by LRWP Outreach Monitoring Coordinator Jocelyn Palomino
The Lower Raritan Watershed Partnership and Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Middlesex County run a volunteer pathogens monitoring program from May to September every summer along the Raritan River. We collect water quality samples at 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 water quality samples taken on August 24, 2023 show Enterococcus bacteria levels exceed the EPA federal water quality standard at only one of our 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 sites with bacteria levels safe for recreation and include: Rutgers Boathouse (New Brunswick), Edison Boat Basin (Edison), Ken Buchanan Waterfront Park (Sayreville), South Amboy Waterfront Park (South Amboy), and 2nd Street Park (Perth Amboy).
Enterococcus and Fecal Coliform levels are used as indicators for the possible presence of disease-causing bacteria in recreational waters. Many beaches and rivers have placed health advisories, and even closed, due to the high levels of fecal coliform in the waters across New Jersey these past few weeks. Such pathogens may pose health risks to people fishing and swimming in a water body. Possible sources of bacteria include Combined Sewer Overflows (CSOs), improperly functioning wastewater treatment plants, leaking septic systems, and stormwater run off.
Our goal in reporting these results is to give area residents an understanding of potential health risks related to primary contact (touching) the water during water based recreation. Always remember to wash thoroughly after enjoying your weekend activities on the Raritan!
Low tide and overcast skies during our Thursday morning of monitoring,Photo Credit: Rose Lawless
The outfall at the Rutgers Boathouse in New Brunswick was exposed at the time we collected our sample due to the low tide, Photo Credit: Rose Lawless
Our amazing team of volunteers (including Rose behind the camera) on the docks at the Edison Boat Basin, Photo Credit: Rose Lawless
Frank Dahl is always ready to spot all types of wildlife with his binoculars, Photo Credit: Rose Lawless
Another great week of water quality monitoring thanks to our volunteers: Piash Ahamed, Genevieve Ehasz, Irene Riegner, Colleen Georges, Frank Dahl, and Sheyla Casco!Photo Credit: Rose Lawless
by LRWP Outreach Monitoring Coordinator Jocelyn Palomino
The Lower Raritan Watershed Partnership and Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Middlesex County run a volunteer pathogens monitoring program from May to September every summer along the Raritan River. We collect water quality samples at 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 water quality samples taken on August 10, 2023 show Enterococcus bacteria levels DO NOT exceed the EPA federal water quality standard at any of our sites this week. Problem sites are normally indicated by red frowns on the map and chart. Green smiles on the chart and map indicate sites with bacteria levels safe for recreation which includes: Riverside Park (Piscataway), Rutgers Boathouse (New Brunswick), Edison Boat Basin (Edison), Ken Buchanan Waterfront Park (Sayreville), South Amboy Waterfront Park (South Amboy), and 2nd Street Park (Perth Amboy).
Enterococcus and Fecal Coliform levels are used as indicators for the possible presence of disease-causing bacteria in recreational waters. Many beaches and rivers have placed health advisories, and even closed, due to the high levels of fecal coliform in the waters across New Jersey these past few weeks. Such pathogens may pose health risks to people fishing and swimming in a water body. Possible sources of bacteria include Combined Sewer Overflows (CSOs), improperly functioning wastewater treatment plants, leaking septic systems, and stormwater run off.
Our goal in reporting these results is to give area residents an understanding of potential health risks related to primary contact (touching) the water during water based recreation. Always remember to wash thoroughly after enjoying your weekend activities on the Raritan!
A beautiful morning to be out doing some water quality monitoring! Photo Credit: Rose Lawless
Every one of our volunteers play an important role in collecting our weekly data, Photo Credit: Rose Lawless(left) and Colleen Georges (right)
A shot of the canal by the docks at the Edison Boat Basin after grabbing our samples, Photo Credits: Rose Lawless
Frank Dahl was happy to volunteer wading into our last two sites for the week, Photo Credit: Colleen Georges
Big thanks to our volunteers of the week: Frank Dahl, Rose Lawless, Sheyla Casco, Piash Ahamed, and Colleen Georges
The Lower Raritan Watershed Partnership and Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Middlesex County run a volunteer pathogens monitoring program from May to September every summer along the Raritan River. We collect water quality samples at 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.
With a continuation of rainfall this week, our water quality samples taken on July 27, 2023 show Enterococcus bacteria levels exceed the EPA federal water quality standard at four of our sites. Problem sites are indicated by red frowns on the map and chart which includes: Riverside Park (Piscataway), Rutgers Boathouse (New Brunswick), Ken Buchanan Waterfront Park (Sayreville) and 2nd Street Park (Perth Amboy). Green smiles on the chart and map indicate sites with bacteria levels safe for recreation and includes: Edison Boat Basin (Edison), and South Amboy Waterfront Park (South Amboy).
Enterococcus and Fecal Coliform levels are used as indicators for the possible presence of disease-causing bacteria in recreational waters. Many beaches and rivers have placed health advisories, and even closed, due to the high levels of fecal coliform in the waters across New Jersey these past few weeks. Such pathogens may pose health risks to people fishing and swimming in a water body. Possible sources of bacteria include Combined Sewer Overflows (CSOs), improperly functioning wastewater treatment plants, leaking septic systems, and stormwater run off.
Our goal in reporting these results is to give area residents an understanding of potential health risks related to primary contact (touching) the water during water based recreation. Always remember to wash thoroughly after enjoying your weekend activities on the Raritan!
While collecting samples at Rutgers Boathouse, we had a few visitors who were not afraid to approach us! Photo Credit: Colleen Georges
A great view of our team of volunteers on the dock at Edison Boat Basin, Photo Credit: Rose Lawless
Frank Dahl and Irene Riegner are always ready to help gear up at our wading site in South Amboy, Photo Credit: Sheyla Casco
Foamy waters at Perth Amboy’s 2nd. Street Park, Photo Credit: Rose Lawless
Thanks to our committed team of volunteers for coming out this week during the intense heat: Frank Dahl, Rose Lawless, Piash Ahamed, Sheyla Casco, Irene Riegner, and Colleen Georges! Photo Credit: Colleen Georges
By LRWP Monitoring Outreach Coordinator Jocelyn Palomino
The Lower Raritan Watershed Partnership and Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Middlesex County run a volunteer pathogens monitoring program from May to September every summer along the Raritan River. We collect water quality samples at 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 lab results for water quality samples taken on July 13, 2023 show Enterococcus bacteria levels exceed 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 (Edison), and Ken Buchanan Waterfront Park (Sayreville). Green smiles on the chart and map indicate sites with bacteria levels safe for recreation and includes: 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 fishing and 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 area residents an understanding of potential health risks related to primary contact (touching) the water during water based recreation. Please remember to always wash thoroughly after all activities if you choose to recreate on the Raritan!
Sheyla Casco and Frank Dahl working together to collect the data off the YSI at the Rutgers Boathouse, Photo Credit: Jocelyn Palomino
A calming view from the docks at Ken Buchanan Waterfront Park, we are so lucky to be out at these sites every week! Photo Credit: Colleen Georges
The lighthouse pictured behind Sheyla Casco at our South Amboy site who volunteered to get in the water, Photo Credit: Jocelyn Palomino
So appreciative of the amazing team of volunteers who came out this week! Photo Credit: Colleen Georges
By LRWP Monitoring Outreach Coordinator Jocelyn Palomino
The Lower Raritan Watershed Partnership and Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Middlesex County run a volunteer pathogens monitoring program from May to September every summer along the Raritan River. We collect water quality samples at 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 lab results for water quality samples taken on June 22, 2023 show Enterococcus bacteria levels that exceed the EPA federal water quality standard of 104 cfu/100mL at one of our monitoring sites. Problem sites are indicated by red frowns on the map and chart and includes Edison Boat Basin (Edison) this week. Green smiles on the chart and map indicate sites with bacteria levels safe for recreation and includes: Riverside Park (Piscataway), Rutgers Boathouse (New Brunswick), Ken Buchanan Waterfront Park (Sayreville), 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 fishing and 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 area residents an understanding of potential health risks related to primary contact (touching) the water during water based recreation. Even though our results show water quality levels are safe for recreation this week, please wash thoroughly after all activities if you choose to recreate on the Raritan!
Our team of volunteers were ready to collect this week’s samples despite a very cloudy Thursday morning, Photo Credit: Monica Orso
At each of our sites, one volunteer uses the YSI and fluorometer (being held in the picture) that reads specific parameters like pH or salinity, while other volunteers collect the water samples and record data on field observations, Photo Credit: Jocelyn Palomino
A mallard drake and one of his young ones needed our help getting untangled from a fishing line at the Ken Buchanan Waterfront Park, we always enjoy encountering all sorts of animals while we’re monitoring, Photo Credit: Monica Orso
Quite a few folks out on the South Amboy Waterfront this Thursday despite the light rain, Photo Credit: Monica Orso
Special thanks to our amazing team of volunteers who came out this week: Monica Orso, Colleen Georges, Sheyla Casco, and Genevieve Ehasz! Photo Credit: Jocelyn Palomino
By LRWP Monitoring Outreach Coordinator Jocelyn Palomino
The Lower Raritan Watershed Partnership and Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Middlesex County run a volunteer pathogens monitoring program from May to September every summer along the Raritan River. We collect water quality samples at 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.
This week we experienced severely heavy air pollution in the Northeast due to the wildfires happening in Canada. The Air Quality Index (AQI) almost reached 400 in several areas of New Jersey, becoming one of the worst smoke outbreaks the Northeast has seen in the last two decades.
Our lab results for water quality samples taken on June 8, 2023 show that Enterococcus bacteria levels DO NOT exceed the EPA federal water quality standard at any of our sites this week. Green smiles on the chart and map indicate sites with bacteria levels safe for recreation which includes all of our sites this week: Riverside Park (Piscataway), Rutgers Boathouse (New Brunswick), Edison Boat Ramp 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 fishing and 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 area residents an understanding of potential health risks related to primary contact (touching) the water during water based recreation. Even though our results show water quality levels are safe for recreation this week, please wash thoroughly after all activities if you choose to recreate on the Raritan!
Special thanks to our monitoring team this week for enduring the weather conditions to provide the community with the water quality results to make the appropriate decisions regarding their recreational plans for the weekend: Colleen Georges, Rose Lawless, Sheyla Casco, and Genevieve Ehasz with the Fahrenfeld Lab.
While exploring at our Piscataway site, Rose Lawless spotted Garlic Mustard, a non-native plant. Photo Credit: Rose Lawless
From the Rutgers boat dock, we could see the trees along the Raritan surrounded by smoke from the Canadian wildfires, Photo Credit: Rose Lawless
A great blue heron surfing on the debris while we collected samples at the Edison Boat Launch, Photo Credit: Rose Lawless
A great image of the team at our Sayreville site with what used to be a coal power plant pictured behind us, Photo Credit: Rose Lawless
Genevieve decided to wade in as we finished up the day in Perth Amboy by 2nd. Street Park, Photo Credit: Rose Lawless
