You may have recently seen news reports of a chemical spill in Yonkers that was contained before it impacted a nearby drinking water reservoir. However, we have unfortunately received confirmation that this spill did impact the Bronx River.
On March 14, a Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) tanker truck leaked an unknown amount of sodium hydroxide fluid, causing a spill in the area of the Hillview Reservoir in Yonkers. A DEP Haz Mat team and the Yonkers Fire Department addressed the spill, and NY State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Spill Response staff monitored the clean up effort. The Yonkers Fire Department hosed down the truck in an attempt to cool it down. The sodium hydroxide ran down Kimball Avenue and into a storm drain that leads to the Bronx River.
Readings Confirm Spill
NYC DEP confirmed there were no impacts to the reservoir, but a Bronx community member @bronxtours noticed a concerning sight near Muskrat Cove – the Bronx River looked milky and discolored. Later that day, a U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) gauge that monitors Bronx River water quality in the New York Botanical Garden showed an unusual spike in both pH and temperature of the Bronx River.
The concerned community member and the Bronx River Alliance reported this to the DEC Spills Response team, which investigated and confirmed that the cause was sodium hydroxide entering the river. DEC continues to monitor the ongoing cleanup efforts, and all pressure-washed water is being collected and treated for proper disposal.
It appears no other contaminants have reached the Bronx River since the original incident on March 14, 2025, and the pH of the water at the outfall to the river has decreased to normal levels. DEC is investigating the incident to determine whether there were any violations.
The water quality parameters of the river have returned to normal. It’s more important than ever to work together to protect, improve, and restore the Bronx River so that it can be a healthy resource for all the communities through which the river flows!
Community Members Act to Protect the River
If you ever see anything concerning or suspect a spill, please report it to the NYS Spill Hotline (1-800-457-7362)
To learn more about The Bronx River Alliance, click here: https://bronxriver.org/
