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

109 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 75 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
05/20/2024 20 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
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 5.9
10/10/2022 10 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
09/10/2022 <10 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.1 1.1
08/12/2022 30 Acceptable 0.0 0.1 0.1 0.0 0.2
07/15/2022 10 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
06/13/2022 20 Acceptable 0.0 0.3 0.0 0.0 0.3
05/23/2022 41 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.4 0.0 0.5
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 0.2
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 0.8
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 0.8
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 1.0
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

109 Samples taken

All Water Quality Parameters

109 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 75 Beach Advisory 70.34 NS NS NS 69.8
05/20/2024 20 Acceptable 60.62 17.89 1.45 3.3 96.7
10/16/2023 31 Acceptable 62.73 9.37 1.14 8.5 98.2
09/18/2023 275 Beach Advisory 73 11.6 2.1 2 75
08/21/2023 20 Acceptable 75.7 8.4 2.5 18 76
07/17/2023 171 Beach Advisory 78.7 5 2.2 11 76
06/26/2023 10 Acceptable 69.2 20.2 2 8 74
05/01/2023 1421 Beach Advisory 53.7 6.7 2 15 90
10/10/2022 10 Acceptable 62.2 13.2 1.7 15 81
09/10/2022 <10 Acceptable 76.6 15 2.1 16 67
08/12/2022 30 Acceptable 79.9 15.6 3.1 9 74
07/15/2022 10 Acceptable 76.5 14.2 3.8 18 81
06/13/2022 20 Acceptable 70.4 11.6 4.1 12 92
05/23/2022 41 Acceptable 60.8 20.2 1.1 13 n/a
10/25/2021 41 Acceptable 63.7 7.9 2.3 5 n/a
09/13/2021 52 Acceptable 72.4 18.4 1.3 8 67
08/16/2021 <10 Acceptable 75.2 21.6 1.8 8 62
07/19/2021 86 Beach Advisory 77.1 12.3 2.3 11 64
06/07/2021 31 Acceptable 66.3 11.7 1.3 13 83
05/17/2021 <10 Acceptable 59.3 10.7 1.1 19 85
10/14/2020 41 Acceptable 63.2 17.1 1.6 6 79
09/18/2020 20 Acceptable 72.3 14.8 2.1 11 71
08/14/2020 41 Acceptable 78 22 2.2 5 51
07/14/2020 31 Acceptable 75.7 20.3 1.5 6 60
06/16/2020 31 Acceptable 69 14.3 2.4 7 87
05/26/2020 52 Acceptable 61 11.1 4.3 31 97
10/08/2019 226 Beach Advisory 67.7 21 1.3 6 72
09/10/2019 31 Acceptable 73.3 18.3 1.4 10 64
08/06/2019 31 Acceptable 76.6 20.4 1.6 9 49
07/09/2019 31 Acceptable 72.7 20.2 1.5 10 66
06/04/2019 75 Beach Advisory 64.9 7.6 1.8 31 83
05/07/2019 20 Acceptable 56.3 4.3 2 49 90
10/10/2018 30 Acceptable 70.8 5 2.4 21 76
09/10/2018 327 Beach Advisory 74.7 14.6 1.9 19 65
08/14/2018 62 Beach Advisory 81 8.1 2.9 20 64
07/17/2018 >24196 Beach Advisory 77.8 12.4 3.8 20 76
06/13/2018 <10 Acceptable 67.9 12.4 13.9 23 103
05/06/2018 10 Acceptable 55.2 2.7 2.2 39 99
10/16/2017 31 Acceptable 69 16.5 1.6 12 75
09/11/2017 10 Acceptable 70.2 14.8 2 11 75
08/14/2017 <10 Acceptable 75.5 19.3 2.1 8 60
07/10/2017 <10 Acceptable 73.9 9.5 1.5 17 83
06/12/2017 <10 Acceptable 68.1 4.9 2 36 87
05/15/2017 144 Beach Advisory 57.4 3.8 2.3 32 91
10/13/2016 41 Acceptable 66.1 23.9 2.2 38 79
09/14/2016 <10 Acceptable 76.2 16 2.1 n/a 76
08/15/2016 20 Acceptable 81.7 12.8 11 30 98
07/13/2016 52 Acceptable 75.4 17.1 2.4 11 69
06/15/2016 10 Acceptable 67.4 12.8 2.7 22 87
05/20/2016 10 Acceptable 58.9 10.7 2.3 n/a 91
10/12/2015 10 Acceptable 66 13.3 2.4 22 83
09/11/2015 110 Beach Advisory 77.6 15.7 4 15 70
08/12/2015 41 Acceptable 76.8 14.8 3.5 13 78
07/08/2015 73 Beach Advisory 72.5 18.4 2.2 16 68
06/11/2015 <10 Acceptable 66.4 19.5 1.5 n/a 73
05/12/2015 <10 Acceptable 58.4 20.4 2.4 7 90
10/13/2014 10 Acceptable 64.5 15 1.2 26 79
09/07/2014 52 Acceptable 76.9 14.9 2.7 21 74
08/11/2014 10 Acceptable 77.2 12.1 1.8 28 70
07/07/2014 108 Beach Advisory 72.2 15.9 1.9 11 69
06/12/2014 31 Acceptable 66.2 12.9 21.1 33 96
05/12/2014 148 Beach Advisory 56.7 8.5 1.8 36 92
10/16/2013 <10 Acceptable 65.8 18.9 1.3 9 78
09/18/2013 20 Acceptable 69.3 22.8 2.3 n/a 72
08/14/2013 1670 Beach Advisory 73.3 21.1 2 16 58
07/17/2013 <10 Acceptable 74.7 19.5 1.8 18 67
06/19/2013 74 Beach Advisory 67.5 14.9 1.7 25 75
05/31/2013 <10 Acceptable 62.3 17.6 1.1 12 75
10/10/2012 132 Beach Advisory 66.2 20.4 1.8 10 66
09/10/2012 74 Beach Advisory 76.4 22.2 2.4 32 52
08/13/2012 <10 Acceptable 79.8 23.9 1.5 17 63
07/16/2012 84 Beach Advisory 78.6 20.2 3 16 78
06/11/2012 31 Acceptable 68.9 19.1 2 n/a 68
05/15/2012 10 Acceptable 60.8 10.3 2.1 22 86
10/21/2011 108 Beach Advisory 62.8 13.6 0.8 23 77
09/14/2011 10 Acceptable 70.8 0.9 2 183 81
08/16/2011 108 Beach Advisory 77.6 12 1.8 37 67
07/19/2011 10 Acceptable 78 12.8 1.9 16 71
06/27/2011 30 Acceptable 73.6 7.6 4 20 74
05/16/2011 121 Beach Advisory 57.9 7.7 2.8 51 85
10/12/2010 816 Beach Advisory 66 13.3 2.1 14 73
09/11/2010 10 Acceptable 73.6 13.7 2.2 30 66
08/17/2010 41 Acceptable 75.8 24.3 1.9 13 48
07/21/2010 <10 Acceptable 79.6 17.2 5.7 18 66
06/15/2010 10 Acceptable 70 13.2 1.3 59 68
05/21/2010 41 Acceptable 56.8 21.5 2.2 18 68
10/19/2009 20 Acceptable 56.4 12.8 1.5 26 86
09/14/2009 10 Acceptable 71.6 21 0.9 41 65
08/20/2009 <10 Acceptable 79.2 10.1 2.8 30 73
07/28/2009 63 Beach Advisory 73.5 19.4 1.1 12 55
06/22/2009 31 Acceptable 70.3 2.9 1.1 80 82
06/05/2009 86 Beach Advisory n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
05/12/2009 52 Acceptable 59.6 7 1.1 41 88
10/20/2008 10 Acceptable 61.5 22.7 0.9 7 71
09/24/2008 10 Acceptable 69.7 21.1 1.2 9 68
08/19/2008 10 Acceptable 76.9 10.8 1.6 23 80
07/14/2008 231 Beach Advisory 75.1 16.1 2.5 18 76
07/02/2008 43 Acceptable 75.2 13 2.9 20 79
05/19/2008 <10 Acceptable 58.4 10.1 1.1 55 88
09/06/2007 27 Acceptable 73.6 24.2 1.6 14 60
08/16/2007 36 Acceptable 78.4 13.8 2 34 74
07/11/2007 41 Acceptable 73.5 19.7 1.4 30 69
06/18/2007 13 Acceptable n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
05/23/2007 8 Acceptable 61 18.2 0.9 22 78
04/18/2007 244 Beach Advisory 45 7.2 0.1 45 95
12/13/2006 36 Acceptable 46 9 1.1 18 96
11/10/2006 92 Beach Advisory 53.8 4.5 0.3 49 93
10/18/2006 1467 Beach Advisory 63 14 1.8 16 75
09/26/2006 11 Acceptable 69.5 18.8 0.3 n/a 73

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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