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

Harlem River- Washington Bridge

Harlem River_Wash Ave Brid 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

107 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 31 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.7 0.0 0.8
09/18/2023 275 Beach Advisory 0.6 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.7
08/21/2023 20 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.6 1.6
07/17/2023 171 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 1421 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 30 Acceptable 0.1 0.1 0.0 0.6 0.8
07/15/2022 10 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
06/13/2022 20 Acceptable 0.3 0.0 0.0 0.7 1.0
05/23/2022 41 Acceptable 0.0 0.4 0.0 0.7 1.2
10/25/2021 41 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
09/13/2021 52 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 86 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.6 0.0 0.0 0.6
06/07/2021 31 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 41 Acceptable 0.0 0.9 0.2 0.0 1.1
09/18/2020 20 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
08/14/2020 41 Acceptable 0.1 1.5 0.0 0.0 1.6
07/14/2020 31 Acceptable 0.0 0.1 0.0 2.5 2.6
06/16/2020 31 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
05/26/2020 52 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.8 0.8
10/08/2019 226 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.2 0.0 0.0 0.2
09/10/2019 31 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
08/06/2019 31 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.2 0.3
07/09/2019 31 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
06/04/2019 75 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.0 0.3 0.0 0.3
05/07/2019 20 Acceptable 0.1 0.0 1.3 0.1 1.5
10/10/2018 30 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
09/10/2018 327 Beach Advisory 0.9 0.5 0.0 0.0 1.4
08/14/2018 62 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.7 0.0 2.9 3.6
07/17/2018 >24196 Beach Advisory 2.2 0.0 0.6 0.4 3.2
06/13/2018 <10 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
05/06/2018 10 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
10/16/2017 31 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 0.0 1.8 1.8
06/12/2017 <10 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
05/15/2017 144 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.0 1.6 0.0 1.6
10/13/2016 41 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 20 Acceptable 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.3 0.4
07/13/2016 52 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
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 110 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 73 Beach Advisory 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 52 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 108 Beach Advisory 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 148 Beach Advisory 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 20 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
08/14/2013 1670 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 74 Beach Advisory 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 132 Beach Advisory 0.3 0.0 0.0 0.2 0.5
09/10/2012 74 Beach Advisory 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 84 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.3 0.0 0.0 0.3
06/11/2012 31 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 108 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 108 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 30 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
05/16/2011 121 Beach Advisory 0.2 0.9 0.0 0.0 1.1
10/12/2010 816 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 41 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 41 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.1 1.1
10/19/2009 20 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 63 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.6 1.4 0.0 2.0
06/22/2009 31 Acceptable 0.0 0.5 0.3 0.0 0.7
06/05/2009 86 Beach Advisory 0.9 0.5 0.5 0.1 2.0
05/12/2009 52 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 231 Beach Advisory 0.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.5
07/02/2008 43 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.6 0.6
05/19/2008 <10 Acceptable 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.9 1.1
09/06/2007 27 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
08/16/2007 36 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
07/11/2007 41 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
06/18/2007 13 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
05/23/2007 8 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
04/18/2007 244 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.0 0.9 7.6 8.5
12/13/2006 36 Acceptable 0.2 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.2
11/10/2006 92 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.0 3.6 0.0 3.6
10/18/2006 1467 Beach Advisory 0.0 1.1 0.0 0.0 1.1
09/26/2006 11 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.1

Entero Count (fecal indicator) and Rainfall Correlation

107 Samples taken

All Water Quality Parameters

107 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 31 Acceptable 17.07 9.37 1.14 8.5 98.2
09/18/2023 275 Beach Advisory 22.75 11.56 2.08 1.8 75.2
08/21/2023 20 Acceptable 24.3 8.36 2.47 18.4 75.5
07/17/2023 171 Beach Advisory 25.93 4.97 2.23 10.5 75.7
06/26/2023 10 Acceptable 69.2 20.2 2.0 8.0 73.5
05/01/2023 1421 Beach Advisory 53.7 6.7 2.0 14.7 90.3
10/10/2022 10 Acceptable 62.2 13.2 1.7 14.7 81.3
09/10/2022 <10 Acceptable 76.6 15 2.1 16 66.9
08/12/2022 30 Acceptable 79.9 15.6 3.1 8.9 74.4
07/15/2022 10 Acceptable 76.5 14.2 3.8 17.6 81.2
06/13/2022 20 Acceptable 70.4 11.6 4.1 11.9 92.4
05/23/2022 41 Acceptable 60.8 20.2 1.1 12.7 n/a
10/25/2021 41 Acceptable 63.716 7.94 2.32 4.7 n/a
09/13/2021 52 Acceptable 72.446 18.38 1.34 8 67
08/16/2021 <10 Acceptable 75.218 21.58 1.79 8.3 61.5
07/19/2021 86 Beach Advisory 77.054 12.34 2.29 10.8 64.3
06/07/2021 31 Acceptable 66.326 11.71 1.31 12.7 82.8
05/17/2021 <10 Acceptable 59.342 10.7 1.12 18.8 85.4
10/14/2020 41 Acceptable 63.248 17.07 1.56 6.2 78.9
09/18/2020 20 Acceptable 72.284 14.8 2.11 10.5 70.6
08/14/2020 41 Acceptable 78.008 21.99 2.23 5.1 51.1
07/14/2020 31 Acceptable 75.704 20.27 1.45 5.7 59.6
06/16/2020 31 Acceptable 68.954 14.25 2.35 7.3 86.7
05/26/2020 52 Acceptable 60.98 11.06 4.29 31.4 96.6
10/08/2019 226 Beach Advisory 67.676 20.98 1.29 5.8 72
09/10/2019 31 Acceptable 73.256 18.31 1.42 9.8 64.1
08/06/2019 31 Acceptable 76.55 20.37 1.59 8.8 49
07/09/2019 31 Acceptable 72.662 20.21 1.45 10.1 65.6
06/04/2019 75 Beach Advisory 64.886 7.55 1.78 31 82.9
05/07/2019 20 Acceptable 56.318 4.28 2 48.8 89.5
10/10/2018 30 Acceptable 70.754 4.96 2.35 21.3 75.8
09/10/2018 327 Beach Advisory 74.678 14.56 1.91 18.8 65.1
08/14/2018 62 Beach Advisory 81.032 8.14 2.92 19.9 63.5
07/17/2018 >24196 Beach Advisory 77.81 12.38 3.75 19.7 75.9
06/13/2018 <10 Acceptable 67.874 12.39 13.86 23.4 102.9
05/06/2018 10 Acceptable 55.22 2.71 2.15 38.8 98.7
10/16/2017 31 Acceptable 69.008 16.5 1.6 11.9 74.9
09/11/2017 10 Acceptable 70.232 14.77 1.95 11.3 75.4
08/14/2017 <10 Acceptable 75.506 19.32 2.08 8.1 60.2
07/10/2017 <10 Acceptable 73.94 9.5 1.52 16.7 83.4
06/12/2017 <10 Acceptable 68.054 4.92 1.99 36.1 86.9
05/15/2017 144 Beach Advisory 57.416 3.82 2.26 32.4 91.4
10/13/2016 41 Acceptable 66.074 23.89 2.2 38.3 79.4
09/14/2016 <10 Acceptable 76.154 15.98 2.14 n/a 76.4
08/15/2016 20 Acceptable 81.698 12.76 11.02 29.7 98.3
07/13/2016 52 Acceptable 75.362 17.07 2.44 10.7 68.8
06/15/2016 10 Acceptable 67.424 12.8 2.71 22 87.3
05/20/2016 10 Acceptable 58.892 10.72 2.27 n/a 91
10/12/2015 10 Acceptable 65.984 13.26 2.37 21.7 82.9
09/11/2015 110 Beach Advisory 77.576 15.67 3.99 14.9 70.1
08/12/2015 41 Acceptable 76.784 14.82 3.52 12.9 77.7
07/08/2015 73 Beach Advisory 72.464 18.44 2.22 16.4 68.2
06/11/2015 <10 Acceptable 66.416 19.5 1.47 n/a 72.7
05/12/2015 <10 Acceptable 58.37 20.4 2.39 7.4 90.4
10/13/2014 10 Acceptable 64.472 15.01 1.18 25.5 78.5
09/07/2014 52 Acceptable 76.928 14.91 2.67 21.3 74
08/11/2014 10 Acceptable 77.234 12.08 1.8 27.8 70.1
07/07/2014 108 Beach Advisory 72.23 15.92 1.92 11.2 69.1
06/12/2014 31 Acceptable 66.236 12.92 21.05 32.6 96
05/12/2014 148 Beach Advisory 56.696 8.49 1.75 36 91.8
10/16/2013 <10 Acceptable 65.75 18.87 1.29 9.1 78.2
09/18/2013 20 Acceptable 69.26 22.78 2.27 n/a 71.6
08/14/2013 1670 Beach Advisory 73.31 21.11 2.02 15.5 58
07/17/2013 <10 Acceptable 74.678 19.51 1.78 17.6 67.4
06/19/2013 74 Beach Advisory 67.496 14.93 1.69 24.7 75
05/31/2013 <10 Acceptable 62.258 17.55 1.07 11.6 75.1
10/10/2012 132 Beach Advisory 66.182 20.36 1.79 10.3 66.3
09/10/2012 74 Beach Advisory 76.406 22.16 2.35 31.8 51.7
08/13/2012 <10 Acceptable 79.826 23.85 1.46 16.6 63.2
07/16/2012 84 Beach Advisory 78.62 20.16 3.02 16 77.7
06/11/2012 31 Acceptable 68.864 19.08 1.96 n/a 67.6
05/15/2012 10 Acceptable 60.818 10.27 2.08 22.3 86.3
10/21/2011 108 Beach Advisory 62.762 13.64 0.76 23.2 77.3
09/14/2011 10 Acceptable 70.79 0.86 1.99 182.9 80.9
08/16/2011 108 Beach Advisory 77.576 12.02 1.83 37.4 67
07/19/2011 10 Acceptable 77.972 12.82 1.85 15.9 71.1
06/27/2011 30 Acceptable 73.598 7.64 4.04 20.3 73.7
05/16/2011 121 Beach Advisory 57.92 7.73 2.79 50.9 85.3
10/12/2010 816 Beach Advisory 65.984 13.29 2.05 14.4 72.8
09/11/2010 10 Acceptable 73.598 13.74 2.21 30.2 66
08/17/2010 41 Acceptable 75.776 24.3 1.89 13.1 48.3
07/21/2010 <10 Acceptable 79.556 17.18 5.73 18 66.2
06/15/2010 10 Acceptable 69.998 13.21 1.31 59.2 68.3
05/21/2010 41 Acceptable 56.84 21.54 2.2 18.1 67.7
10/19/2009 20 Acceptable 56.39 12.84 1.5 25.9 85.8
09/14/2009 10 Acceptable 71.564 21 0.94 40.9 64.9
08/20/2009 <10 Acceptable 79.196 10.1 2.79 30.4 72.7
07/28/2009 63 Beach Advisory 73.544 19.42 1.14 11.9 54.7
06/22/2009 31 Acceptable 70.25 2.89 1.07 79.5 81.7
06/05/2009 86 Beach Advisory n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
05/12/2009 52 Acceptable 59.594 6.99 1.13 41.4 87.6
10/20/2008 10 Acceptable 61.52 22.65 0.85 7.3 71.3
09/24/2008 10 Acceptable 69.7 21.12 1.17 9.3 67.7
08/19/2008 10 Acceptable 76.9 10.75 1.55 22.8 79.5
07/14/2008 231 Beach Advisory 75.128 16.09 2.5 17.8 75.9
07/02/2008 43 Acceptable 75.164 12.98 2.93 20.2 79
05/19/2008 <10 Acceptable 58.37 10.14 1.1 55.2 87.8
09/06/2007 27 Acceptable 73.562 24.16 1.56 13.8 60.3
08/16/2007 36 Acceptable 78.422 13.78 2.03 34.2 74.2
07/11/2007 41 Acceptable 73.472 19.73 1.43 29.6 68.9
06/18/2007 13 Acceptable n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
05/23/2007 8 Acceptable 60.98 18.155 0.855 21.5 78.3
04/18/2007 244 Beach Advisory 45.014 7.24 0.11 45.2 95.4
12/13/2006 36 Acceptable 46.004 8.98 1.05 17.9 96.3
11/10/2006 92 Beach Advisory 53.816 4.5 0.27 48.9 92.8
10/18/2006 1467 Beach Advisory 63.014 14.03 1.77 15.8 75.1
09/26/2006 11 Acceptable 69.548 18.75 0.31 n/a 72.8

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
The Harlem River at the Washington Avenue Bridge is an industrial waterway connecting the Hudson with the East River. Contact includes recreational boating and jet-skiing, kayaking, as well as recreational and subsistence fishing from the shore. There is increasing activity from community and college crew teams.

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
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