Water Quality
An important factor in determining how safe water is for swimming is
the amount of a class of bacteria in the water called coliform. Coliform
are the form of bacteria that live in animal guts and get into water from
animal, including human, waste. The NYS Department of Health requires
that the coliform level for safe swimming be less than 1,000 colonies per
100 milliliters of water. Since 2003, water samples were collected either by trained volunteers from River Pool at Beacon, Inc. (2003-2005), or by staff from the Dutchess County Department of Health (2006-2008 and future), and analyzed by the Dutchess
County Department of Health’s Water Laboratory. Our results show
that the water quality at the Hudson River sites under consideration for
the floating swimming pool is excellent, and more than meets the requirements
for safe swimming.
Additionally, see the latest results on water testing by Riverkeeper.
Fecal Coliform Data-2003
(number of colonies per 100 ml sample)
Sampling |
North |
North |
North |
North |
Storm |
| 7-May-03 | 30 |
20 |
60 |
10 |
|
| 22-May-03 | 10 |
10 |
20 |
20 |
|
| 28-May-03 | 20 |
20 |
40 |
30 |
|
| 3-Jun-03 | 50 |
110 |
30 |
10 |
350 |
| 9-Jun-03 | 30 |
40 |
50 |
30 |
1050 |
| 16-Jun-03 | 30 |
40 |
10 |
30 |
8200 |
| 26-Jun-03 | 40 |
30 |
60 |
30 |
570 |
| 3-Jul-03 | 20 |
20 |
10 |
20 |
530 |
| 17-Jul-03 | 30 |
10 |
30 |
30 |
Note: Number of colonies per 100 milliliters of water must be less than 1,000 for swimming (NYS Dept of Health)
North15=15 ft offshore |
S=surface |
North25=25 ft offshore |
D=deep |
Table 1 shows the results from the water samples collected in
2003 from Site 1 which is located north of Riverside Park and from the
storm water outlet just south of Riverside Park (see map). All of the
water samples taken from Site 1 were acceptable for swimming. The numbers
of colonies were mostly less than 100 which is exceptionally good. The
water samples taken from the storm water outlet were not so clean and
2 of them contained more than 1000 colonies.
Fecal Coliform Data-2004
(number of colonies per 100 ml sample)
Sampling |
North |
North |
NW-S |
NW-D |
Point-S |
Point-D |
SH-S |
SH-D |
| 7-Jul-04 | 10 |
20 |
||||||
| 29-Jul-04 | 20 |
10 |
80 |
70 |
70 |
|||
| 5-Aug-04 | 60 |
10 |
10 |
10 |
30 |
30 |
||
| 12-Aug-04 | 20 |
20 |
60 |
70 |
350* |
120* |
||
| 19-Aug-04 | 10 |
40 |
40 |
10 |
10 |
60 |
30 |
|
| 26-Aug-04 | 40 |
30 |
10 |
30 |
20 |
20 |
50 |
60 |
| 2-Sep-04 | 10 |
30 |
10 |
20 |
10 |
20 |
30 |
30 |
| 9-Sep-04 | 80 |
40 |
150** |
280** |
50 |
20 |
140** |
190** |
Note: Number of colonies per 100 milliliters of water must be less than 1,000 for swimming (NYS Dept of Health)
North15=15 ft offshore |
SH=Scenic Hudson |
NW=northwest site |
S=surface |
Point=Fisherman's point |
D=deep |
*=heavy rain 30 mins before sampling
**=heavy rain the day and night before sampling, also, strong
flood current & west wind
Table 2 shows the results from the water samples collected in
2004 from Site 1 (as in Table 1), Site 2 which is located Northwest of
Riverside Park, Site 3 which is located west of Fisherman’s Point,
and Site 4 which is located west of the Scenic Hudson property just offshore
from the Yacht Club (see map). The numbers of colonies in these water
samples were all acceptable and most of them were less than 100. Samples
taken on 2 occasions after heavy rain showed small to moderate increases
in colonies of bacteria but were still clearly acceptable for swimming.
In summary, the water quality at the selected potential
floating pool locations is very good, during the summer, even after heavy
rains. Other locations, such as close to a storm outlet, are not consistently
acceptable, as may be other untested locations such as near Fishkill Creek,
or near Beacon’s sewage treatment plant. River Pool at Beacon is
happy to hear that the City of Beacon is taking steps to improve the water
quality at those locations in the near future.