”The Passaic River is a total of 80 miles long—winding and wrapping through Northern New Jersey, through complex tributaries and swampland and waterfalls, providing habitats for several species of birds and animals. Three major drinking water facilities draw from the river directly. In total, more than two million people drink from the Passaic.
But beneath the surface, 17 miles of it is full of hazardous amounts of dioxin, a highly toxic byproduct from manufacturing processes, mixing with other cancer-causing chemicals along the river’s bottom. Dioxin is a “forever chemical”—manufactured chemicals known to persist in the environment and in the body.”
”The river has been unusable for decades. People can’t swim in it or fish. Langa said she suspects it will be another decade until locals see the beginnings of a healthier Passaic. And that’s without any future disruptions. The process, she said, takes a lot of time with bureaucratic red tape, and people are getting burned out.”
Read the full story on Inside Climate News:
insideclimatenews.org/news/10082025/new-jersey-contaminated-passaic-river-superfund-site
