Water Resources Research Act Program

Details for Project ID NY_2025_Zeng

Integrated Assessment of Chemical Stressors on Source Water Quality from Upstream Wastewater Discharges in the Hudson River: A Collaborative Study

Institute: New York
Year Established: 2025 Start Date: 2026-01-01 End Date: 2026-12-31
Total Federal Funds: $34,977 Total Non-Federal Funds: $34,977

Principal Investigators: Teng Zeng

Project Summary: Clean, safe drinking water is vital to community well-being and long-term water sustainability. In the mid-Hudson region, many communities rely on the Hudson River as a primary source of drinking water. However, this source can be affected by upstream sewage discharges, particularly when treated wastewater flows back into the river with trace levels of organic contaminants (known as micropollutants) and contributes to the formation of harmful byproducts during downstream drinking water treatment. Led by Syracuse University and Riverkeeper, this project seeks to better understand how these chemical stressors vary by location and season. Each month, water samples will be collected from selected sites near drinking water intakes and sewage outfalls along the Hudson River and analyzed using advanced laboratory techniques. Findings from this project will help guide future efforts to protect drinking water quality and support broader regional water-quality improvement initiatives.