Activists slam plan; sewage still pollutes Harlem River

A proposal to allow swimming in the Harlem River has sparked outrage among activists because it won't address the ongoing dumping of billions of gallons of raw sewage. The plan would not improve water quality. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) wants to reclassify the river, allowing swimming on dry days, despite the continued discharge of nearly 2 billion gallons of sewage annually. Activists argue the plan maintains poor water quality standards. The Harlem River is currently classified for secondary contact recreation. Critics say the proposal, which would cost $9 billion to fix the sewage system, is a step backward, and are demanding the river be swimmable at all times.