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 22, 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 which includes: Riverside Park (Piscataway). 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), South Amboy Waterfront Park (South Amboy) and 2nd Street Park (Perth 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 recreate on the Raritan this weekend, be sure to take all safety precautions into consideration and wash up after any water-based activities!

Caught a glimpse of the enlarged moon during pre-calibration on early Thursday morning, after this Monday’s Supermoon that will occur again in mid-September, Photo Credit: Jocelyn Palomino

We spotted lots of folks out recreating at each of our sites, as well as an abundance of wildlife this week. Can you spot the heron hiding by the D&R canal at the Rutgers Boathouse? Photo Credit: Jocelyn Palomino

Half of the flock flew away as the team approached the docks, but the other half stayed to watch us collect water samples on the messy docks of LR4- Ken Buchanan Waterfront. Photo Credit: Jocelyn Palomino

Beautiful weather this weekend to enjoy the outdoors before the summer comes to an end- use and share our data to help plan your weekend activities on the Raritan!! Photo Credit: Jocelyn Palomino

Huge thanks to our volunteers for joining us in the field this week: Irene Riegner, Nibav Velan and Frank Dahl! Photo Credit: Jocelyn Palomino (left) and Frank Dahl (right)