1. Restoring Harlem River’s water quality to swimmable and fishable
Gemma (Jingyu Wang), Ph.D.
City University of New York (CUNY)
BCEQ Annual Water Conference
Manhattan College, 3/18/2015

2. Waterfront accessibility
Harlem River has limited waterfront accessibility: railway-Metro-North; Industrial infrastructure
Has been experienced decades of industrial abuse and remains gritty and industrial
The Harlem River has always a major resource for water recreation throughout its history.
Water quality concerns

3. Zoom in
Harlem River
The Harlem River is located on the western boarder of the Bronx, separating it from Manhattan
9.3 miles, a natural straight
The Harlem is connected to the Hudson and the East River
Historically used for swimming and fishing

4. Discharge sewage into the river
Stormwater and sewage share the same pipe: combined sewer, when it rains, it overflow.
CSOs discharge untreated sewage into the river, during rainstorms.
There are more CSO’s in the Harlem River (>50) than any other water source in NYC
Point pollution: CSOs
Nonpoint pollution: stormwater runoff, adjacent waterway activities
Increased nutrient and pathogen (bacteria) levels during storm.
PCBs11 (Polychlorinated biphenyls): indicator of raw sewer, stormwater runoff and wastewater effluents

6. Restoring ecosystem Improve water quality
Connect community with their natural resource
Reconnecting the waterfront with the people
Reinvigorating in-the-water recreational and commercial activities
Restore the river’s water quality to become swimmable/fishable
Monitor and publicize water quality data

7. 4/30/14 CSOs

8. 7/2/14 DO: 4mg/L, 49%

9. 7/2/14 CSO: 2.9mg/L, 35%

10. 7/2/14 CSO

11. 6/5/14 CSO

12. 10/7/2013 CSO

15. Fish consumption safety
Men over 15 and women over 50
Women under 50 & children under 15
Chemicals of concern
Blue crab meat
Up to 4 meals/month (6 crabs per meal)
Don’t eat
PCBs, Cadmium
Crab or lobster tomalley (hepatopancreas, mustard) and cooking liquid
PCBs, Cadmium, Dioxin
Channel catfish, Gizzard shad, White catfish
PCBs
Atlantic needlefish, Bluefish, Carp, Goldfish, Rainbow smelt, Striped bass, White perch
Up to 1 meal/month
All other fish
Up to 4 meals/month

16. Methodology Water sampling: CSO discharge sites
Ammonia: Nessler reagent method for ammonia (NH3-N)
Phosphate: automated ascorbic acid method
Turbidity: HACH 4000 spectrophotometer
Fecal coliform, E.Coli., enterococcus: selective agar plates, 37°C/24h incubation, MPN/100ml
PCBs: EPA 8082A, GC/MS

17. November 17, 2014 raining MPN/100ml
Fecal coliform: 800*2=1,600
Enterococcus: 600*2=1,200
Enterococcus: 150*2=300
July 29, 2014 Sunny (dry day)
Fecal coliform:
E.Coli.: 44
Enterococcus: 160

18. July 2, 2014 bacteria April 30, 2014 bacteria
Fecal coliform: 1 million*5=5 million MPN/100ml
E.Coli.: 1,000*5=5,000
Enterococcus: 2,000*5=10,000
April 30, 2014 bacteria
Enterococcus: 2000*5=10,000
Fecal coliform: 1million*5=5 million
E.Coli.: 100*5=500

19. Bacteria levels increased dramatically during heavy rainstorm
March 11, 2011 sunny (all units: MPN/100ml)
Fecal coliform: >1,000
E.Coli.: >100
Enterococcus >2
May 8, 2013 heavy rainstorm
Fecal coliform: >millions
E.Coli.: >5,000
Enterococcus >500
EPA STANDARD: fecal coliform <200 E.Coli. <126 enterococcus <104
USGS fecal coliform surface in 5-year increments: >10,000, <200
average data from >2,500, 2009 <200 UNDERESTIMATION?

20. November 1, 2013 rainstorm (units: MPN/100ml)
Enterococcus > 1,000*5=5,000
Fecal coliform: millions
E.Coli.: 100*5=500
Enterococcus: an indicator of raw sewer in a higher level than most of Riverkeeper’s data, and the maximum was similar
October 7, 2013 heavy rains
E.Coli.: 44*5=220
Fecal coliform: 1,500*5=7,500
Enterococcus: 120*5=600
Compared to Riverkeeper’s data (maximum)
Willis Ave. Bridge-Harlem River: 5,635
North River Waste Water Treatment Plant: 2987;
Superfund toxic sites: Gowanus Canal: >24,196; Newtown Creek-Metropolitan Ave. Bridge>24,196

21. 2014 ammonia 4/22: afternoon shower
4/30 CSO: heavy afternoon rainstorm
6/5 CSO: morning rain
6/19/14: light morning rain
7/3/14 CSO: tropical storm Arthur
2014 ammonia
0.23
4/22
4/30
6/5
6/19
7/2

22. Ammonia level in 2013 3/30 5/9 7/8* 7/12 10/4 10/7 0.23
2013 weather condition
3/30/13: cloudy, storm
5/1/13: sunny
5/8-9/13: Rain storm
5/23/13: thunderstorm
7/8: sunny
7/12: shower
10/4: drizzle
10/7: heavy rains
11/1: rain
Randall’s Island

23. Ammonia level in 2012: Superstorm Sandy
7/18
9/18
10/24
11/1
11/8
0.23
after Sandy
Before Sandy
after Nor’easter

24. Ammonia level in 2011 2011 weather condition: 3/10: rainy windy
3/17: sunny
3/24: The day after rain and snow, high tide, sunny, 38⁰F
4/7: raining in the morning, cloudy and sunny in late afternoon, 50⁰F, the day after raining on Wed
4/28: heavy thunderstorms, high 72⁰F
5/5: sun, mixing with clouds, windy, high 64⁰F
7/25: drizzle
Ammonia level in 2011
3/10
3/24
4/7
4/28
5/5
7/13
9/28
site1
site2
site3b
site3a
site4
site3c
0.23

25. Phosphate concentration in 2013
2013 weather condition
3/30/13: cloudy, storm
5/1/13: sunny
5/8-9/13: Rain storm
5/23/13: thunderstorm
7/8: sunny
7/12: shower
10/4: drizzle
10/7: heavy rains
11/1: rain
5/1
5/8
5/9
5/23
7/8*
7/12
10/4
10/7
11/1
0.033
Radall’s Island

26. Phosphate concentration in 2011
3/10
3/17
3/24
4/7
4/28
5/5
5/12
site1
site2
site3a
site3
site3b
site4
0.033
2011 weather condition:
3/10: rainy windy
3/17: sunny
3/24: The day after rain and snow, high tide, sunny, 38⁰F
4/7: raining in the morning, cloudy and sunny in late afternoon, 50⁰F, the day after raining on Wed
4/28: heavy thunderstorms, high 72⁰F
5/5: sun, mixing with clouds, windy, high 64⁰F
7/25: drizzle

27. 5.25
4/22
4/30
6/5
6/19
7/2

28. Turbidity in 2013 2013 weather condition 3/30/13: cloudy, storm
5/1/13: sunny
5/8-9/13: Rain storm
5/23/13: thunderstorm
7/8: sunny
7/12: shower
10/4: drizzle
10/7: heavy rains
11/1: rain
3/30
5/1
5/9
5/23
7/8*
7/12
10/4
10/7
11/1
Randall’s Island
5.25

29. Turbidity in 2012: Hurricane Sandy
7/18
9/18
10/24
11/1
11/8
5.25
after Sandy
Before Sandy
after Nor’easter

30. Turbidity in 2011 2011 weather condition: 3/10: rainy windy
3/17: sunny
3/24: The day after rain and snow, high tide, sunny, 38⁰F
4/7: raining in the morning, cloudy and sunny in late afternoon, 50⁰F, the day after raining on Wed
4/28: heavy thunderstorms, high 72⁰F
5/5: sun, mixing with clouds, windy, high 64⁰F
7/25: drizzle
Turbidity in 2011
site1
site3a
site2
5.25
3/24
4/7

31. Future perspective
Continuous water quality monitoring along the river and share data to the community
More sampling sites along the river, for a spatial variation analysis
Wetland, green roof/wall build along the river to capture stormwater and reduce CSOs
vimeo.com

32. Conclusion
Nutrients, pathogens and turbidity increased dramatically during rainstorms, including Hurricane Sandy
Not in accordance EPA regulated level and higher than USGS and Riverkeeper’s published data
It’s not safe for swimming/fishing
Waterfront access is limited
Capture stormwater and reduce CSOs is the goal, make the river swimmable/fishable in near future