Water Quality
Water Quality > Tributary and Waterfront Data > Mill Creek > Rensselaer- Washington Street Bridge

Rensselaer- Washington Street Bridge

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

6 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
09/09/2017 214 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.1 0.8 0.5 1.4
08/12/2017 2420 Beach Advisory 0.4 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.5
07/08/2017 921 Beach Advisory 0.4 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.4
06/10/2017 326 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
06/01/2017 1046 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.3 0.7 0.4 1.3
05/13/2017 50 Acceptable 0.2 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.2

Entero Count (fecal indicator) and Rainfall Correlation

6 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:

Located in center of the City of Rensselaer, this section of Mill Creek is near the former Huyck Felt Company, and it is designated as a Class C water body suitable for recreational use. Its drainage basin is approximately 15 square miles. Water quality in Mill Creek ranges from non-impacted to moderately impacted from cumulative effects of impervious surface, urban conditions, stormwater runoff and enrichment from agricultural inputs at sites in the upper reaches.

Agencies Responsible:

Rensselaer County Dept. of Health: 518-270-2626; NYSDEC Region 4: 518-357-2068

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

Stay in Touch and Up To Date