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 September 5, 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 are out on the Raritan this weekend enjoying the last of the summer weather, be sure to wash up after any activities just to be safe!

This week, the team was joined in the field by Land Steward Ed Carrington from Duke Farms who eagerly helped us with the collection of YSI data and site clean-ups. We appreciate you, Ed! Photo Credit: Jocelyn Palomino

An unidentified carcass found on the docks of Riverside Park in Piscataway to start off our Thursday morning!! Photo Credit: Frank Dahl

Unusual amount of debris and trash piled up against the Rutgers docks during high tide, we spent some time cleaning up everything in reach, Photo Credit: Jocelyn Palomino

A solitaire heron enjoying the fresh breeze on the shores of the Raritan near the Edison Boat Basin, Photo Credit: Jocelyn Palomino

A full team of binoculars…we are always prepared to spot all sorts of wildlife out on the Raritan, Photo Credit: Jocelyn Palomino

THANK YOU to our volunteers who came out yesterday: Irene Riegner, Art Allgauer, Ed Carrington, Frank Dahl, and Sofi Grossman! Photo Credit: Jocelyn Palomino