Every Thursday during the summer, 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. 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 June 20, 2024 show Enterococcus bacteria levels exceeding the EPA federal water quality standard of 104 cfu/100mL at only one of our monitoring sites this week. Problem sites are indicated by red frowns on the map and chart for 2nd Street Park (Perth Amboy) this week. Green smiles on the chart and map indicate the sites with bacteria levels safe for recreation, and include the following: Riverside Park (Piscataway), Rutgers Boathouse (New Brunswick) , Edison Boat Basin and Ken Buchanan Waterfront Park (Sayreville), 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 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. If you are planning on recreating on the Raritan this weekend, make sure to stay safe and wash up after any activities!

This week, we were fortunate enough to be joined by Rutgers President Holloway at our second monitoring site: The Class of 1914 Rutgers Boathouse! Photo Credit: Trish Maguire

Our volunteers took the reins yesterday and demonstrated how we conduct water quality monitoring as a collective team, check out President Holloway holding our YSI equipment! Photo Credit: Trish Maguire

Irene Riegner looking intently through her binoculars to complete our field observation and identify any wildlife present in the area at the time of sampling, Photo Credit: Jocelyn Palomino

Can you spot the osprey nest at our Sayreville site? Photo Credit: Jocelyn Palomino

Frank Dahl and Amane Kariya suited up in waders together to collect our sample and data for our South Amboy site, thank you both! Photo Credit: Jocelyn Palomino

The team pictured at our last monitoring location of the day, helping Amane who managed to handle the YSI and sample catching all-in-one go, Photo Credit: Frank Dahl