Letters: The Schuylkill is not a place to dump snow

We are writing to commend Mayor Nutter and the city government for the decision to forego dumping snow collected from the streets of Philadelphia into the Schuylkill. In the midst of crippling snowstorms, this may seem like a frivolous issue, but in reality, the city's decision will prevent serious environmental damages to the river.

Research, including many decades of monitoring by the Academy of Natural Sciences, has clearly demonstrated that urban precipitation, including snow, acquires a witch's brew of contaminants such as oil, grease, litter, road salt, and lawn fertilizer. Plowing snow further collects and, more important, concentrates these contaminants. Introducing this material in large amounts can result in acute toxic impacts.

The Schuylkill is an important resource for our community, and after decades of abuse, it is finally starting to show signs of renewed ecological health. We salute the city for making a commonsense decision that will protect one of Philadelphia's natural treasures.

David Velinsky,  Vice President for Environmental Science

Roland Wall, Director, Center for Environmental Policy

The Academy of Natural Sciences

Philadelphia

rwall@ansp.org