By Endurance Laryea, LRWP Summer Research Intern and J.M. Meyer.
The last pathogen monitoring session of the month took place on Thursday, June 25th. Each week 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. 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 25th, 2026, show Enterococcus bacteria levels exceeding the EPA federal water quality standard of 104 cfu/100mL atone of our monitoring sites this week. The problem site is indicated by the red frown on the map and chart: Riverside Park (Piscataway), Rutgers Boathouse (New Brunswick), Edison Boat Basin (Edison), Ken Buchanan Waterfront Park (Sayreville). Rutgers. Green smiles on the chart and map indicate the sites with bacteria levels safe for recreation and include the following: 2nd Street Park (Perth Amboy), and South Amboy Waterfront Park.
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, pet waste, wildlife waste, and runoff from manure storage areas.
In order to better understand why Riverside Park, Piscataway has been our worst performing site over the past six years, we have started sampling further upstream. On June 25th, we sampled the Lock site a second time since we started pathogens monitoring this season. The lab analysis produced 80 enterococci cfu per 100mL which flies beneath the EPA federal water quality standard of 104 cfu/100mL. Once again, the D&R Canal has proved cleaner than the site at Riverside Park, Piscataway.
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!
The LRWP and SEWA volunteers went out to the litter trap in the Green Brook on Saturday, August 9th, 2025, to conduct a litter tally. Huge thanks to our SEWA International Central Jersey youth partners! Thanks to their efforts, we’ll have much better data on how the litter trap keeps our watershed clean. Learn more about the litter trap initiative here. And learn more about the LRWP’s litter tally project with SEWA here. Below, you’ll find Sewa’s Nilesh Bhat describing the litter we picked up and conditions surrounding the litter trap.
Blog post by Yashashvi Pabbisetty
After several weeks of cleaning up and observing the Greenbrook stream and the litter trap, we have finished our final cleanup. During this meeting we noticed a significant amount of litter built up inside the trap as well as outside in the stream, met with two board members of the Lower Raritan Watershed Partnership, and ended the meeting by testing how various different pieces of litter go through the trap.
Trash Inside the Litter Trap:
4 plastic bottles
2 aluminum cans
1 glass bottle
1 paper wrapper
6 shot bottles
1 foam rocket
15-20 pieces of styrofoam
1 piece of cardboard
4 cigarette butts
Trash Outside the Litter Trap
1 broken down mattress
18 broken glass pieces
5 ceramic pieces
3 glass bottles
16 plastic bottles
8 aluminum cans
17 plastic wrappers
1 metal rod
2 tires
1 styrofoam food container
2 shot bottles
1 piece of fabric
1 strap
1 purse
1 toolbox piece with nails
26 plastic bags
1 umbrella
5 styrofoam pieces
1 piece of paper
During this meeting we had the opportunity to present to two members of the LRWP board, Nandini Checko and Anton Getz. First, we presented our findings from our group report on the storm which took place on July 14th, and then we discussed what we’ve learned about the litter trap. Afterwards, Dini and Anton shared their professional experiences with us, as well as their path to careers in environmental activism, safety, and science.
After our discussion, we collected and counted the litter. Anton helpfully brought a metal canoe to move swiftly through the stream, and collect tires and large objects; his canoe allowed him to float heavy debris up and down the stream.
Our meeting with Nandini and Anton gave us insights into the importance of the work that we do each week, how it fits into the bigger picture, and the ways in which volunteer organizations fill important gaps in the fight against plastic pollution.
To finish off our final meeting, we decided to each pick an item from the day’s cleanup to put back in the stream behind the litter trap and had a race; whichever item went into the trap first, would be victorious. This final experience answered a question that was on many of our minds: what item moves through the stream the fastest. The item which ended up winning was a piece of a styrofoam tray. This collaboration between the Sewa central jersey chapter volunteer organization and LRWP turned out as a huge success; we have gained accurate data about the trash flows in the Green Brook, and learned a tremendous amount about riparian floodways, environmental activism, plastic pollution, and community engagement!
The trash is neatly stacked and ready for pickup by our partners at the Dunellen Department of Public Works. Thank you, Dunellen!
