Water Quality
Water Quality > Hudson River Estuary Data > New York City, Hudson County & Bergen County Sites > George Washington Bridge mid-channel

George Washington Bridge mid-channel

George Wash Bridge midchan copy
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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

113 Samples taken

Sample Date [i] Enterococcus Count
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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 52 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.7 0.0 0.8
09/18/2023 20 Acceptable 0.9 0.1 0.0 0.0 1.0
08/21/2023 <10 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.6 1.6
07/17/2023 <10 Acceptable 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 85 Beach Advisory 3.1 1.1 1.7 0.0 6.0
10/09/2022 20 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.7 0.9
09/09/2022 10 Acceptable 0.0 1.1 0.1 0.0 1.2
08/11/2022 <10 Acceptable 0.1 0.0 0.6 0.0 0.7
07/14/2022 <10 Acceptable 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 20 Acceptable 0.0 0.4 0.0 0.7 1.2
10/25/2021 10 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
09/13/2021 <10 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
10/13/2020 31 Acceptable 0.9 0.2 0.0 0.0 1.1
09/17/2020 10 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
08/13/2020 <10 Acceptable 1.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.5
07/13/2020 10 Acceptable 0.1 0.0 2.5 0.0 2.6
06/15/2020 <10 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
05/25/2020 <10 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.8 0.0 0.8
10/07/2019 10 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
09/09/2019 <10 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.3 0.3
08/05/2019 41 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.2 0.0 0.2
07/08/2019 <10 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
06/03/2019 10 Acceptable 0.0 0.3 0.0 0.0 0.3
05/06/2019 10 Acceptable 0.0 1.3 0.1 0.1 1.5
10/09/2018 <10 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
09/09/2018 10 Acceptable 0.5 0.0 0.0 0.4 0.8
08/13/2018 31 Acceptable 0.7 0.0 2.9 0.0 3.6
07/16/2018 <10 Acceptable 0.0 0.6 0.4 0.0 1.0
06/12/2018 <10 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
05/05/2018 10 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
10/15/2017 10 Acceptable 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.1 0.2
09/10/2017 <10 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
08/13/2017 <10 Acceptable 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.1
07/09/2017 <10 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 1.8 0.0 1.8
06/11/2017 10 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
05/14/2017 41 Acceptable 0.0 1.6 0.0 0.0 1.6
04/04/2017 41 Acceptable 1.2 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.2
10/12/2016 <10 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.6 0.6
09/13/2016 <10 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
08/14/2016 <10 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.3 0.2 0.5
07/12/2016 10 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.5 0.5
06/14/2016 <10 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
05/19/2016 <10 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
10/11/2015 <10 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.9 0.0 0.9
09/10/2015 95 Beach Advisory 1.6 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.6
08/11/2015 1086 Beach Advisory 1.2 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.2
07/07/2015 <10 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
06/10/2015 <10 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.1
05/11/2015 <10 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
10/12/2014 <10 Acceptable 0.0 0.3 0.0 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 30 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.1
06/12/2014 20 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 20 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
09/18/2013 63 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
08/14/2013 52 Acceptable 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 <10 Acceptable 0.0 0.2 0.0 0.0 0.2
05/31/2013 20 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.5 0.5
11/08/2012 84 Beach Advisory 0.1 1.1 0.0 0.0 1.2
10/10/2012 <10 Acceptable 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 <10 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 52 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 1.1 0.0 1.1
09/14/2011 30 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
08/16/2011 20 Acceptable 0.0 0.6 5.8 0.0 6.4
07/25/2011 10 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
07/22/2011 20 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
07/21/2011 313 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.1
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 41 Acceptable 0.2 0.9 0.0 0.0 1.1
10/12/2010 110 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 <10 Acceptable 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 <10 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
06/06/2009 <10 Acceptable 0.0 0.9 0.5 0.5 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 31 Acceptable 0.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.5
07/02/2008 16 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.6 0.6
06/24/2008 134 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 6 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1
07/11/2007 1500 Beach Advisory 1.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.0
06/18/2007 11 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
05/23/2007 5 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
04/18/2007 246 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.0 0.9 7.6 8.5
12/13/2006 46 Acceptable 0.2 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.2
11/10/2006 72 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.0 3.6 0.0 3.6
10/18/2006 29 Acceptable 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

113 Samples taken

All Water Quality Parameters

113 Samples taken

Sample Date [i] Entero Count
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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)
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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 52 Acceptable 17.3 13.3 1.11 3.4 100.8
09/18/2023 20 Acceptable n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
08/21/2023 <10 Acceptable 25.17 7.59 6.64 7.1 96.1
07/17/2023 <10 Acceptable 28 2.46 2.79 14.2 92.9
06/26/2023 <10 Acceptable 73.7 8.9 9.4 5.6 136.9
05/01/2023 85 Beach Advisory 54.8 2.2 2.1 14.8 97.4
10/09/2022 20 Acceptable 62.3 18.2 1.8 11.5 80.3
09/09/2022 10 Acceptable 76.8 18.2 2.8 8.5 67.3
08/11/2022 <10 Acceptable 79.3 20.5 3.4 7.7 68.1
07/14/2022 <10 Acceptable 75.3 18.8 3.1 11.4 82.8
06/13/2022 <10 Acceptable 72.4 12.4 9.9 19.3 n/a
05/23/2022 20 Acceptable 63.4 8.1 1.6 14.1 93.7
10/25/2021 10 Acceptable 64.148 4.95 2.85 n/a 87.6
09/13/2021 <10 Acceptable 75.11 5.1 2.49 11.5 82.8
08/16/2021 <10 Acceptable 78.728 8.09 3.45 7.1 88.3
07/19/2021 <10 Acceptable 79.718 1.44 3.55 12.5 87.2
06/07/2021 <10 Acceptable 69.944 7.33 2.72 12.4 98.1
05/17/2021 <10 Acceptable 62.42 5.22 3.39 21.4 100.6
10/13/2020 31 Acceptable 63.194 14.11 3.08 31 87.9
09/17/2020 10 Acceptable 73.238 18.58 2.47 10.5 70
08/13/2020 <10 Acceptable 82.184 10.36 86.3 8.7 149.1
07/13/2020 10 Acceptable 81.446 11.97 11.87 6.3 113.4
06/15/2020 <10 Acceptable 70.25 11.8 7.09 6.1 113.1
05/25/2020 <10 Acceptable 63.356 10.21 3.59 13.9 104.3
10/07/2019 10 Acceptable 68.594 14.57 2.59 5.8 83.9
09/09/2019 <10 Acceptable 74.714 10.08 4.77 5.6 91.1
08/05/2019 41 Acceptable 78.692 17.59 3.11 14.9 61.3
07/08/2019 <10 Acceptable 76.64 10.05 2.76 12.2 74.7
06/03/2019 10 Acceptable 65.192 10 1.59 12.4 86.1
05/06/2019 10 Acceptable 56.408 7.18 1.48 15 91.1
10/09/2018 <10 Acceptable 70.772 9.72 1.96 19.8 73.1
09/09/2018 10 Acceptable 76.334 16.42 2.33 10.7 66.5
08/13/2018 31 Acceptable 79.106 14.07 3.54 10.8 61
07/16/2018 <10 Acceptable 79.178 19.38 5.71 15.2 79
06/12/2018 <10 Acceptable 67.982 14.71 12.54 14.3 113.4
05/05/2018 10 Acceptable 55.886 1.89 1.8 25.9 101.3
10/15/2017 10 Acceptable 69.944 15.32 3.32 7.3 82.2
09/10/2017 <10 Acceptable 70.79 17.18 2.31 14 76.1
08/13/2017 <10 Acceptable 77.882 12.6 2.32 13.2 69.4
07/09/2017 <10 Acceptable 74.768 9.13 2.67 10.9 93.2
06/11/2017 10 Acceptable 68.486 5.61 1.81 14.8 92.4
05/14/2017 41 Acceptable 57.434 4.02 2.16 23 92.5
04/04/2017 41 Acceptable 41.936 1.2 1.97 27.6 100.3
10/12/2016 <10 Acceptable 65.174 14.82 17.55 31.1 103.2
09/13/2016 <10 Acceptable 76.766 11.58 34.93 n/a 136.3
08/14/2016 <10 Acceptable 83.624 10 54.54 20.1 171.2
07/12/2016 10 Acceptable 76.64 13.34 7.07 9 97
06/14/2016 <10 Acceptable 69.386 7.05 4.53 23.3 102
05/19/2016 <10 Acceptable 59.666 9.01 2.62 n/a 96.6
10/11/2015 <10 Acceptable 65.93 17.51 2.67 11.1 83.5
09/10/2015 95 Beach Advisory 77.846 18.45 5.48 9.4 75.3
08/11/2015 1086 Beach Advisory 75.236 19.17 5.09 9.4 77.9
07/07/2015 <10 Acceptable 76.964 6.75 8.02 16.6 97.5
06/10/2015 <10 Acceptable 69.566 8.34 3.47 7 92.4
05/11/2015 <10 Acceptable 61.214 13.13 3.72 27.2 95.1
10/12/2014 <10 Acceptable 65.102 17.42 1.67 14.7 80.5
09/07/2014 <10 Acceptable 77.54 11.82 6.57 9.3 91.5
08/11/2014 <10 Acceptable 77.702 12.19 0.81 18.5 77
07/07/2014 30 Acceptable 76.118 8.19 5.59 9.3 98.4
06/12/2014 20 Acceptable 67.082 12.12 28.71 23.1 109.4
05/12/2014 20 Acceptable 59.702 4.73 2.75 25.6 99.5
10/16/2013 20 Acceptable 65.192 19.88 1.55 22 78.2
09/18/2013 63 Beach Advisory 68.99 19.86 1.92 16.3 71.8
08/14/2013 52 Acceptable 75.686 12.21 6.5 21.9 92.2
07/17/2013 <10 Acceptable 81.14 7.79 7.14 93.7 99.1
06/19/2013 <10 Acceptable 70.574 3.31 3.76 14.5 96.2
05/31/2013 20 Acceptable 67.406 5.33 4.73 45.3 95.7
11/08/2012 84 Beach Advisory 50.738 8.89 0.94 27.5 91.8
10/10/2012 <10 Acceptable 65.912 8.4 7.44 4 92.7
09/10/2012 10 Acceptable 76.802 11.73 12.63 65.7 99.2
08/13/2012 <10 Acceptable 82.076 13.53 12.74 8 146.7
07/16/2012 <10 Acceptable 82.238 14.45 16.11 8 152.7
06/11/2012 <10 Acceptable 71.366 9.13 5.31 n/a 85.7
05/15/2012 10 Acceptable 62.186 3.19 3.66 23.3 98.3
10/21/2011 52 Acceptable 61.844 3.4 1.73 29.6 91.8
09/14/2011 30 Acceptable 71.924 1.29 1.75 118.8 81.4
08/16/2011 20 Acceptable 78.386 12.21 2.28 29.4 77.7
07/25/2011 10 Acceptable 82.3 6.39 19.39 8.5 134.5
07/22/2011 20 Acceptable 83.6 8.82 25.39 72.6 171.4
07/21/2011 313 Beach Advisory n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
07/19/2011 <10 Acceptable 80.87 10.86 2.68 10.8 86.4
06/27/2011 <10 Acceptable 76.586 2.71 13.23 69.3 100.3
05/16/2011 41 Acceptable 58.64 6.36 2.75 242.2 87.5
10/12/2010 110 Beach Advisory 65.948 9.89 3.55 16.1 82.2
09/11/2010 <10 Acceptable 73.76 16.61 1.85 19.8 67.9
08/17/2010 <10 Acceptable 80.006 14.88 7.05 6.2 85.1
07/21/2010 <10 Acceptable 83.102 11.99 77.71 10.9 190.4
06/15/2010 10 Acceptable 71.6 15.95 3.95 17.7 75.4
05/21/2010 <10 Acceptable 62.456 11.33 3.28 17 89.4
10/19/2009 10 Acceptable 56.48 12.87 n/a n/a 88.2
09/14/2009 <10 Acceptable 74.336 9.54 3.75 26.8 92.3
08/20/2009 <10 Acceptable 80.528 10.21 2.25 19.8 79.4
07/28/2009 <10 Acceptable 77.45 10.76 3.24 16.3 79
06/22/2009 <10 Acceptable 70.322 2.25 0.85 61.8 83.8
06/06/2009 <10 Acceptable n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
05/12/2009 10 Acceptable 60.386 5.05 1.3 20.2 93.3
10/20/2008 <10 Acceptable 61.916 21.76 1.48 6.9 81.8
09/24/2008 <10 Acceptable 70.9 11.71 2.3 7.8 84.9
08/19/2008 <10 Acceptable 76.7 13.42 1.16 13.7 77.6
07/14/2008 31 Acceptable 78.62 10.12 6.3 10.1 101.2
07/02/2008 16 Acceptable 77.522 11.69 7.55 14.1 101.3
06/24/2008 134 Beach Advisory 73.868 13.15 4.13 8.7 90.9
05/19/2008 <10 Acceptable 59.22 7.38 1.11 28.6 93.2
09/06/2007 1 Acceptable 75.074 17.16 5.69 10.5 90.4
08/16/2007 6 Acceptable 78.332 15.755 2.42 17.1 74.85
07/11/2007 1500 Beach Advisory 73.022 19.16 4.81 84 88.6
06/18/2007 11 Acceptable n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
05/23/2007 5 Acceptable 63.374 7.65 1.05 45.5 n/a
04/18/2007 246 Beach Advisory 43.61 0.46 0.27 46.2 98.9
12/13/2006 46 Acceptable 44.816 4.84 1.1 16.9 98.1
11/10/2006 72 Beach Advisory 52.556 2.95 1.33 50.8 93.3
10/18/2006 29 Acceptable n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
09/26/2006 2 Acceptable 71.294 14.5 0.3 n/a 89.1

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:

Manhattan, NY
This deep water sample site at the George Washington Bridge has recreational boating, jet-skiing, 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

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