By LRWP Monitoring Outreach Coordinator Jocelyn Palomino

During the summer, the Lower Raritan Watershed Partnership and Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Middlesex County run a volunteer-based monitoring program along the Raritan river that takes place every Thursday, from May to October. 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 June 6, 2024 show Enterococcus bacteria levels exceeding the EPA federal water quality standard of 104 cfu/100mL at 5 of our monitoring sites this week. Problem sites are indicated by red frowns on the map and chart which include: Riverside Park (Piscataway), Rutgers Boathouse (New Brunswick), Edison Boat Basin and Ken Buchanan Waterfront Park (Edison), and 2nd Street Park (Perth Amboy). Green smiles on the chart and map indicate the sites with bacteria levels safe for recreation and include: 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 Combined Sewer Overflows (CSOs), improperly functioning wastewater treatment plants, stormwater runoff, 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. Please be sure to wash thoroughly after any activities on the Raritan this weekend!

Sofi Grossman, Frank Dahl and Rose Lawless are a perfect example of how monitoring is done in teamwork at Riverside Park! Photo Credit: Heather Fenyk

Dark, cloudy skies over the Raritan on Thursday morning… Our volunteers grab the samples right of the Rutgers Dock at our second monitoring site, Photo Credit: Rose Lawless

A beautiful shot by Rose Lawless of the old coal power plant in Sayreville near our fourth monitoring location, Photo Credit: Rose Lawless

Sofi Grossman checking out the waters at our South Amboy site to take note of any recreational activities! Photo Credit: Rose Lawless

Our sixth monitoring site is at the end of 2nd Street Park in Perth Amboy, right near the combined sewer outfall. Heavy rain events can cause untreated sewer to overflow into the waters where local residents recreate, Photo Credit: Rose Lawless