Delaware River must now meet higher oxygen standards for fish to breathe
What happened
US environmental regulators just tightened water quality rules for a large section of the Delaware River. This means industrial plants and cities discharging into the river must ensure the water has enough dissolved oxygen for fish and other aquatic life.
Why it matters
US environmental regulators are setting a new, measurable bar for water quality in a major river. Facilities along the Delaware River now face stricter limits on what they can discharge into the water. This will likely mean upgrades to wastewater treatment plants and industrial processes to meet the new oxygen levels.
The signal
Watch for new permits issued to facilities along the Delaware River and whether they include specific, measurable dissolved oxygen requirements.