Would you take a dip in a floating pool located in the East River? The thought of swimming in this famously contaminated body of water would make most New Yorkers recoil. However, NYC recently approved an innovative, environmentally-friendly, and instagrammable project meant to clean more than 600,000 gallons of polluted water daily. The + POOL is on its way to giving Brooklynites and Manhattan residents an Olympic-sized oasis to beat hot days. Read full article here
Societal Issues
To curb drug deaths, communities turn to Reddit, texts and wastewater
With drug overdose deaths on the rise, authorities are attempting to curb the epidemic by tracking and sharing information in real time. In one unique effort, a nonprofit in New York City is using drug-testing equipment and stamping or marking habits of dealers to identify drug batches that may endanger users. Other approaches are also being used, such as monitoring drug-related chatter on Reddit and analyzing local wastewater for opioid and other drug levels. With the combination of these efforts, researchers hope to put a dent in the opioid crisis and reduce overdose deaths. Read full article here
Merv
June 1, 2023
