A modern sewage treatment plant: The Digester Eggs at Newtown Creek Until 1992, ocean dumping was permitted in the Atlantic Ocean. According to Kate Ascher, author of The Works, New York City took its sewage (initially in raw form, later post-processing) to the Atlantic in two places–one 12 miles off the coast of New Jersey and another 106 miles out. The Jersey site was only 88 feet deep but the the other was just off the Continental Shelf at about 7500 feet deep. By 1986, new permits could not be issued for the 12 mile site. Image via The Works The ban on ocean dumping began on December 31, 1991, which was part of Congress’ Ocean Dumping Act from 1972. The original act intended for the ban to begin 1982 but the deadline wasn’t achieved. On a side note, the ban specifically included Long Island Sound as part of the Ocean Dumping Act. While these environmental… Read More