Ambient Water Data
Introduction

DRBC performs routine monitoring of surface water to manage water quality and ensure that criteria are being met. This routine monitoring is accomplished through several different monitoring programs. 

DRBC's main monitoring programs include the following:

  • Delaware Estuary Boat Run (tidal river)
  • Scenic Rivers Monitoring Program (upper non-tidal river)
  • Lower Delaware Monitoring Program (lower non-tidal river)
Delaware Estuary Boat Run Monitoring Program

Initiated in 1967, the Delaware Estuary Boat Run is one of the longest running monitoring programs in the world. Each year, DRBC contracts with the Delaware Dept. of Natural Resources and Environmental Control to collect water samples in the Delaware Estuary, from the head of tide at Trenton, N.J. to the mouth of the Delaware Bay. Samples are collected at 22 stations once monthly from April to October. The goals of the program are to provide accurate, precise, and defensible estimates of the surface water quality of the Delaware Estuary and to allow assessment of water quality criteria compliance. Sample analysis includes routine and bacterial parameters, nutrients, dissolved oxygen, heavy metals, chlorophyll‐a, dissolved silica, and volatile organics. Bacterial sampling results for fecal coliform and enterrococcus are posted on the commission's web site (see below) and other data are inputted into U.S. EPA's water quality database, STORET, which is available to the public (see link in box on the right).

Fecal coliform and enterococcus bacterial data (unit of measurement is cfu/100mL) are used to determine compliance with the commission's water quality standards for recreational use. These standards are based upon the average of several samples over a period of time. While individual samples taken on a single day such as those reported here may exceed the number listed under the standard column, the standard is not violated until the average of several samples exceeds this value. Individual sample exceedances commonly occur following rainfall events due to non-point source runoff and discharges from combined sewer overflows.

Most Recent Bacterial Sampling Data:

Sampling
Site
River
Mile

5/21/13 Enterococcus
Enterococcus
Std.

5/21/13
Fecal Coliform

Fecal
Coliform
Std.
Trenton
131.04
1
33
32
200
Florence
122.4
5
33
22
200
Burlington
Bristol Br.
117.8
4
33
16
200
Torresdale
110.7
4
33
37
200
Betsy Ross Br.
104.75
7
88
120
770
Benjamin
Franklin Br.
100.2
10
88
170
770
Navy Yard
93.2
6
88
90
770
Paulsboro
87.9
1
88
19
770
Eddystone
84.0
4
88
53
770
Marcus Hook
78.1
2
35
56
200
Oldmans Pt.
74.9
7
35
9
200
Cherry Island
71
11
35
22
200
New Castle
66.0
4
35
26
200
Pea Patch Is.
60.6
3
35
4
200
Reedy Island
54.9
2
35
13
200
Liston Pt.
48.2
1
35
6
200
Smyrna River
44.0
2
35
3
200
Ship John Light
36.6
ND
35
1
200
Mahon River
31.0
ND
35
ND
200
Elbow of
Crossledge
Shoal
22.75
ND
35
ND
200
South of Joe
Flogger
Shoal
16.5
ND
35
ND
200
South Brown
Shoal
6.5
ND
35
ND
200

If results are flagged with the indicator "QC," the calculated precision between the analytical and duplicate results is outside the quality control limit for this test. For additional details, contact John.Yagecic@drbc.state.nj.us.

n/a = data not available
ND = non-detect

View April 23, 2013 sampling data (pdf 21 KB)