Water Quality > Tributary and Waterfront Data > New York City Waterfront > Gowanus- Gowanus Canal- 4th Street, Vechtes Brook

Gowanus- Gowanus Canal- 4th Street, Vechtes Brook

Physical/Chemical Data

Physical, chemical and biological properties of the surface water that are measured continuously while the patrol boat is underway.

Entero Count (fecal indicator) and Rainfall

20 Samples taken

Sample Date [i] Enterococcus Count

Entero Count

Enterococcus (“Entero”) is a fecal indicating bacterium that lives in the intestines of humans and other warm-blooded animals. It is the EPA preferred indicator for sewage contamination.

Quality Rain, day of (in) Prior Day 2 Days Prior 3 Days Prior Rain 4 Days Total Rain
Sort Sort Sort Sort Sort Sort Sort Sort
10/02/2014 305 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
09/25/2014 1223 Beach Advisory 0.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.3
09/18/2014 638 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.0 0.4 0.0 0.4
09/11/2014 146 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
09/04/2014 <10 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
08/28/2014 158 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
08/21/2014 218 Beach Advisory 0.4 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.4
08/14/2014 759 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.5 0.2 0.0 0.7
08/07/2014 20 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
07/31/2014 345 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.2 0.2
07/24/2014 670 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.2 0.0 0.0 0.2
07/17/2014 957 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.0 1.3 0.5 1.8
07/10/2014 1145 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.1 0.4 0.0 0.5
07/02/2014 52 Acceptable 1.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.0
06/26/2014 520 Beach Advisory 0.1 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.2
06/19/2014 1455 Beach Advisory 0.2 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.2
06/12/2014 504 Beach Advisory 0.1 0.0 0.0 1.6 1.7
06/05/2014 3255 Beach Advisory 0.9 0.0 0.1 0.0 1.0
05/29/2014 754 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
05/22/2014 4106 Beach Advisory 0.2 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.2

Entero Count (fecal indicator) and Rainfall Correlation

20 Samples taken

Water Quality*

Acceptable (0–60) Beach Advisory (61+)

*Single sample thresholds;
Enterococcus count per 100mL

Prior Four Day Rainfall
(in inches)

Dry Weather (0–0.25) Wet Weather (0.25+)

Enterococcus is an EPA-approved fecal contamination indicator.

Samples taken by citizen scientists and processed at laboratories that aren't directly affiliated with Riverkeeper, using methods and study designs that are consistent with Riverkeeper's Hudson River and Citizen Testing programs.

Rainfall data comes from wunderground.com. Wet weather is a common trigger of fecal contamination.

What do the Numbers Mean?

Water Quality scoring is based on the 2012 Recreational Water Quality Criteria from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for safe swimming. Learn More

About this location:

This marina is the home base of the Empire Dragon Boat Team NYC. There are major CSO outfalls at this location. Site coordinator: Josephine Pho. Site sponsor: Empire Dragon Boat Team NYC. These samples are processed by Queens College (Gregory O'Mullan).

Agencies Responsible:

NYCDEP: 212-639-9675; NYSDEC Region 2: 718-482-4933

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