Water Quality > Tributary and Waterfront Data > New York City Waterfront > Gowanus- Gowanus Canal, Butler Street

Gowanus- Gowanus Canal, Butler Street

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

19 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
09/29/2016 743 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.0 0.2 0.0 0.2
09/15/2016 15531 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.6 0.0 0.0 0.6
09/08/2016 801 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
09/01/2016 10 Acceptable 0.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.5
08/25/2016 10 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
08/18/2016 512 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.2
08/11/2016 1421 Beach Advisory 0.2 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.2
08/04/2016 594 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
07/28/2016 31 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.0 1.0
07/21/2016 1956 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.4 0.4
07/14/2016 813 Beach Advisory 0.6 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.6
07/07/2016 6867 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.0 0.7 0.5 1.2
06/30/2016 24196 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.5 0.6
06/23/2016 >24196 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
06/16/2016 >24196 Beach Advisory 0.2 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.2
06/09/2016 52 Acceptable 0.0 0.5 0.0 0.0 0.5
06/02/2016 3255 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.7 1.7
05/26/2016 823 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.0 0.2 0.0 0.2
05/19/2016 683 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

Entero Count (fecal indicator) and Rainfall Correlation

19 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:

Site Coordinator: Skylar Matthews. 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

Tell Gov. Hochul to block invasive species at the Erie and Champlain canals
Become a Member