HISTORY

The Gowanus Canal was built in the mid-1800s and for many years served as as a major industrial transportation route. Decades of industrial use along the Canal contributed to the Gowanus Canal’s environmental impacts. In addition, contamination flows into the canal from overflows from sewer systems that carry sanitary waste from homes and rainwater from storm drains and industrial pollutants. As a result, on March 4, 2010, EPA added the Gowanus Canal to the National Priorities List of sites.