Pittsburgh's three rivers have bounced back from being nearly lifeless a century ago to now teeming with over 100 fish species, and GES's Dr. Daniel Bain helps explain how landmark mining laws and a massive new sewage tunnel project are turning the tide on acid drainage and storm overflows.
A citizen coalition led by Protect PT is challenging the state's claim that radioactive landfill leachate poses no health threat. However, GES's Dan Bain's research team found higher radium levels downstream of a wastewater treatment plant than upstream, suggesting treated leachate may still be introducing radioactive material into local waterways. Read the full story for more.
Jonathan Burgess, Director of the GES Department's Pittsburgh Water Collaboratory initiative, recently gave an interview on how climate change is impacting the localized, intense rainfall in the region recently. Read more at TribLive.
Our rivers have come a long way, one stretch of the Monongahela went from a single fish fifty years ago to more than 23,000 today. Cleaner water doesn't automatically mean swimmable water. In a new piece for The Conversation, GES Associate Professor, Dr. Dan Bain, breaks down what sewage overflows, industrial legacy, and a tenth of an inch of rain mean for anyone thinking about taking a dip. Read more at The Conversation.
The Pittsburgh Water Collaboratory (a GES initiative) has taken a leadership role in launching the Ohio River Restoration Plan.
A video on Riversense, a Pittsburgh Water Collaboratory tool working on improving local access to clean rivers, received a bronze Telly Award in the non-broadcast/general sustainability category. The video was produced by Speed, Zetter and media producer Patrick Walsh.
