Why The Gowanus Canal Has Been Looking Like A Giant Bubble Bath Of Late

In the past few weeks, you may have walked over one of the bridges over the Gowanus Canal and wondered why portions of the heavily polluted waterway are looking like a giant foaming bubble bath.

Well, you are not imagining things.  Indeed, a layer of soapy bubbles has been floating on the service of the toxic water.  This is not in any way related to the Superfund clean-up of the canal. (It will take a lot more than soap to rid the Gowanus of toxins.)
No, the problem stems from the newly refurbished Gowanus Flushing Tunnel at 201 Douglass Street.

In 2014, the New York City's Department Of Environmental Protection (NYC DEP) competed upgrades of the Gowanus Facilities, which included the flushing tunnel and three giant pumps, that are designed to bring water from the East River and from Buttermilk Channel into the canal to improve water quality. The cost of the project was approximately $140 million.

The three pumps were tested and put into operation last spring.
Unfortunately, the pumps are located right next to the largest Combined Sewer Overflow (CSOs) at the top of the Gowanus Canal. The pumps are so powerful that they introduce massive amounts of air and movement into the water, which stirs up the the household soaps and fats that we all pour down our drains and which the City dumps into the canal during rain events.
The soapy slime which is created at the top of the canal at Douglas Street then slowly flows down towards the harbor.

As we all know by now,  the City of New York allows a diluted mixture of rain water and sewage (CSO) to overflow into the Gowanus during heavy rains when the sewer system is at full capacity.

All our dishwashing liquid, laundry detergent, shower gel and cooking grease of course finds its way into the canal during these CSO events as well.

The propellers of the Flushing Tunnel act like a giant blender, mixing up a milk shake.

What is surprising is that all the foaming has happened during a very dry period here in New York.

Imagine what the bubbles will look like during a rainy period with several CSO discharges into the Gowanus.

If you would like to ask NYC DEP about this and other Gowanus water issues, please attend the agency's CSO Long Term Control Plan Public Meeting scheduled for Thursday, May 14, 6 PM at PS 32.  See notice below. Please be so kind as to let your neighbors know about the meeting as well.

Read more

All Three Pumps Now Operating At Gowanus Flushing Tunnel On Douglass Street

Just recently, the New York City's Department of Environmental Protection has turned on the third pump of the newly refurbished Gowanus Flushing Tunnel at 201 Douglass Street so that the agency can run a series of equipment tests. The first two pumps were turned on and tested late last year.

The Flushing tunnel is designed to bring water into the canal from the East River and from Buttermilk Channel, which will significantly improve water quality.

According to Gary Kline of New York State's Department Of Environmental Conservation, who shared the news with Friends And Residents Of Greater Gowanus, "dissolved Oxygen results in the canal for the past 2 weeks have been between 9-12 mg/l since the City brought the third pump on line for testing. This is a significant improvement in a very short time... Sample results also indicate that there has been no significant increase in turbidity observed during the start up period as the tunnel has gone from 1 pump to now all 3 pumps in operation.. The start up turbidity sampling is to conclude next week.... I hope the community will notice a major improvement in water quality this summer as compared to the past three years during the construction. The sewage pump station also nears completion and start up testing."

The equipment has been out of commission since 2009, when the City began to upgrade both the Gowanus Canal Flushing Tunnel and the Waste Water Pumping Station.
The upgrades cost $190 million and were supposed to already be completed. The project, ran into delays when flood waters submerged the new equipment during Hurricane Sandy.

The photos above were taken on Friday, May 9th.



Read more

City To Start Initial Pump Test For Gowanus Flushing Tunnel In Next Few Weeks

Good news for Gowanus residents.  It would appear that the Gowanus Canal Flushing Tunnel, located  at 201 Douglass Street at the head of the canal,  may soon be back in operation.  According to Gary Kline of New York State's Department Of Environmental Conservation, who shared the news with Friends And Residents Of Greater Gowanus, the "City will start the initial pump test of the Flushing Tunnel in the next 2-3 weeks."

According to Kline, "there are three pumps in the Flushing Station, each will be brought on line in a scheduled series of pump equipment test. All three pumps should be fully operational by late March."

Prior to the initial tests, New York City's Department of Environmental Protection will install a pair of temporary silt curtains across the Canal.  "The silt curtains will slow water velocities and impede sediment from being transferred from the upper canal as the pumping is brought on line," Kline explains.

When re-started, the flushing tunnel will bring water into the canal from the East River and from Buttermilk Channel, which will significantly improve water quality.

The equipment has been out of commission since 2009, when the City began to upgrade both the Gowanus Canal Flushing Tunnel and the Waste Water Pumping Station.
The upgrades cost $190 million and were supposed to already be completed.  The project, ran into delays when flood waters submerged the new equipment during Hurricane Sandy.

The sewage pump station upgrade is also progressing.  Gary Kline reports that it "should be available for initial testing late spring."

The huge  pipe that had been installed in the Gowanus as an interim oxygenation system will be dismantled this winter.




Read more

Gowanus Canal Flushing Apparatus Gets A Centennial Parade

On Tuesday, June 21, 1911, almost exactly 100 years ago, the Gowanus Canal Flushing Tunnel was ceremoniously put into action to "clean the dirty and the malodorous canal" by pumping fresh water from Buttermilk Channel into the industrial waterway. To celebrate, then Mayor Gaynor attended with other dignitaries, speeches were made, businesses along the canal were decorated for the occasion and invited guests went down the canal in adorned vessels. There was also a parade and a young 9-year-old girl was crowned "Miss Gowanus."

To commemorate the event, a family-friendly centennial celebration is planned for this Tuesday, June 21 from 6:00 to 8:00. There will be two parades: one on land, and one on water. The sidewalk parade will begin on Butler Street between Bond and Nevins. The procession will march down Bond to the Union Street Bridge, where participants will greet the parade of watercraft. The event will end with a reception at Proteus Gowanus.

Gowanus Canal Flushing Tunnel Centennial!

Parade and Celebration

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

6:00-8:00pm

Meet on Butler Street between Bond and Nevins

On June 21, 1911, all of South Brooklyn came out to celebrate the opening of the GowanusCanal Flushing Tunnel. The tunnel’s pump would draw fresh water from Buttermilk Channel into the stagnant and odorous Gowanus Canal. One hundred years ago, the neighborhood marked the long-awaited opening with bunting and streamers, speeches and parades. A 9-year old girl, crowned Miss Gowanus, floated down the canal on a barge, tossing white lilies into the now purified waters of the canal.

Parade route: The sidewalk parade will begin on Butler Street, behind the old Pumping Station. We will walk down Bond to the Union Street Bridge, where we will meet up with a second parade on water—and cheer on Miss Gowanus! The celebration will end with refreshments at Proteus Gowanus, at Union and Nevins.

Of course, this centennial celebration would not be complete without a Miss Gowanus 2011. If you would like to wear the "Gowanus Sash" keep on reading:

Wanted: Miss Gowanus!

Have you always wanted to float down the Gowanus Canal at low tide wearing a sash that says "Miss Gowanus" and tossing white lilies into the water?

Yes? Then come join the Gowanus Canal Flushing Tunnel Centennial Parade!

On June 21, 1911, the Gowanus Canal Flushing Tunnel opened to great fanfare. There were parades and speeches throughout South Brooklyn, and a nine-year-old girl was crowned "Miss Gowanus."

We are looking for up to ten people, any age or gender, to play Miss Gowanus in 2011! Children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. If you are interested, please contact Angela Kramer Murphy at murphmer at gmail dot com. We are also looking for Miss Gowanuses who would want to be part of the sidewalk parade!

Read more