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 26, 2024 show Enterococcus bacteria levels exceeding the EPA federal water quality standard of 104 cfu/100mL at FOUR of our monitoring sites this week. Problem sites are indicated by red frowns on the map and chart which includes: Riverside Park (Piscataway), Rutgers Boathouse (New Brunswick), Edison Boat Basin and Ken Buchanan Waterfront Park (Edison). Green smiles on the chart and map indicate the sites with bacteria levels safe for recreation, which include: 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 decide to recreate on Raritan this weekend, please keep this data in mind and wash up properly after any activities!

Our monitoring team was eager to be joined by Sandy Castor on the Rutgers Boathouse docks, Middlesex County’s Department Head and our VIP this week! Sandy took part in our usual monitoring work like collecting data off the YSI and grabbing our sample for the week, alongside our community volunteers. Despite the gloomy weather, sharing our pathogens work with Sandy was a great start to the morning!

Another week of bottles and debris at the Rutgers Boathouse, along with a fish kill. Photo credit: Jocelyn Palomino (left) and Art Allgauer (right)

A massive log found its way in between the docks at the Edison Boat Basin, Photo credit: Jocelyn Palomino

Amongst the usual flock of gulls at Sayreville, we were able to spot one cormorant on a dock post using the breeze to dry up, while another went for a lonesome swim in the Raritan. Photo credit: Jocelyn Palomino

We usually find very little trash when we arrive at our South Amboy site, however, a lot of garbage was left behind after the high tide for us to clean-up. We also found two smooth dogfish/sand sharks on the shore that appear to have been preyed on… Photo credit: Art Allgauer (left) and Jocelyn Palomino (right)

The combined sewer system (CSS) in Perth Amboy had a light overflow due to some morning drizzle, however, it most likely increased with the rain that followed after. Special thanks to our volunteers: Art Allgauer, Sofi Grossman, Sanil Nambiar, and Irene Riegner! Photo credit: Art Allgauer (left) and Jocelyn Palomino (right)