by LRWP Outreach Monitoring Coordinator Jocelyn Palomino

The Lower Raritan Watershed Partnership and Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Middlesex County run a volunteer pathogens monitoring program from May to September every summer along the Raritan River. We collect water quality samples at non-bathing public access beach sites, provide our samples to the Interstate Environmental Commission for analysis in their laboratory, and report the results to the public on Friday afternoons.

Our water quality samples taken on August 3, 2023 show Enterococcus bacteria levels DO NOT exceed the EPA federal water quality standard at any of our sites this week. Problem sites are normally indicated by red frowns on the map and chart. Green smiles on the chart and map indicate sites with bacteria levels safe for recreation which includes: Riverside Park (Piscataway), Rutgers Boathouse (New Brunswick), Edison Boat Basin (Edison), Ken Buchanan Waterfront Park (Sayreville), South Amboy Waterfront Park (South Amboy), and 2nd Street Park (Perth Amboy).

Enterococcus and Fecal Coliform levels are used as indicators for the possible presence of disease-causing bacteria in recreational waters. Many beaches and rivers have placed health advisories, and even closed, due to the high levels of fecal coliform in the waters across New Jersey these past few weeks. Such pathogens may pose health risks to people fishing and swimming in a water body. Possible sources of bacteria include Combined Sewer Overflows (CSOs), improperly functioning wastewater treatment plants, leaking septic systems, and stormwater run off.

Our goal in reporting these results is to give area residents an understanding of potential health risks related to primary contact (touching) the water during water based recreation. Always remember to wash thoroughly after enjoying your weekend activities on the Raritan!

In our newly implemented “VIP of the week” for the Summer Pathogens Monitoring program, we were joined by none other than Mayor Brian Wahler of Piscataway, who was happy to help out the volunteers with data collection and ready to environmental health with us! Photo Credit: Heather Fenyk

At our following site, we were joined on the docks by VIPs Mayor Foster-Dublin of Highland Park and New Brunswick City Planner Dan Dominguez. Our volunteers did a stellar job showing them our water quality monitoring process! Photo Credit: Heather Fenyk

The seagulls always make sure to leave a mess on the docks at our Sayreville site, Photo Credit: Rose Lawless

Volunteer Irene Riegner had the opportunity use the waders for the first time at our South Amboy Riverfront, always a fun experience! Photo Credit: Rose Lawless

Special thanks to our volunteers of the week: Isha from Fahrenfeld Lab, Rose Lawless, Colleen Georges, Frank Dahl, Irene Riegner, and Piash Ahamed! Photo Credit: Colleen Georges