Green Guru Network

Riverkeeper

Today Riverkeeper released our second comprehensive report on sewage in the Hudson. We have been testing water quality along the 155-mile Hudson River Estuary since 2006 and have analyzed over 2300 samples to date.

We find that the Hudson continues to suffer from sewage contamination but the frequency and degree of contamination varies greatly location-by-location and at different times. You can see the water quality findings at each of our 74 Hudson sampling locations on our online database.

“How Is the Water?” compares regional water quality, in wet weather and dry, for the Capital District, Bear Mountain to Catskills, Westchester-Rockland and NY Harbor and the results may surprise you. We explain our water quality findings, discuss the different sources of the pollution, and provide concrete actions New York can take to reduce sewage contamination on our waterfronts. Take a look.

Summary of our key findings
 
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    1. Water quality varies location by location.
    2. Water quality varies over time.
    3. Sites vary in both the degree (how high is the sewage concentration), and the frequency (how often does it occur) of contamination.
    4. Wet weather is a common trigger of sewage contamination.
    5. Sewage contamination is often higher near the shoreline and at the confluence of tributaries.

Riverkeeper’s Action Agenda
    1. Reinvest in Wastewater Infrastructure
    2. Enforce Existing Water Quality Protection Laws
    3. Improve NY State Water Quality Standards
    4. Engage Citizens in Local Solutions
    5. Start Frequent Water Quality Monitoring & Prediction
    6. Notify the Public of Sewage Contamination

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The Riverkeeper released it's long waited and highly informative "How's The Water" report August 9, 2011. On the warm and overcast Croton Point beach Paul Galley and John Lipscome were joined by New York State Senator Adriano Espaillat and New York State Assemblyman Thomas Abinanti, press and activists to make public Riverkeeper's water monitoring results. The report focuses primarily on Enterococcus, a sewage indicating bacterium, with some surprising results. Newsday covers the story as does CBS local and Seatle PI.

Find up to date water quality test results for your part of the Hudson.  

Have you ever wondered whether it is wise to dip your toe into the Hudson River? Some people dive right in, but if you are like me, you want a little more data before taking a leap.  

This is where the Riverkeeper website comes in handy. Their Water Quality Map has data drawn from Albany and Rensselear counties down the Hudson to Rockland and Westchester.

Once you click on a specific county that lies along the Hidson River, the locations of where they took samples appear. You can get very specific data for that area. They also explain the data they offer for those of us who may not use such terminology frequently. Knowledge is power. Also check out their Swimmable River campaign.   

Who else is testing the Hudson River?