overwhelmed, exceeding the capacity of the sewer network or treatment facility.

The design of this type of infrastructure allows for the discharge of excess wastewater into nearby water bodies.

The effects can be devastating to the environment and pose a threat to human health from potential exposure to waterborne infections that include: Fecal Coliform Enterococcus E. Coli United States. Environmental Protection Agency. Keeping Raw Sewage & Contaminated Stormwater Out of the Public’s Water. New York: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 2 Office, 2011. Web. December 2012. < http://www.epa.gov/region2/water/sewer‐report‐ 3‐2011.pdf>

Image: MyRWA. Web. December 2012. <http://mysticriver.org/csos/>

Image: Christopher Zurcher, Grist.October 2010. Web. December 2012. <http://grist.org/article/2010‐10‐07‐new‐york‐city‐to‐curb‐sewage‐ surges‐with‐green‐infrastructure/>

Location ‐

Estimated total population (2011): 814,217

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Estimated population change from 2000 to 2010: 59,696 (from 750,162 to 809858, respectively)

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Median household income (2006‐2010): $77,615

Ethnic Composition (2011): 1.9

White

.6

Black 22.2

Hispanic or Latino 48.5

Asian Mixed

18.9 10.7

American Indian and Alaska Native persons

Source: U.S. Census

Location ‐

Northeast of Sayreville, North of South Amboy, and South of Woodbridge Township

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Median household income (2006 – 2010): $47,696; $22,115 less than the average throughout New Jersey.

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Persons below poverty line (2006 – 2010): 19.4%; more than twice the average throughout New Jersey (9.1%).

Ethnic Composition (2011) 5.6%

1.7%

1.1% Hispanic or Latino White

10.5% Black 12%

Mixed 78.1%

Asian American Indian and Alaska Native

Demographics Perth Amboy Population Data Statistic

2000

2010

Population

47,303

50,814

Perth Amboy Population Density* Statistic

2000

2010

Persons per sq. mi.

10,064

10,806

*Perth Amboy occupies 4.70 sq.

Miles (2010)

Middlesex County Municipalities: Population in 2000 and 2010 120000 100000 80000 60000 40000

2000 Population 2010 Population

20000 0

Middlesex County Municipality Population Change from 2000 to 2010 Municipality

Percent Change

Municipality

Percent Change

Carteret Borough Cranbury Township Dunellen East Brunswick Township Edison Township Helmetta Borough Highland Park Borough Jamesburg Borough Metuchen Borough Middlesex Borough Milltown Borough Monroe Township New Brunswick

10.31% 19.52% 5.92% 1.62% 2.33% 19.34% ‐0.12% ‐1.83% 5.72% ‐0.60% ‐1.53% 39.76% 13.60%

North Brunswick Township

12.17% 8.14% 7.42% 11.02% 13.77% 5.75% 9.07% 15.06% 7.22% 4.48% 4.78% 2.45%

Old Bridge Township Perth Amboy Piscataway Township Plainsboro Township Sayreville Borough South Amboy South Brunswick Township South Plainfield Borough South River Borough Spotswood Borough Woodbridge Township

Demographics

Distance from Downtown

Contaminated Sites

Less than 1 mile

53

1‐1.99 miles

39

2‐3 miles

54

TOTAL

146

Fusion Map

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On June 6, 2012 the Department of Justice reported that Perth Amboy had agreed to make major improvements in their sewer infrastructure to reduce the amount of sewage and other pollutants from flowing out of the sites identified in the city.

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The city was also required to pay a $17,000 penalty for failing to remain in compliance with the Clean Water Act and its New Jersey Department of Environmental discharge permit.

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The city is expected to spend $5.4 million dollars in repairs, upgrades, and expansion costs.

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This work is anticipated to be completed by December 31, 2016.

Department of Justice, Perth Amboy, New Jersey, to Upgrade Sewer System and Resolve Clean Water Act Violations, 6 June 2012, http://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/2012/June/12‐enrd‐719.html