For 20 weeks starting in May, over 70 volunteer scientists from local boathouses and community groups collect weekly water samples for the Community Water Quality Testing Program (CWQTP) at over 90 sites from Yonkers to Jamaica Bay. All samples are tested for microbes of the genus Enterococcus using the US EPA-approved IDEXX Enterolert protocols.
View all of the CWQTP 2024 site data here!
Enterococci are fecal indicator bacteria that commonly live in the feces of humans and other vertebrates. Their presence in the water is an indication of sewage pollution and the possible presence of other pathogens that could be harmful to human health. Combined sewer overflow (CSO) discharges and stormwater runoff from streets are the primary contributors to fecal pollution in the Hudson River. When correlated with rain and tide data, bacterial concentrations can help better inform boaters and other recreational users of the harbor of possible health risks in order to make informed decisions about utilizing the harbor safely.
The Park’s Water Quality Dashboard estimates daily CSO risk within the Park with a model based on high-frequency bacterial sampling and continuous rainfall data.
CWQTP Partner Labs
- Sarah Lawrence Center for the Urban River at Beczak
- Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory at the Columbia University Earth Institute
- John Jay College of Criminal Justice Department of Sciences
- Queens College School of Earth and Environmental Sciences
- Bronx River Alliance
- SUNY Maritime College
- Hudson River Park Trust
- Randall’s Island Park Alliance
- Billion Oyster Project’s Williamsburg Field Station
- Interstate Environmental Commission
- Monsignor Farrell High School
Take a Deeper Dive