Poisoning the water in Tenafly, New Jersey, Bergen County, 07670

Walking along the Tenakill Brook, a feeder to United Water, the source of Tenafly's drinking water, the water that we use for cooking washing and all our other needs has once again been infused with an herbicide, a poison. which herbicide was used I cannot tell you. I was surprised to see the yellow border, a tell-tale sign of spray after reading an artticle in The New York Times about New Jersey's strict new rules regarding its water supply. The photograph was taken on Monday, April 23, 2012.
The herbicide is on the surface, but of course it washes down into the brook, a few feet away and it also leaches into the soil and reaches the water in that way. Tenafly's municipal government is responsible for this irresponsible act. Ultimately it is the consumer of the water who pays dearly. Disease may not be immediate, although it could be, but it affects all persons: the foetus in the womb, newborns, toddlers, mothers, fathers, the mature and older persons, indeed the entire population. Why has autism skyrocketed and other diseases? Environmental factors are causative agents and if a person's genetic make-up predisposes her/him to a particular disease, this insidious malign chemical (s) may well damage the person in later years. And then who is to say what "caused" the cancer or the disease the person is burdened with. No one will know what happened to the water in the Tenakill Brook in Tenafly in April 2012.

Polluted Drinking Water: Tenafly, NJ, 07670 PETROCHEMCALS

I was almost felled by the stench of gasoline and or other varietites of petrochemicals that were leaking into the Tenakill Brook, Tenafly, NJ 07670, heading directly to United Water, where our town's water is processed for drinking, bathing and other uses in our homes. This is truly dangerous; a carcinogen and deadly. If the fumes were sufficient to make me feel faint, what happens when some of these chemicals remain in the water and we ingest them? Would you feed your baby, toddler, adolescent gasoline? Would you drink it and would you give it to an ill or elderly person. Clean our waterway and stop dumping these chemicals into the Tenakill Brook. Now that we have rid ourselves of geese let us turn to the pollutants that befoul and poison our water.

The Dead Heron (Blue Heron?): seen on 3/2/2011: pollution

The dead Blue Heron encountered on the path alongside of the Tenakill Brook, Tenafly 07670, Bergen County, New Jersey. (unable to examine bird scientifically, I am not certain that I have identified the bird correctly.) The body of the heron was not in the water but on the brook's bank. Had it returned to the brook from a winter stay elsewhere or did it live through the eternal winter of 2010-2011 in Tenafly, managing somehow to survive the ordeal of cold, snow and ice? Such birds can overwinter, surprisingly. Holding my dog on a lead while I photographed was difficult, since she wanted to inspect the stream although I doubt that the dead animal would have interested her. From prior experience, I have learned that well-nourished pets will avoid close contact with a dead animal, although if the creature has been torn apart, it might try to snatch a fragment of the carcass. I show the find spot and pollutants in surrounding water. What cannot be doubted is the presence of gasoline: its noxious but beautiful "rainbow" color. Why is so much petroleum visible in the water? It is said by Tenafly's Newsletter to originate from the disposal of gasoline into the sewer system. But this is dubious. Who today in Tenafly is an self -made auto mechanic? Far more likely are gas stations and petroleum /gasoline leaks from vehicles. This matter runs-off from pavement into sewers. But the greatest amount may not be from leaky cars in this town, but from heavy vehicles used by various public services: snow removal trucks, leaf removal trucks and so forth. I cannot count how many times I have seen such vehicles leave behind a trail of petroleum. It is time for Tenafly and neighboring towns to check town vehicles and fix them if in fact they are leaking this deadly matter. Carcinogens, that is agents that contribute directly to cancer, are present in vehicular fuel. If these poisons did not flow into the Tenakill Brook but miraculously disappeared the problem would be solved. But miracles are unknown in this realm. The Tenakill Brook carries gasoline and other pollutants into the water supply to United Water that provides water for this town and others in the region.

Is the heron "the canary in the mine?"

Death of a Tenafly Inhabitant: The Great Blue Heron. Pollution?

On March 2, 2011, I noticed that a body was lying on the bank of the Tenakill Brook, Tenafly, New Jersey, 07670. For so many years I had seen herons of this type walk in the brook and when approached they lift off, with a wing spread that was astonishing. It was Tenafly's Big Bird. Now it is no more. Unable to haul it away and do an autopsy, I could not determine why it had died: age, attack by another animal, disease or was it the pollutants in the brook that caused cancers or weakened the animal's immune system? Only a scientific examination could pinpoint its death. I mourn this beautiful creature, probably the last of its kind in Tenafly.

transfiguring what is: art and fact

The Tenakill Brook, Tenafly New Jersey, probably one of the most polluted water sources in Bergen Country, a source that is used by the company United Water to provide water to Tenafly, New Jersey (07670) and other nearby towns, can be transfigured by art, that is its appearance, but the water is no less harmful despite its transcendent aspect thanks to the magic of sunlight.

Tenafly and United Water: pollution in our water system II: the concerned observer, I

On 21 June, 2010, I photographed gasoline and what appear to be "toxic" substances flowing into the Tenakill Brook, Tenafly, New Jersey. This brook feeds water to the United Water Company, the source of tap water for Tenafly and other Bergen County towns. Last year --2009 --the same substances were observed; no change has occurred. We may not see as many geese in Tenafly Commons' Pond, but the water system does not appear to be safe to drink, shower in or cook with. Only scientific testing can determine toxicity. I am not a scientist, merely an observer interested in securing the health of my town and other Bergen County communities.

Take a look.
The first picture locates the bridge at the Tenafly Common's Pond; then follow pictures from the pond to the Tenakill Brook. stream from the sign. The yellow "gunk" was present last year. It is located in the same area that it was seen and photographed between the pond and the large-sized tunnel pipe, a massive pipe. What appears to be gasoline is present beneath the bridge where the Teddy Roosevelt sign is located, having entered this little stream surely from the pond--and its tributaries. All this stuff then flows into the Tenakill Brook.

Pollution in Tenafly, New Jersey: Tenakill Brook, May 23, 2010, part 2

This post shows the confluence of the feeder stream from Chestnut and and Tenafly Road (Tenafly, New Jersey 07670). The milky fluid that was seen flowing from a sewer system into the feeder stream entered the Tenakill Brook, as the pictures above demonstrate. It moved rapidly along the shore of the brook and by 8:11 pm, approximately, it was seen at the bridge spanning that is located near Tenafly Middle School. At that time dusk was turning to darkness and photography was no longer effective, although some pictures were taken for documentary purposes. Obviously, the substance that had entered the sewer system further upstream was no longer as dense, as it was thinned by the water and the current of the brook. The substance appeared to be industrial waste; release of this substance probably stopped after the police and fire engines appeared on the scene. This substance had been observed on days prior to the 23rd when we witnessed it, but the person or persons who had seen it had not officially notified the police department. Once notified, on the 23rd of May, 2010, the Tenafly police and fire departments responded immediately and are to commended for their professionalism.

Some business or industrial entity appears to be using the Tenafly sewer system to rid its premises of noxious products. Using a sewer system is inexpensive, ie free, and likely will not be observed. Yet the cost to the community and the public that uses United Water is great. Chemicals are generally carcinogens. Of course the effects are not directly apparent in most cases, but the long-term effects are deadly. Autism, cancers and numerous other diseases are linked to various chemicals. I do hope that United Water, Bergen County, and other entities or agencies will take this problem seriously and prevent future occurrences using fines, and penalties if need be.
Finally, given our concern about terrorism, is this event not a test for such a catastrophic disaster?