Rep. Ritchie Torres Leads Bronx Congressional Delegation Demanding Accountability from Con Edison Over Bronx River Leaks

Congressman Ritchie Torres (NY-15), joined by his fellow Bronx colleagues in the House, Reps. George Latimer (NY-16), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), and Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), wrote to Consolidated Edison CEO Timothy Cawley demanding answers on reports of recurring dielectric fluid leaks into the Bronx River originating from Con Edison facilities in Yonkers.

In the letter, the lawmakers raise serious environmental and public health concerns about repeated leaks that threaten decades of restoration work along the Bronx River. For more than 25 years, the Bronx River Alliance and community partners have worked to transform the river from an industrial dumping ground into a restored ecosystem that supports wildlife, recreation, and public access. The federal government has invested more than $50 million in this effort.

The lawmakers warn that recent leaks risk undoing years of progress and jeopardizing water quality for communities downstream in the Bronx. They note that multiple incidents over the past two years have measurably affected the river and have heightened concerns about the condition of Con Edison’s aging infrastructure, maintenance practices, and transparency around leak detection and response.

The letter requests detailed information about the causes of recent leaks, monitoring systems in place to detect failures, the use of automated or third-party oversight mechanisms, and specific steps being taken to modernize aging infrastructure. The lawmakers also seek clarification on whether Con Edison is mapping high-risk assets, particularly at the Yonkers facility and along feeder lines that could pose a threat to the river.

The full letter reads as follows (PDF attached here):

“We are writing you regarding recurring dielectric fluid leaks into the Bronx River originating from Con Edison facilities in Yonkers. These incidents raise serious environmental concerns and public health concerns, which warrants urgent attention at the highest levels of your organization.

“For 25 years, the Bronx River Alliance, alongside thousands of community partners and local advocates, have worked tirelessly to restore the Bronx River from an industrial dumping ground into a living river once again. Their efforts have helped revive a fragile ecosystem, protect the habitat of dozens of species, and create safe and meaningful public access to a waterway that communities in our districts deeply value. The federal government has invested over 50 million dollars in this restoration effort, with multiple federal agencies playing an active role in the cleanup and recovery of the Bronx River.

“We do not want to see this important work undone. Repeated leaks of dielectric fluid threaten to undo years of hard-won progress and risk returning the river to a state we are determined never to revisit. Over the past two years alone, we understand that there have been major leaks that have measurably affected water quality in the Bronx River. While these leaks often originate upstream, the downstream impacts on Bronx communities are significant and immediate. These incidents have understandably heightened concerns about the condition of Con Edison’s aging infrastructure, the adequacy of maintenance practices, and the transparency surrounding leak detection and response.

“To better understand how Con Edison addresses these risks, we hope you will provide clarification on the following matters:

1. Regarding the August 2025 leak attributed to pipe erosion caused by condensation, how frequently does this issue occur, and what other common causes have been identified as contributors to dielectric fluid leaks?
2. What monitoring measures are currently in place to detect these issues before they escalate into leaks? Specifically, does Con Edison utilize automated sensors or real-time monitoring systems? Are there any third-party monitoring services employed? Is the monitoring and detection of leaks handled exclusively in-house?
3. What concrete steps are being taken to prevent future leaks? Has Con Edison shared comprehensive maintenance and mitigation plans with municipal partners or relevant oversight bodies?
4. Is there an ongoing effort to systematically map aging or high-risk infrastructure, particularly at the Yonkers facility and along substations or dielectric feeder lines, that poses the greatest threat to polluting the Bronx River?

“We remain steadfast in our commitment to protecting the Bronx’s natural resources and safeguarding the health of our constituents. We believe utility companies operating in our communities must be held to the highest standard of environmental stewardship. We look forward to receiving your response, including all relevant documentation related to Con Edison’s long-term infrastructure modernization plans, safety and communication protocols for this region.

“Thank you for your attention to this important matter.”