Combined sewer overflow (CSO) reported — Buffalo Sewer Authority -Bird Island, May 5, 2026

Ongoing (as reported) · Buffalo Sewer Authority -Bird Island (NY DEC Sewage Pollution Right to Know)

Source: Buffalo Sewer Authority -Bird Island (NY DEC Sewage Pollution Right to Know), record 2478094661334650, reported May 6, 2026, 6:27 AM EDT, retrieved 2026-11-02 20:40 UTC · Read the original notice

Current status from this report

Earlier version. A later record from the same source replaces this one. The newest version sets the map status. read the newer version

A report is not a test of the water. See how we assign statuses.

Read the original notice · Report an error

1. Reported wastewater outlet

Operator named in the record: Buffalo Sewer Authority -Bird Island (federal wastewater discharge permit, NPDES, NY0028410). Outlet: “Outfall at base of Black Rock Harbor Road”. Location: 42.94500, -78.90880; location source: given in the source record.

Outfall: a pipe or outlet where wastewater enters a water body.

2. Waters named in the notice

The notice names: “Niagara River”. DirtyWaterWatch links this report to Niagara River, NY. Match basis: the water named in the report.

3. Estimated downstream stretch

No downstream estimate is available for this report.

Map sources: water outlines and launches from OpenBoatLaunch and OpenStreetMap contributors (Open Database License); wastewater outlets from EPA and state records; downstream estimates by DirtyWaterWatch using U.S. Geological Survey maps and flow data. Base map: OpenFreeMap and OpenMapTiles.

Open on the main map

When it happened and when it was reported

Event and notice times use Eastern Time (EST or EDT). Retrieval times use Coordinated Universal Time (UTC).

Started: May 5, 2026, 7:54 PM EDT
Ended: ongoing, as last reported
Detail provided by the source: Times known to the minute
Reported to the source: May 6, 2026, 6:27 AM EDT
Published: May 6, 2026, 6:27 AM EDT
Source last updated: not given
Last retrieved by DirtyWaterWatch: 2026-11-02 20:40 UTC

What and how much

Type: Combined sewer overflow (CSO): sewage mixed with rainwater spills from a shared sewer system.
Status in the record: Ongoing (as reported)
Material: “Untreated”
Volume: 700,000 gallons (estimated)
Volume as reported: “700000 Gallons Estimated”

Advice from Buffalo Sewer Authority -Bird Island (NY DEC Sewage Pollution Right to Know)

“CSO 055 was chosen for the location as it is the most frequently activating CSO in the watershed. For more information, please see our website at: buffalosewer.org”
Buffalo Sewer Authority -Bird Island (NY DEC Sewage Pollution Right to Know)

Advice period: This report does not state a period. See the rule DirtyWaterWatch applies and its source.
Basis: not stated

Source and versions

Source: NY DEC Sewage Pollution Right to Know
Source record number: 2478094661334650
Original notice: Read the original notice
Earlier version: None: this is the first record
Later versions: version 2

Record details

Record details
Record identifier	ny-dec-sprtk:2478094661334650
Source identifier	ny-dec-sprtk
Source record number	2478094661334650
Earlier version	Not provided
Type	Combined sewer overflow (CSO)
Status in the report	Ongoing (as reported)
Sewer operator identifier	ny-buffalo-sewer-authority
Sewer operator	Buffalo Sewer Authority -Bird Island
Federal wastewater discharge permit (NPDES)	NY0028410
Outlet number	Not provided
Outlet name	Outfall at base of Black Rock Harbor Road
Water named in the report	Niagara River
Linked waters	niagara-river-ny
How this report was linked to the water	the water named in the report
Latitude	42.945
Longitude	-78.909
Location source	given in the source record
Location accuracy, in metres	Not provided
Started	May 5, 2026, 7:54 PM EDT (2026-05-05T19:54:00-04:00)
Ended	Not provided
Detail provided by the source	to the minute
Reported to the source	May 6, 2026, 6:27 AM EDT (2026-05-06T06:27:23-04:00)
Published	May 6, 2026, 6:27 AM EDT (2026-05-06T06:27:23-04:00)
Source last updated	Not provided
Last retrieved by DirtyWaterWatch	Nov 2, 2026, 3:40 PM EST (2026-11-02T20:40:35Z)
Material	Untreated
Volume, in gallons	700,000
Volume as reported	700000 Gallons Estimated
How volume was determined	estimated
Authority	Buffalo Sewer Authority -Bird Island (NY DEC Sewage Pollution Right to Know)
Advice	CSO 055 was chosen for the location as it is the most frequently activating CSO in the watershed. For more information, please see our website at: buffalosewer.org
Advice period, in hours	Not provided
Basis of the advice period	Not provided
Original notice	https://www.dec.ny.gov/fs/data/SPRTK_Data.xlsx

Original source data

{
  "row": {
    "notificationId": "2478094661334650",
    "sprtkAirDateTime": "05/06/2026 10:27:23",
    "notificationStatus": "New",
    "facilityName": "Buffalo Sewer Authority -Bird Island",
    "facilityId": "NY0028410",
    "countyName": "Erie",
    "streetNumber": "2246",
    "streetName": "Niagara St",
    "city": "Buffalo",
    "addressDescription": "Outfall at base of Black Rock Harbor Road",
    "latitude": "-78.9088",
    "longitude": "42.945",
    "sprtkStartDischargeDatetime": "05/05/2026 23:54:00",
    "sprtkEndDischargeDatetime": "05/06/2026 23:54:00",
    "dischargeDuration": "24 Hours - Ongoing",
    "surfaceWater": "Yes",
    "receivingWaterBody": "Niagara River",
    "quantity": "700000 Gallons Estimated",
    "treatedState": "Untreated",
    "stepsToContain": "Permitted CSO discharge",
    "additionalInstructions": "CSO 055 was chosen for the location as it is the most frequently activating CSO in the watershed. For more information, please see our website at: buffalosewer.org",
    "geoaddress": "98 Black Rock Harbor Rd, Buffalo, NY 14207, USA",
    "impactedArea": "Park,Park - Tow Path Park, Black Rock Canal Park, Riverside Park",
    "dischargeReason": "System Capacity,Weather Conditions - Heavy Rain",
    "systemComponent": "CSO Outfall,CSO Outfall -",
    "region": "9",
    "sprtkDischargeWaterFlow": "Manmade",
    "sprtkImpactAreaDesc": "Tow Path Park, Black Rock Canal Park, Riverside Park",
    "sprtkExplanation": "Heavy Rain",
    "sprtkAdditionalInstructions": "CSO 055 was chosen for the location as it is the most frequently activating CSO in the watershed. For more information, please see our website at:",
    "sprtkWebsiteUrl": "buffalosewer.org"
  },
  "_tab": "January 2026-August2026",
  "_row": 2870,
  "_time_basis": {
    "air": "UTC in the workbook (rows aired from late May 2025); converted to America/New_York",
    "start": "UTC in the workbook (rows aired from late May 2025); converted to America/New_York",
    "end": "UTC in the workbook (rows aired from late May 2025); converted to America/New_York"
  },
  "_projected_end": "2026-05-06T19:54:00-04:00",
  "_projected_end_note": "NY-Alert requires an expected end time on every notice; this one is a projection, not a reported end",
  "_coords": "latitude and longitude columns swapped; a street-address geocode chosen by the notifier",
  "_event_type_basis": "a CSO outfall named in the system component",
  "_water": {
    "via": "receiving water name within New York (checked against the geocode)"
  },
  "_volume_note": "first (New) notice: NY-Alert requires a volume and an end time up front, so this figure is the notifier's estimate or placeholder, not a measured total",
  "_chain": {
    "id": "key:NY0028410|2246 niagara st buffalo|2026-05-05T23:54Z",
    "basis": "facility + address + start",
    "position": 1,
    "of": 3,
    "head": "ny-dec-sprtk:2478094661334650",
    "latest": "ny-dec-sprtk:2477819783441054"
  }
}

Staff names, email addresses and phone numbers are removed from source data before it is stored.