Current threats of our waterways that we are addressing in southwestern Pennsylvania

  • Industrial Pollution 
  • Transportation of Dangerous Materials
  • Climate Change induced Flooding Events & Combined Sewage Overflows
  • Habitat Degradation
  • Novel pollutant sources
  • Lack of enforcement and deregulation of our Clean Water Laws

Industrial Pollution

Over the modern history of our region, mass industrialization polluted our waterways, and our rivers became devoid of aquatic life. Fortunately, with the implementation of the 1972 Clean Water Act and subsequent clean water laws at the local, state, and federal levels, community organizations have been able to hold polluters accountable. Because of the Clean Water Act, industries are required to have discharge limits to protect out waterways. Nevertheless, industrial pollution still occurs today with over 1/3 of PA waterways considered impaired by PA DEP.
  • We identified and mapped major industrial polluters within our Three Rivers Waterkeeper jurisdiction with a goal to hold polluters accountable for exceeding their permit allowances. 2023 Interim Report Here.
  • In our region, the oil and gas industry can play a major rule in impacting our water quality. As your Three Rivers Waterkeeper we heavily monitor oil and gas waste contamination in our water ways. Read more here.

Transportation of dangerous materials

Oil trains, crumbling infrastructure, and inadequate federal oversight of rail bridges threaten the safety of millions of Americans. Three Rivers Waterkeeper advocates for increased safety, better practices to prevent environmental contamination for accidents as well as proper cleanups when disaster happens.
our waterways, and the environment.
  • In 2015, we participated in a nationwide effort lead by the Hudson River Keeper and Waterkeeper alliance to examine the status of railway infrastructure in the US. Read the report here.
  • On May 26th, 2022, a Norfolk Southern train with cars containing petroleum distillates and plastic pellets, "nurdles" collided with a truck near Harmar Township. 17 train cars derailed; 9 derailed into the Allegheny tributary, Guys Run. Read our one follow-up year report here. 
  • On February 3, 2023, a Norfolk Southern freight train  derailed in East Palestine, Ohio, about a quarter-mile west of the Ohio-Pennsylvania state line. The train was carrying 150 cars, and 50 cars were impacted by the accident. Twenty of those cars contained hazardous materials that include but are not limited to vinyl chloride, ethylene glycol, ethylhexyl acrylate, butyl acrylate and isobutylene. The cars containing the hazardous materials spilled into the environment, and some of the cars caught fire. The cars contained butyl acrylate and isobutylene caught fire and were subsequently burned in a “controlled release” soon after. Read about our sediment sampling 10 months after the derailment here.

CLIMATE CHANGE & FLOODING

Due to the topography of our region, flooding is common for many communities and is only expected to increase over time as climate change is expected to lead to more frequent and severe rainfall which can lead to increased sewage overflow events into waterways. 
  • We are a State Table member of Climate Action Campaign, a vibrant coalition of a dozen major national environment, environmental justice, and public health groups. Our goal is to reduce climate pollution and accelerate the transition to clean energy and a sustainable society in ways that support justice, jobs, improved health, and quality of life for all. Sign our petition to set the strongest pollution standards.
  • We monitor for the impact of combined sewage overflows into our waterways during the warm weather season to help our communities understand recreational risk in the water for exposure to E. coli bacterial growth. Learn more here. 

novel pollutant sources

Industries evolve and grow, and we must understand that novel pollutants can impact our water quality. In our region, there are two major novel pollutants that we are actively monitoring:  plastic pellets and PFAS contamination.
  • We monitor for plastic pellets (aka nurdles) across our region. We partner with Mountain Watershed Association to conduct monthly nurdle patrols on the Ohio River. Nurdles are small plastic pellets about the size of a lentil, that are melted down to make almost all plastic products. The environmental and human health impacts of plastics are not fully known, but recent studies shown negative impacts of microplastics on human and environmental health.
  • On December 5, 2023, Three Rivers Waterkeeper and PennEnvironment filed a Clean Water Act Lawsuit against BVPV Styrenics LLC and its parent company, Styropek USA, Inc., for alleged violations of the federal Clean Water Act at their plastic manufacturing facility in Monaca, PA. Together, Three Rivers Waterkeeper and PennEnvironment are leading the efforts with the National Environmental Law Center to hold these polluters accountable. Read more here.
  • Three Rivers Waterkeeper is sampling for PFAS contamination across Southwestern PA within their geographic focus area to establish an understanding of baseline PFAS contamination in Pittsburgh’s rivers and tributaries and identify sources of PFAS pollution. By taking a broad approach to sampling, we can pinpoint areas of concern and investigate potential sources of PFAS contamination. Read our 2024 Interim PFAS Report here.

habitat degredation

Three Rivers Waterkeeper monitors industrial build out, landscape changes, and invasive species in our region. 
  • We monitor building permits in our region and submit comments and suggestions to permitting agencies to improve the outcome of the proposed activities to protect our waterways and wetland habitat.
  • We work with partners to reduce pollution through river cleanups.
  • We work with partners to increase native plants through riparian planting efforts in our region.

lack of enforcement of our clean water laws

As your Waterkeeper based in Pittsburgh, we hold polluters accountable and ensure that our local, state and federal governments enforce the clean water laws which protect the public and environmental health. Combining scientific rigor with legal expertise, we serve as an enforcer of the nation’s clean water laws where state and federal agencies have failed.

Read about our current ligation efforts to enforce our clean water laws here.

in 2021, Three Rivers Waterkeeper and the Pittsburgh Water Collaboratory partnered to collect 100 samples from 25 tributary locations thanks to funding from the University of Pittsburgh’s Year of Engagement Program in order to DUE  improve the understanding of ON WATER QUALITY in our region AND THE UNKNOWN EFFECTS OF INDUSTRIAL POLLUTION. This data helps set a baseline to document when pollution occurs.

see pollution? Report Pollution

Resources List
  • Call 911, If it is an emergency (i.e. a major spill, humans or wildlife are being harmed)
  • Southwest DEP pollution hotline 412-442-4000 
    • Submit an environmental complaint to the PA DEP here.
  • PA Fish and Boat commission 855-347-4545
  • EPA Region 3 1-800-424-8802​

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