Water Quality
Water Quality > Hudson River Estuary Data > New York City, Hudson County & Bergen County Sites > Gowanus Canal

Gowanus Canal

Gowanus Canal
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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

100 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
06/10/2024 108 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
05/20/2024 74 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1
10/16/2023 1782 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.0 0.7 0.0 0.8
09/18/2023 >24196 Beach Advisory 0.9 0.1 0.0 0.0 1.0
08/21/2023 51 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.6 1.6
07/17/2023 >24196 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.1 0.2 0.1 0.4
06/26/2023 269 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.1
05/01/2023 >24196 Beach Advisory 3.1 1.1 1.7 0.0 5.9
10/09/2022 20 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.1
09/09/2022 10 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 1.1 0.1 1.2
08/11/2022 20 Acceptable 0.1 0.1 0.0 0.6 0.8
07/14/2022 <10 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
06/13/2022 31 Acceptable 0.0 0.3 0.0 0.0 0.3
05/23/2022 10 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.4 0.0 0.5
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 31 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
07/19/2021 144 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.6 0.0 0.0 0.6
06/07/2021 51 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 1267 Beach Advisory 0.9 0.2 0.0 0.0 1.1
09/17/2020 108 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
08/14/2020 85 Beach Advisory 0.1 1.5 0.0 0.0 1.6
07/13/2020 223 Beach Advisory 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
05/26/2020 30 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.8 0.8
10/07/2019 <10 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
09/09/2019 20 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.3 0.3
08/05/2019 446 Beach Advisory 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 292 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.3 0.0 0.0 0.3
05/06/2019 41 Acceptable 0.0 1.3 0.1 0.1 1.5
10/09/2018 121 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
09/09/2018 1993 Beach Advisory 0.5 0.0 0.0 0.4 0.9
08/13/2018 >24196 Beach Advisory 0.7 0.0 2.9 0.0 3.6
07/16/2018 183 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.6 0.4 0.0 1.0
06/12/2018 52 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
05/05/2018 379 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
10/15/2017 122 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.1 0.2
09/10/2017 52 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 108 Beach Advisory 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 52 Acceptable 0.0 1.6 0.0 0.0 1.6
04/04/2017 12997 Beach Advisory 1.2 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.2
10/12/2016 52 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 20 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.3 0.2 0.5
07/12/2016 31 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 20 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
10/11/2015 20 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.9 0.0 0.9
09/10/2015 816 Beach Advisory 1.6 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.6
08/11/2015 24196 Beach Advisory 1.2 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.2
07/07/2015 <10 Acceptable 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1
06/10/2015 31 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 106 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.3 0.0 0.0 0.3
09/07/2014 754 Beach Advisory 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 <10 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.1
06/12/2014 74 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.6 1.6
05/12/2014 84 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.0 0.4 0.0 0.4
10/16/2013 63 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
09/18/2013 41 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
08/14/2013 364 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 20 Acceptable 0.0 0.2 0.0 0.0 0.2
05/31/2013 98 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.5 0.5
11/08/2012 >24196 Beach Advisory 0.1 1.1 0.0 0.0 1.2
10/10/2012 259 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 241 Beach Advisory 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 >24196 Beach Advisory 0.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.5
10/21/2011 96 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.0 1.1 0.0 1.1
09/14/2011 41 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
08/16/2011 2603 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.6 5.8 0.0 6.4
07/19/2011 1046 Beach Advisory 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 >24196 Beach Advisory 0.2 0.9 0.0 0.0 1.1
10/12/2010 >24196 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 4884 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.1 0.2 0.0 0.3
08/09/2010 10 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
06/10/2010 882 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.9 0.0 0.0 0.9
09/02/2009 <10 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
07/15/2009 <10 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
06/19/2009 160 Beach Advisory 0.0 2.3 0.0 0.0 2.3
05/29/2009 17329 Beach Advisory 0.4 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.5
10/15/2008 20 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
07/23/2008 5790 Beach Advisory 1.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.0
05/16/2008 >24196 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.9 1.0
09/06/2007 <10 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
08/16/2007 35 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
07/11/2007 238 Beach Advisory 1.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.0
06/18/2007 6 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
05/23/2007 10 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
04/18/2007 274 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.0 0.9 7.6 8.5

Entero Count (fecal indicator) and Rainfall Correlation

100 Samples taken

All Water Quality Parameters

100 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
06/10/2024 108 Beach Advisory 68.36 NS NS NS 80.8
05/20/2024 74 Beach Advisory 64.15 19.02 3 0 100.4
10/16/2023 1782 Beach Advisory 63.3 21.4 1 2 72
09/18/2023 >24196 Beach Advisory 72.09 22.86 8.46 n/a 31.9
08/21/2023 51 Acceptable 74.4 20.9 8.4 61 82
07/17/2023 >24196 Beach Advisory 79.5 13.7 3.7 28 3
06/26/2023 269 Beach Advisory 70 24.4 3.4 4 69
05/01/2023 >24196 Beach Advisory 56.9 6.7 2 27 63
10/09/2022 20 Acceptable 62.6 24.2 1.2 3 72
09/09/2022 10 Acceptable 76.4 26.1 2 5 59
08/11/2022 20 Acceptable 78.2 26.3 1.5 2 68
07/14/2022 <10 Acceptable 74.8 25 1.2 5 82
06/13/2022 31 Acceptable 66.4 23.1 0.7 4 73
05/23/2022 10 Acceptable 61.6 22.3 1.1 4 84
10/25/2021 10 Acceptable 64 21.3 3.9 n/a 83
09/13/2021 10 Acceptable 73.3 20.1 3.2 6 77
08/16/2021 31 Acceptable 75.2 23.6 2.4 5 59
07/19/2021 144 Beach Advisory 76.1 17.3 6.2 7 68
06/07/2021 51 Acceptable 67.5 22.9 0.9 7 76
05/17/2021 <10 Acceptable 57.4 21.8 0.6 14 93
10/13/2020 1267 Beach Advisory 62.6 26.6 2 2 68
09/17/2020 108 Beach Advisory 73.1 24.8 5.9 4 70
08/14/2020 85 Beach Advisory 76.2 23.6 1.7 5 50
07/13/2020 223 Beach Advisory 78.6 23.3 1.7 5 50
06/15/2020 <10 Acceptable 66.8 22.6 2.6 3 95
05/26/2020 30 Acceptable 58.7 22 3.8 7 93
10/07/2019 <10 Acceptable 68.3 24.8 7.5 2 87
09/09/2019 20 Acceptable 73.5 22.5 1.5 2 98
08/05/2019 446 Beach Advisory 76.1 24 3 5 81
07/08/2019 <10 Acceptable 71.1 22.9 1.5 6 93
06/03/2019 292 Beach Advisory 63.3 19.7 2.1 11 93
05/06/2019 41 Acceptable 55.5 17.6 2.5 8 108
10/09/2018 121 Beach Advisory 71 20.7 1.7 7 95
09/09/2018 1993 Beach Advisory 74.8 24.7 2.7 4 84
08/13/2018 >24196 Beach Advisory 75.3 20 1.7 8 73
07/16/2018 183 Beach Advisory 74.9 25.1 2 7 93
06/12/2018 52 Acceptable 67.4 23.3 1.6 8 104
05/05/2018 379 Beach Advisory 56 14.6 62.3 7 117
10/15/2017 122 Beach Advisory 69 24.4 1.9 3 105
09/10/2017 52 Acceptable 70.4 23.2 2.5 6 106
08/13/2017 10 Acceptable 75.4 23.3 2.7 7 99
07/09/2017 108 Beach Advisory 74.2 20.5 8.6 14 111
06/11/2017 <10 Acceptable 70.4 16.8 13.1 6 122
05/14/2017 52 Acceptable 57.9 15.6 6 11 100
04/04/2017 12997 Beach Advisory 44.6 14.3 2.3 10 106
10/12/2016 52 Acceptable 66.3 25 1.6 32 105
09/13/2016 <10 Acceptable 76.8 24.7 5 n/a 111
08/14/2016 20 Acceptable 82.9 23.9 45.8 24 170
07/12/2016 31 Acceptable 74.9 23.7 2 6 100
06/14/2016 <10 Acceptable 67 21.4 1.8 28 102
05/19/2016 20 Acceptable 57.5 21.8 1.9 n/a 113
10/11/2015 20 Acceptable 66.1 24.8 2.3 7 104
09/10/2015 816 Beach Advisory 76.9 26.4 9.5 9 100
08/11/2015 24196 Beach Advisory 75.1 20.3 3.5 10 85
07/07/2015 <10 Acceptable 76 20.9 4.1 4 96
06/10/2015 31 Acceptable 66.1 22.3 1.4 n/a 104
05/11/2015 10 Acceptable 58.5 23.4 4.1 11 108
10/12/2014 106 Beach Advisory 65.1 25.3 1.5 6 96
09/07/2014 754 Beach Advisory 76.6 24.1 18.4 6 95
08/11/2014 <10 Acceptable 75.5 23.8 1.3 46 82
07/07/2014 <10 Acceptable 76.8 15.8 15.4 4 105
06/12/2014 74 Beach Advisory 64.3 22.6 3.4 4 73
05/12/2014 84 Beach Advisory 61.3 17.4 5.5 9 104
10/16/2013 63 Beach Advisory 65.6 24.6 2.3 4 23
09/18/2013 41 Acceptable 67.8 25.6 3.8 10 8
08/14/2013 364 Beach Advisory 73.1 23.6 7.7 4 49
07/17/2013 <10 Acceptable 80.8 20.6 59.7 9 190
06/19/2013 20 Acceptable 70.4 15.4 6 13 86
05/31/2013 98 Beach Advisory 66.7 18.8 2.8 19 77
11/08/2012 >24196 Beach Advisory 54.4 11.6 3.8 39 67
10/10/2012 259 Beach Advisory 66.7 23.6 2.6 16 35
09/10/2012 <10 Acceptable 77.1 24.8 14.7 40 60
08/13/2012 <10 Acceptable 82.7 32.8 24.7 15 302
07/16/2012 241 Beach Advisory 80.4 31.9 63.6 95 214
06/11/2012 10 Acceptable 72.9 21.4 37.9 n/a 158
05/15/2012 >24196 Beach Advisory 63.5 15.3 7 58 86
10/21/2011 96 Beach Advisory 61.2 15.9 1.6 9 86
09/14/2011 41 Acceptable 75.5 10.8 27.2 10 142
08/16/2011 2603 Beach Advisory 75 22.6 1.4 22 11
07/19/2011 1046 Beach Advisory 77.5 22.9 49.5 18 154
06/27/2011 <10 Acceptable 74.9 15.7 34.3 28 185
05/16/2011 >24196 Beach Advisory 56.3 18.4 14.8 121 86
10/12/2010 >24196 Beach Advisory 65.8 17.5 3.6 7 83
09/11/2010 <10 Acceptable 72.2 26.5 12.1 17 122
08/17/2010 4884 Beach Advisory 77.5 25.3 19.7 12 52
08/09/2010 10 Acceptable n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
06/10/2010 882 Beach Advisory n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
09/02/2009 <10 Acceptable n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
07/15/2009 <10 Acceptable n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
06/19/2009 160 Beach Advisory n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
05/29/2009 17329 Beach Advisory n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
10/15/2008 20 Acceptable n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
07/23/2008 5790 Beach Advisory 74.2 25.7 4 6 72
05/16/2008 >24196 Beach Advisory n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
09/06/2007 <10 Acceptable 76.3 25.4 1.8 5 63
08/16/2007 35 Acceptable 76 24.9 1.2 11 32
07/11/2007 238 Beach Advisory 70.7 25 3.7 26 80
06/18/2007 6 Acceptable n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
05/23/2007 10 Acceptable 65 19.3 0.6 5 82
04/18/2007 274 Beach Advisory 45.6 10.5 0.1 50 96

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:

ALERT: This site is never safe for swimming or fishing

Brooklyn, NY
The Gowanus Canal is an industrial waterway with limited dockage for recreational boats, and some kayaking and canoeing.

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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