I remember stepping outside my home one morning in June and thinking that the air smelled like someone was cooking on the grill at 8:30 a.m. I quickly learned that the smell of smoke in the air was from Canadian wildfires.
The prevailing winds that pushed smoke and soot from Canada to Buffalo and across New York State was one of the biggest environment and health stories of 2023. For a few weeks, smoky air and hazy skies were the top topic of conversation and a big source of worry.
Smoke from wildfires may not be the biggest issue facing residents of the Buffalo Niagara region, but we have other environmental and climate concerns.
Rob Perrino, plant operator at the Town of Tonawanda Waste Water Treatment Facility and Water Treatment Plant, tests filtered water for chlorine on April 11. Chlorine levels are remotely monitored throughout the filtering process and tested by hand at least once per shift.
The Buffalo News has reported on the Scajaquada Creek, a waterway polluted by years of sewage overflow and industrial waste. We’ve followed the transformation of the Buffalo River, which was once considered biologically dead, according to the Great Lakes Commission, and kept an eye on the health of Lake Erie. And we continue to closely follow the Kensington Expressway project and concerns about the environmental impact of the tunnel-and-cap project and how it may affect the health of the residents who live near where construction could start this year.
People are also reading…
Whether tied to a major public project or a few neighborhoods, environmental issues touch all of us, and our health, safety or wallets may be at stake. And that is why The News has added a reporter to cover the environment and climate in the Buffalo Niagara region. We want to help readers connect the dots and answer the question: “Why should I care?” when it comes to environmental and climate issues.
Mackenzie Shuman, one of three new reporters on our news team, recently wrote about how local water suppliers will have to ensure that our water does not contain the “forever chemicals” found in everyday household products – and the reality that the cost of doing so could increase customer water rates. These “forever chemicals” – perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances known collectively as PFAS – are found in nonstick pans, food packing and stain-resistant clothing.
Shuman’s approach to stories is to provide information that will not only inform and educate readers, but also empower them to take action.
The “environment is a range of things,” Shuman says. “It’s the air you breathe, the water you drink, the dirt your kids play in. It’s everything around you and it’s impacted a lot here in Western New York by legacy pollution, contaminates and also ongoing development and new pollution.”
If you have a story idea about a local environmental issue, reach out to Shuman at mshuman@buffnews.com. To share a story idea with me or ask a question about our news-gathering process, contact me at editor@buffnews.com.
Thank you for supporting local journalism.
GIPHY App Key not set. Please check settings