Water Quality
Water Quality > Hudson River Estuary Data > New York City, Hudson County & Bergen County Sites > East River mid-channel at Roosevelt Island

East River mid-channel at Roosevelt Island

East River_Roosevelt Islan copy
close

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

108 Samples taken

Sample Date [i] Enterococcus Count
close

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
10/16/2023 85 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.0 0.7 0.0 0.8
09/18/2023 631 Beach Advisory 0.6 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.7
08/21/2023 318 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.6 1.6
07/22/2023 97 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.1 0.2 0.1 0.4
06/26/2023 <10 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.1
05/01/2023 738 Beach Advisory 3.1 1.1 1.7 0.0 6.0
10/10/2022 10 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.1
09/10/2022 10 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 1.1 0.1 1.2
08/12/2022 20 Acceptable 0.1 0.1 0.0 0.6 0.8
07/15/2022 97 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
06/13/2022 10 Acceptable 0.3 0.0 0.0 0.7 1.0
05/23/2022 <10 Acceptable 0.0 0.4 0.0 0.7 1.2
10/25/2021 565 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
09/13/2021 20 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.1
08/16/2021 <10 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
07/19/2021 10 Acceptable 0.0 0.6 0.0 0.0 0.6
06/07/2021 <10 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.7 0.3 1.0
05/17/2021 10 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
10/14/2020 <10 Acceptable 0.0 0.9 0.2 0.0 1.1
09/18/2020 31 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
08/14/2020 97 Beach Advisory 0.1 1.5 0.0 0.0 1.6
07/14/2020 20 Acceptable 0.0 0.1 0.0 2.5 2.6
06/16/2020 <10 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
05/26/2020 <10 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.8 0.8
10/08/2019 206 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.2 0.0 0.0 0.2
09/10/2019 <10 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
08/06/2019 <10 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.2 0.3
07/09/2019 <10 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
06/04/2019 20 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.3 0.0 0.3
05/07/2019 41 Acceptable 0.1 0.0 1.3 0.1 1.5
10/10/2018 <10 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
09/10/2018 20 Acceptable 0.9 0.5 0.0 0.0 1.4
08/14/2018 108 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.7 0.0 2.9 3.6
07/17/2018 <10 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.6 0.4 1.0
06/13/2018 10 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
05/06/2018 20 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
10/16/2017 20 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.1
09/11/2017 <10 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
08/14/2017 <10 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.1
07/10/2017 10 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 1.8 0.0 1.8
06/12/2017 <10 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
05/15/2017 41 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 1.6 0.0 1.6
10/13/2016 <10 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
09/14/2016 10 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
08/15/2016 10 Acceptable 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.3 0.4
07/12/2016 20 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.5 0.5
06/15/2016 <10 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
05/20/2016 <10 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
10/12/2015 <10 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.9 0.9
09/11/2015 74 Beach Advisory 0.0 1.6 0.0 0.0 1.6
08/12/2015 41 Acceptable 0.0 1.2 0.0 0.0 1.2
07/08/2015 <10 Acceptable 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.1
06/11/2015 <10 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.1
05/12/2015 10 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
10/13/2014 <10 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.3 0.0 0.3
09/07/2014 10 Acceptable 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.1
08/11/2014 <10 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
07/07/2014 20 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.1
06/12/2014 31 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.6 1.6
05/12/2014 20 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.4 0.0 0.4
10/16/2013 <10 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
09/18/2013 <10 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
08/14/2013 221 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.9 0.1 0.0 0.9
07/17/2013 <10 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
06/19/2013 41 Acceptable 0.0 0.2 0.0 0.0 0.2
05/31/2013 <10 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.5 0.5
10/10/2012 63 Beach Advisory 0.3 0.0 0.0 0.2 0.5
09/10/2012 10 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.4 0.0 0.4
08/13/2012 <10 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.2 0.2
07/16/2012 30 Acceptable 0.0 0.3 0.0 0.0 0.3
06/11/2012 <10 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
05/15/2012 10 Acceptable 0.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.5
10/21/2011 84 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.0 1.1 0.0 1.1
09/14/2011 10 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
08/16/2011 109 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.6 5.8 0.0 6.4
07/19/2011 <10 Acceptable 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.1
06/27/2011 <10 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
05/16/2011 181 Beach Advisory 0.2 0.9 0.0 0.0 1.1
10/12/2010 309 Beach Advisory 0.1 1.1 0.0 0.0 1.2
09/11/2010 <10 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
08/17/2010 63 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.1 0.2 0.0 0.3
07/21/2010 <10 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.1
06/15/2010 <10 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.3 0.0 0.3
05/21/2010 10 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.1 1.1
10/19/2009 10 Acceptable 0.0 0.3 0.0 0.1 0.4
09/14/2009 <10 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.8 0.9
08/20/2009 <10 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.6 0.0 0.6
07/28/2009 52 Acceptable 0.0 0.6 1.4 0.0 2.0
06/22/2009 <10 Acceptable 0.0 0.5 0.3 0.0 0.7
06/05/2009 <10 Acceptable 0.9 0.5 0.5 0.1 2.0
05/12/2009 10 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.6 0.6
10/20/2008 10 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
09/24/2008 <10 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
08/19/2008 <10 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
07/14/2008 187 Beach Advisory 0.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.5
07/02/2008 <10 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.6 0.6
06/24/2008 109 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.1 0.1 0.0 0.1
05/19/2008 <10 Acceptable 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.9 1.1
09/06/2007 1 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
08/16/2007 4 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
07/11/2007 1 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
06/18/2007 8 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
05/23/2007 4 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
04/18/2007 344 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.0 0.9 7.6 8.5
12/13/2006 30 Acceptable 0.2 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.2
11/10/2006 112 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.0 3.6 0.0 3.6
10/18/2006 135 Beach Advisory 0.0 1.1 0.0 0.0 1.1
09/26/2006 2 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.1

Entero Count (fecal indicator) and Rainfall Correlation

108 Samples taken

All Water Quality Parameters

108 Samples taken

Sample Date [i] Entero Count
close

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 [i] Temp (f)
close

Temperature

Hudson River water temperature changes seasonally. Surface water temperature can change on small scales in the river reflecting natural and human influences.

[i] Salinity
close

Salinity

Estuaries like the Hudson are where freshwaters in rivers meet the sea. Salinity tells us about the relative contribution of fresh and salt water within a particular region of the estuary. 

[i] Chlorophyll
close

Chlorophyll

A measure of the amount of microscopic algae present in the water. High chlorophyll counts can mean high levels of the nutrients phosphorus and nitrogen, and the threat, or presence, of algae blooms.

[i] Turbidity
close

Turbidity

Turbidity is a measure of the amount of fine particles suspended in the water. As turbidity rises, light penetration, a key factor for aquatic plants and algae, diminishes.

[i] Oxygen
close

Oxygen

Oxygen concentrations in the water are closely connected to biological activities. Surface waters are typically in equilibrium with the atmosphere such that the oxygen concentration near the surface is close to fully saturated (100%).

Sort Sort Sort Sort Sort Sort Sort Sort
10/16/2023 85 Beach Advisory 17.47 20.81 0.85 7.6 92.9
09/18/2023 631 Beach Advisory 22.47 22.19 1.82 n/a 70.9
08/21/2023 318 Beach Advisory 23.32 20.4 1.73 5.3 56.6
07/22/2023 97 Beach Advisory 26.46 18.92 2.02 38.5 69.2
06/26/2023 <10 Acceptable 67.6 23.8 2.0 13.8 71.6
05/01/2023 738 Beach Advisory 53.4 17.5 1.6 6.6 82.0
10/10/2022 10 Acceptable 61.9 23.5 1.5 4.2 78.2
09/10/2022 10 Acceptable 75.7 24.7 1.8 9.5 59.3
08/12/2022 20 Acceptable 75.6 25.6 2.2 5.9 59.6
07/15/2022 97 Beach Advisory 72.5 24.1 2.2 11.2 70.9
06/13/2022 10 Acceptable 66 22.3 0.9 10.6 n/a
05/23/2022 <10 Acceptable 59.3 22.8 1.3 7.8 77.5
10/25/2021 565 Beach Advisory 64.634 22.17 1.47 6.6 74
09/13/2021 20 Acceptable 73.202 22.11 1.77 8.5 65.2
08/16/2021 <10 Acceptable 74.894 24.8 1.82 23.4 55
07/19/2021 10 Acceptable 74.804 22.43 1.32 10.9 55.3
06/07/2021 <10 Acceptable 63.158 22.75 0.91 6.9 73.6
05/17/2021 10 Acceptable 56.678 22.92 0.81 9.4 80.1
10/14/2020 <10 Acceptable 62.978 24.69 1.86 5.1 74.9
09/18/2020 31 Acceptable 72.176 23.47 2.42 7.6 67.1
08/14/2020 97 Beach Advisory 76.712 24.1 1.51 5.4 43.8
07/14/2020 20 Acceptable 74.534 23.65 2.54 5.6 63.2
06/16/2020 <10 Acceptable 65.138 23.08 1.96 4.9 76.7
05/26/2020 <10 Acceptable 59.306 21.47 2.98 10.6 95.2
10/08/2019 206 Beach Advisory 68.09 23.73 1.24 3.1 71.6
09/10/2019 <10 Acceptable 72.752 23.34 1.4 4.9 64.8
08/06/2019 <10 Acceptable 73.994 23.68 2.39 6 47.8
07/09/2019 <10 Acceptable 70.286 22.96 1.78 9.2 60.3
06/04/2019 20 Acceptable 61.7 18.77 2.04 16.3 81.1
05/07/2019 41 Acceptable 54.05 16.91 2.43 17.8 87
10/10/2018 <10 Acceptable 70.808 19.34 1.69 12.1 73.5
09/10/2018 20 Acceptable 74.984 24.25 1.88 6 66.5
08/14/2018 108 Beach Advisory 75.506 22.8 1.4 9.9 46.3
07/17/2018 <10 Acceptable 74.12 24.52 1.89 7.8 67.8
06/13/2018 10 Acceptable 65.3 22.09 2.98 12.4 85.3
05/06/2018 20 Acceptable 52.898 20.09 20.82 6.1 104.8
10/16/2017 20 Acceptable 68.702 23.87 1.43 5.5 73.6
09/11/2017 <10 Acceptable 69.746 23.5 2.22 6.8 70.7
08/14/2017 <10 Acceptable 74.75 23.21 2.35 7.8 52.6
07/10/2017 10 Acceptable 70.07 21.01 1.73 14.7 77.8
06/12/2017 <10 Acceptable 65.138 19.18 2.22 12.6 81.6
05/15/2017 41 Acceptable 55.544 20.18 2.01 9.1 83.6
10/13/2016 <10 Acceptable 65.984 25.09 2.14 38.1 80.5
09/14/2016 10 Acceptable 75.416 24.33 4.62 n/a 75.9
08/15/2016 10 Acceptable 77.9 23.95 5.16 26.2 74.6
07/12/2016 20 Acceptable 73.022 23.46 2.18 8.3 64.8
06/15/2016 <10 Acceptable 63.41 22.99 2.32 17.7 82.7
05/20/2016 <10 Acceptable 55.94 21.95 3.49 n/a 89.3
10/12/2015 <10 Acceptable 65.102 24.08 2.02 14.7 79.1
09/11/2015 74 Beach Advisory 76.478 25.49 4.43 6.9 62.6
08/12/2015 41 Acceptable 74.066 24.7 2.31 6 68.2
07/08/2015 <10 Acceptable 71.078 23.27 2.61 14.6 64.5
06/11/2015 <10 Acceptable 64.562 21.9 1.96 n/a 70.3
05/12/2015 10 Acceptable 55.67 23.25 5.25 15.1 90.7
10/13/2014 <10 Acceptable 64.976 24.39 1.62 4.7 74.5
09/07/2014 10 Acceptable 75.902 24.38 2.73 15.2 57.8
08/11/2014 <10 Acceptable 74.516 22.64 1.64 17.5 65.2
07/07/2014 20 Acceptable 71.186 22.14 1.77 8 63.8
06/12/2014 31 Acceptable 63.968 22.03 3.78 15.1 77
05/12/2014 20 Acceptable 53.852 20.72 1.97 15 87.4
10/16/2013 <10 Acceptable 65.444 25 1.34 3.5 79.7
09/18/2013 <10 Acceptable 70.412 25.52 2.92 24.6 68.7
08/14/2013 221 Beach Advisory 73.184 23.32 1.77 18.6 54
07/17/2013 <10 Acceptable 74.66 23.1 4.8 12.8 68.4
06/19/2013 41 Acceptable 68.072 21.47 1.91 12 73.2
05/31/2013 <10 Acceptable 61.826 23.06 1.42 10.8 73.4
10/10/2012 63 Beach Advisory 67.532 24.65 1.66 8.1 67.4
09/10/2012 10 Acceptable 77.576 24.71 2.7 39.9 53.3
08/13/2012 <10 Acceptable 77.018 33.71 0.7 7 45.8
07/16/2012 30 Acceptable 74.75 32.65 2.04 7.5 56.1
06/11/2012 <10 Acceptable 68.414 22.91 2.09 n/a 64.1
05/15/2012 10 Acceptable 58.712 22.3 1.63 8.7 78.3
10/21/2011 84 Beach Advisory 64.058 20.68 0.6 11.6 76.5
09/14/2011 10 Acceptable 71.474 13.99 1.36 30.5 71.8
08/16/2011 109 Beach Advisory 74.246 22.1 0.99 41.7 56.7
07/19/2011 <10 Acceptable 73.922 21.88 1.4 9 66.3
06/27/2011 <10 Acceptable 70.196 19.91 1.91 10.5 57.1
05/16/2011 181 Beach Advisory 55.436 19.36 4.14 61.3 81
10/12/2010 309 Beach Advisory 66.02 21.75 1.42 12.2 70.8
09/11/2010 <10 Acceptable 71.222 25.76 2.76 19 70.6
08/17/2010 63 Beach Advisory 76.766 26.35 1.9 8.4 45.1
07/21/2010 <10 Acceptable 76.712 25.38 1.52 6.2 45
06/15/2010 <10 Acceptable 65.66 23.26 0.48 17.1 66.2
05/21/2010 10 Acceptable 56.966 23.93 2.15 8.1 76.7
10/19/2009 10 Acceptable 57.236 25.02 0.89 6.7 80.2
09/14/2009 <10 Acceptable 70.898 24.72 0.87 38.6 65.3
08/20/2009 <10 Acceptable 76.658 22.08 2.03 21 57
07/28/2009 52 Acceptable 72.86 23.31 1.14 12.2 48
06/22/2009 <10 Acceptable 67.046 15.87 0.65 65.7 65.3
06/05/2009 <10 Acceptable n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
05/12/2009 10 Acceptable 56.804 18.65 0.69 15.3 78.7
10/20/2008 10 Acceptable 62.366 25.29 0.9 6 67.4
09/24/2008 <10 Acceptable 70.4 25.17 8.79 7.9 91.9
08/19/2008 <10 Acceptable 73.4 22.38 1.21 11.2 65
07/14/2008 187 Beach Advisory 72.248 24.53 1.05 10 53.3
07/02/2008 <10 Acceptable 69.188 24.03 1.06 10.5 58.2
06/24/2008 109 Beach Advisory 67.784 23.57 0.82 8.3 56.3
05/19/2008 <10 Acceptable 57.03 21.73 0.875 10.05 80.8
09/06/2007 1 Acceptable 74.84 25.48 1.67 10.9 63
08/16/2007 4 Acceptable n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
07/11/2007 1 Acceptable 69.476 25.13 1.5 26.6 54.1
06/18/2007 8 Acceptable n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
05/23/2007 4 Acceptable 58.892 23.19 2.48 103 75.2
04/18/2007 344 Beach Advisory 44.942 20.33 0.11 26.8 95.5
12/13/2006 30 Acceptable 47.948 20.97 1.07 19.6 90.3
11/10/2006 112 Beach Advisory 55.004 17.49 0.82 18.6 85.9
10/18/2006 135 Beach Advisory 63.446 23.67 1.02 6.3 67.6
09/26/2006 2 Acceptable 68.918 22.85 0.26 n/a 76

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 Riverkeeper, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory and CUNY Queens College staff, and processed on the Riverkeeper vessel, according to the 2014 Quality Assurance Project Plan.

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:

Queens, NY
This site has boating, fishing, kayaking and occasional swim events.

The data displayed on these pages relates to the levels of sewage indicating microbes. Even though the levels on a single days can fall within acceptable levels for Enterococcus, these locations are not necessarily acceptable for swimming. Other water quality parameters not reported on this web site such as chemical contamination and floatables should cause users to exercise caution at this site.

Agencies Responsible:

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

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

Stay in Touch and Up To Date