Western New York has seen its fair share of revitalization efforts, as both citizens and local government have come to realize how poor waterfront development, and water contamination, have negatively impacted local communities. The federal government, in fact, has contributed almost $1.4 billion toward restoration of the Great Lakes region. This includes supporting new and green infrastructure, removing toxic sediment, and restoring damaged habitats.

In Rochester, this movement has come to a head with the Local Waterfront Revitalization Program. LWRP, which began in 1990, is an opportunity for the region to further develop the waterfront, and to address critical issues that have plagued it for the past several decades. The waterfronts in question include those of Lake Ontario, the Genesee River, and the Erie Canal.

What direction will LWRP be taking? The plan is multi-faceted, and ultimately seeks to boost traffic in commercial areas by creating valuable destinations for local residents and tourists to visit. Projects include developing a mixed-use waterfront festival site, implementing improvements to existing recreational facilities, and amending zoning laws in order to focus on encouraging tourism and preserving the positive qualities the waterfront areas have to offer.
The first LWRP River Focus Group meeting was held on January 22, 2014. Residents with an interest in the Genesee River and High Falls, two local landmarks, were invited to join. Business owners, stakeholders, and staff from the City Bureau of Planning and Zoning were on hand to discuss future LWRP development plans.

One topic of conversation was the GardenAerial Project, a three-phase plan to improve the Genesee Gorge. Right now, the first phase, trail improvements, is underway. Future plans include a pedestrian connection leading into Downtown Rochester, a new walking bridge spanning the falls that will give visitors an up-close view, and a “floating” arboretum that will be positioned high above the gorge.

As some point, though, it will be difficult for these implementations to have full impact if the quality of the water itself is poor. Unfortunately, the Genesee River is the 32nd most polluted and toxic river in the U.S., according to a report by the Environment America Research and Policy Center. There is opportunity for great fishing here, but water pollution has killed so many fish that most are stock fish, not wild fish.

The toxicity of the river has potentially impacted area residents as well. According to the EPA, industries in the U.S. generate more than 80 million pounds of acidic waste every year, and much of it ends up dumped into our waterways. A total of 53 million people are estimated to be drinking acidic tap water, and the problems associated with it have been well documented.

Although acidic, or corrosive, water is not harmful in itself, it’s harmful because of its effect on metal piping that leads to homes and businesses. Corrosive water can dissolve the copper and PVC plumbing components that pipes are made from. Even lead can leak in, as homes built before 1991 frequently have lead solder holding pipes together. If you suspect you are receiving corrosive water, you might notice that it frequently has a metallic taste, or leaves green stains in your sink. In amounts as small as 1.3 mg/L, copper can cause intestinal illness. Lead can cause brain damage, cancer, high blood pressure, and a host of other problems. Residents who note leaks or signs of acidic contamination should contact a plumber. The average price for plumbing services is $350, according to Home Advisor, further indicating how bad water can impact local families in more ways than one.

Water treatment centers can help to reduce the acidity of water by adding alkaline chemicals, but ultimately we will need to clean our waters if we want to ensure long-term access to safe water.

The University of Rochester, among others, have suggestions for how to improve waterfront development without further contaminating the river environment:
“In the Healthy Waterways report, we provide information and recommendations to help decision makers and stakeholders understand how to maximize the positive health impacts of water resource related decisions, while minimizing negative effects on the health of Rochester’s communities,” says the University’s website, regarding LWRP. Hopefully, as the city proceeds with its plans for waterfront development, clean water will be treated as an important goal, and not left by the wayside as a problem for the next generation to solve.