New York Harbor Stations (11/13/12 update)
USEPA Clean Waters Ambient Water Sampling (see table below) 
Sampling Dates - 11/11/12, 11/12/12

Number of Samples Collected and Matrix – aqueous, 10 aqueous/day at the same locations throughout NY Harbor/Newark Bay. Two PSVC effluent discharge points sampled as well.

Purpose of Sampling –sample for presence of fecal coliform in estuarine/river waters (NY Harbor/Newark Bay Complex) potentially impacted by PVSC WWTP discharges.

Summary of Analytes Detected – Fecal coliform was above applicable criteria at all stations on 11/11/12 and 11/12/12.

New York Harbor Stations (11/9/12 update)
New York Harbor water quality is being negatively influenced by Combined Sewer Overflows, Wastewater Treatment Plant issues, and pump station failures in the New York/New Jersey metropolitan area brought about by Hurricane Sandy.  Excessive rainfall, storm surges, high winds and power outages have caused numerous problems with the infrastructure.  Work continues to address these issues.  Samples were taken within the New York Harbor and results indicate elevated levels of fecal coliform bacteria an indicator of human waste.  The maximum result was 1500 cfu/100ml; the minimum result was 130 cfu/100ml.  The fecal coliform criteria for shellfish classification for Approved waters is < 14 CFU's/100mL and for Special Restricted waters is < 88 CFU's/100mL.  It should be noted that there is no active shellfish harvest in these waters and that they are permanently closed to shellfishing.

The major discharger into the Newark Bay is the Passaic Valley Sewage Commission (PVSC) which serves 1.4 million people in Essex, Bergen, Hudson and Passaic and discharges at normal flow ~ 240 mgd.  PVSC suffered significant damages from Hurricane Sandy and as a result discharged untreated waste at flows up to 500 mgd until November 7, 2012.  On November 7, 2012 power and partial treatment including chlorination was restored at PVSC and as a result we should see an improvement of water quality in the New York Harbor.

NJDEP and USEPA will continue to monitor the New York Harbor stations through at least November 11, 2012 to document water quality trends.