2020 Citizens' Water Quality Testing Program

Click on the map icons below for 2020 test results at each of our sampling sites or click here for a table showing results for all sites.

Scroll down for more information on the project:

For the past eight years, our volunteers have collected samples from the waters n and around New York Harbor every Thursday from the middle of May to the end of September. The program started in 2012 with 22 sample sites, and had grown to more than 70 sites for the 2019 season. 

This year, because of the coronavirus pandemic, most of our partner labs remain closed and testing is suspended at most of our sites (those indicated by yellow icons on the map) . However, we are able to process some East River and Newtown Creek samples at a new lab in Williamsburg, and as the season progresses we expect many of our partner labs to reopen and hope to reactivate many of our sampling sites. 

We use the EPA-approved Enterolert system from IDEXX Laboratories to test the samples for microbes of the genus Enterococcus (“Entero”). Enterococci are commonly found in the feces of humans and other warm-blooded animals; their presence in the water is an indication of fecal pollution and the possible presence of pathogens that could be harmful to human health.

We publish test results here every Friday evening throughout the boating season. The idea is to create a baseline of data that, when correlated with rain and tide information, can help better inform boaters and other recreational users of the harbor of likely water quality at their preferred access points and launch sites. We include basic tide and rainfall information, but leave the specific interpretation and decision­-making ­­to boaters, boating groups and other recreational water-users.

If you would like to volunteer or be added to our CWQTP google group please let us know by sending an email to water-quality@nycwatertrail.org.

To download or view a list of sampling Do's and Dont's, click here.
To watch a video on How to Take a Water Sample, click here.