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

Morris Canal

Morris 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

67 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 31 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
05/20/2024 41 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1
10/16/2023 173 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.0 0.7 0.0 0.8
09/18/2023 473 Beach Advisory 0.9 0.1 0.0 0.0 1.0
08/21/2023 R Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.6 1.6
07/17/2023 2755 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
06/26/2023 >24196 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
05/01/2023 >24196 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
10/09/2022 85 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.1
09/09/2022 31 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 1.1 0.1 1.2
08/11/2022 <10 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 20 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 20 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 150 Beach Advisory 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 121 Beach Advisory 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 41 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 63 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 10 Acceptable 0.0 0.3 0.0 0.0 0.3
05/06/2019 97 Beach Advisory 0.0 1.3 0.1 0.1 1.5
10/09/2018 74 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
09/09/2018 1169 Beach Advisory 0.5 0.0 0.0 0.4 0.9
08/13/2018 651 Beach Advisory 0.7 0.0 2.9 0.0 3.6
07/16/2018 31 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 41 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 63 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.0 1.8 0.0 1.8
06/11/2017 20 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
05/14/2017 1918 Beach Advisory 0.0 1.6 0.0 0.0 1.6
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 10 Acceptable 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 <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 <10 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.1
06/12/2014 86 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.6 1.6
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 24196 Beach Advisory 0.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.5
07/02/2008 110 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.6 0.6
06/24/2008 430 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.1 0.1 0.0 0.1

Entero Count (fecal indicator) and Rainfall Correlation

67 Samples taken

All Water Quality Parameters

67 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 31 Acceptable 69.44 NS NS NS 71.9
05/20/2024 41 Acceptable 65.07 10.51 2.6 2.2 113.5
10/16/2023 173 Beach Advisory 62.78 14.37 1.75 2.7 96.9
09/18/2023 473 Beach Advisory 72.14 17.06 6.7 n/a 60.2
08/21/2023 R Acceptable 76.08 13.16 14.01 7.9 96.3
07/17/2023 2755 Beach Advisory 80.1 9.5 12.4 3 69
06/26/2023 >24196 Beach Advisory 72 9.6 8.6 40 61
05/01/2023 >24196 Beach Advisory 56.4 5 3.3 8 68
10/09/2022 85 Beach Advisory 62.3 21 1.7 3 63
09/09/2022 31 Acceptable 77 22.7 2.9 6 70
08/11/2022 <10 Acceptable 80.8 23.4 9.9 5 122
07/14/2022 <10 Acceptable 77.8 21.9 21 6 186
06/13/2022 31 Acceptable 71.7 17.9 8.5 n/a n/a
05/23/2022 20 Acceptable 66.7 16.1 2.6 9 82
10/25/2021 10 Acceptable 64.2 9.6 3.5 9 87
09/13/2021 20 Acceptable 74.6 13 3.6 12 79
08/16/2021 10 Acceptable 77.7 17.3 8.5 4 87
07/19/2021 150 Beach Advisory 78.2 10.9 9.6 6 58
06/07/2021 <10 Acceptable 78.9 14.2 3.3 3 46
05/17/2021 <10 Acceptable 66.2 10.9 2.7 6 106
10/13/2020 121 Beach Advisory 64.1 21.4 4.6 4 65
09/17/2020 10 Acceptable 73.8 22.2 8.7 7 63
08/13/2020 <10 Acceptable 81.1 14 69.6 7 148
07/13/2020 10 Acceptable 81.2 17.3 12.5 7 109
06/15/2020 <10 Acceptable 71.2 13.5 10.2 6 118
05/25/2020 10 Acceptable 64.9 15.6 13.6 8 132
10/07/2019 41 Acceptable 68.4 20.2 3.6 4 80
09/09/2019 <10 Acceptable 74.9 16.5 4.7 6 85
08/05/2019 63 Beach Advisory 79.5 20 8.5 7 94
07/08/2019 10 Acceptable 74.5 17.5 12.7 11 87
06/03/2019 10 Acceptable 64.8 15 5.7 14 89
05/06/2019 97 Beach Advisory 58.4 10.7 2.6 10 90
10/09/2018 74 Beach Advisory 71.4 14.2 2.9 12 66
09/09/2018 1169 Beach Advisory 74.4 20.5 6.4 7 66
08/13/2018 651 Beach Advisory 78 16.3 12.2 7 79
07/16/2018 31 Acceptable 79.7 22 5 7 83
06/12/2018 <10 Acceptable 70.1 18.6 16.2 10 132
05/05/2018 <10 Acceptable 57.2 7.3 2.4 17 99
10/15/2017 41 Acceptable 69.8 20.2 2.6 5 75
09/10/2017 <10 Acceptable 71.2 19 4.6 6 83
08/13/2017 <10 Acceptable 77.4 19.9 7.5 8 87
07/09/2017 63 Beach Advisory 75.8 15 16.3 7 141
06/11/2017 20 Acceptable 70.9 10.4 4.4 10 93
05/14/2017 1918 Beach Advisory 58.8 7.8 6.3 16 92
10/12/2016 <10 Acceptable 66.4 20.6 3.5 33 79
09/13/2016 <10 Acceptable 77.4 20.3 8.3 n/a 87
08/14/2016 <10 Acceptable 82.9 19.8 16.9 25 114
07/12/2016 <10 Acceptable 77 17.4 114.3 10 103
06/14/2016 <10 Acceptable 69.6 16 6.9 21 98
05/19/2016 <10 Acceptable 61.7 14.8 1.9 n/a 90
10/11/2015 10 Acceptable 66.1 19.9 4 5 64
09/10/2015 10 Acceptable 77.9 23.4 15.5 4 82
08/11/2015 >24196 Beach Advisory 75.4 19.3 34.1 9 83
07/07/2015 <10 Acceptable 77.1 13.9 41.7 15 120
06/10/2015 <10 Acceptable 68.6 16.3 3.9 4 89
05/11/2015 <10 Acceptable 60.9 16.7 4 9 95
10/12/2014 <10 Acceptable 65.3 21.2 1.8 6 81
09/07/2014 <10 Acceptable 76.9 20.6 16.7 5 95
08/11/2014 <10 Acceptable 77.6 20.3 6.6 25 194
07/07/2014 <10 Acceptable 79.5 10.7 8.1 8 72
06/12/2014 86 Beach Advisory 66.3 18 51.4 7 116
10/20/2008 <10 Acceptable 61.9 23.3 1.8 2 75
09/24/2008 <10 Acceptable 70.4 19.6 5.1 2 85
08/19/2008 <10 Acceptable 75.5 19.5 2.6 7 59
07/14/2008 24196 Beach Advisory 75.3 19.2 25.9 13 85
07/02/2008 110 Beach Advisory 73.3 21.5 4.2 8 61
06/24/2008 430 Beach Advisory 72.4 20.4 14.3 6 85

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:

This sample site is located at the Morris Canal Basin in Jersey City, New Jersey.

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:

Hudson County Dept. of Health: 201-271-4310, NJDEP: 609-777-1753 and NYCDEP: 212-639-9675

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