By LRWP Monitoring Outreach Coordinator Jocelyn Palomino

Every Thursday from May to October, the Lower Raritan Watershed Partnership and Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Middlesex County run a volunteer-based monitoring program along the Raritan river. During the summer, we collect water quality samples at six 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 mission is to share this data with the community and partners to ensure the safe use of the Raritan river for all.

Our lab results for water quality samples taken on Thursday August 15, 2024 show Enterococcus bacteria levels exceeding the EPA federal water quality standard of 104 cfu/100mL at TWO of our monitoring sites. Problem sites are indicated by red frowns on the map and chart which includes: Riverside Park (Piscataway) and 2nd Street Park (Perth Amboy). Green smiles on the chart and map indicate the sites with bacteria levels safe for recreation, which include: Rutgers Boathouse (New Brunswick), Edison Boat Basin and Ken Buchanan Waterfront Park (Edison), and South Amboy Waterfront Park (South Amboy).

Pathogens/Enterococci levels are used as indicators of the possible presence of disease-causing bacteria in recreational waters. Such pathogens may pose health risks to people coming in primary contact with the water (touching) through recreational activities like fishing, kayaking or swimming in a water body. Possible sources of bacteria include stormwater runoff, Combined Sewer Overflows (CSOs), improperly functioning wastewater treatment plants, leaking septic systems, animal carcasses, and runoff from manure storage areas.

Our goal in reporting these results is to give residents a better understanding of the potential health risks related to primary contact during water-based recreation. If you plan on recreating on the Raritan, be sure to take all safety precautions by washing up after any activities!

Our Thursday mornings begin with volunteers helping Program Coordinator Jocelyn Palomino with the pre-calibration of our equipment, while the rest of the team gears up for sampling. Photo Credit: Frank Dahl

Leave it to Rose to capture close-up shots like this that allow us to see nature in all its beauty! Photo Credit: Rose Lawless

Frank Dahl was in charge of managing the YSI this week, Shely Dash got to borrow his binoculars to catch a good look at some herons at the Edison Boat Basin. Photo Credit: Rose Lawless

Messy docks at LR4, I wonder who the culprits could have been… Photo Credit: Rose Lawless

Our AMAZING team of volunteers collecting water samples, cleaning up the shore and sharing our data with local residents while at LR5- South Amboy Waterfront Beach, Photo Credit: Rose Lawless

During low tide, we noticed very murky and grey water at LR6-2nd. Street Park with a large amount of scum built up on the rocks, despite the dry weather in recent days. Photo Credit: Rose Lawless