Keeping Vigil Over NYC Waterways

Marine Scientists Jih Shyu and Zoe Bisiani, recently took water samples from the Bronx River, near East 180th Street and Devoe Avenue, where a small waterfall cascades near the base of the Bronx Zoo.

Our marine scientists conduct quarterly sampling at 74 stations throughout New York City Harbor, to test waterways for enterococcus and fecal coliform, a raw sewage indicator. Those samples are analyzed at our Newtown Creek Wastewater Resource Recovery Facility Microbiology Laboratory. If sampling results are above the baseline trigger limits, we aggressively pursue field investigations, performing sewer system track-downs and surveillance of the adjacent shoreline of the stations to determine the source and cause of the contamination. We use a combination of inspection techniques, including dye testing, microbiological and chemical testing, and hydraulic analyses to identify possible inputs. More recently, we are also using genetic markers to identify whether the input is from humans or animals, allowing us to narrow down what can be a dizzying set of possibilities. If necessary, we implement immediate actions to abate any found illegal discharges.