County Environmental Panel Puts Focus on Hudson River Water Quality

Rockland County Legislator Connie Coker, chairwoman of the Legislature's Environmental Committee, has invited representatives from Riverkeeper to report on the results of their monthly river water sampling, which has frequently found unacceptable levels of the bacteria, Enterococcus, in the Hudson River.

within our region most recently during mid-July.

The presence of Enterococcus, a bacteria found in the feces of humans and animals, is an indicator of untreated or incompletely treated sewage in the river, which poses a potential risk to the health of individuals who come in contact with the water.

"Our residents have a right to safe water not only for drinking but also, as in this case, for recreational activities such as swimming and boating," said Coker, a resident of South Nyack. "The studies conducted by Riverkeeper and Lamont-Doherty (Earth Observatory in Palisades) are the first step to determine where the problems are and then the results must be used to develop corrective actions in order to protect the health and safety of the public, which is the most critical responsibility of government at every level. "

Riverkeeper, an independent watchdog organization dedicated to the environmental quality of the Hudson River, conducts monthly water sampling in partnership with Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory and Queens College, at 74 locations along the entire length of the Hudson River Estuary.  Their July sampling report indicates that unacceptable levels of Enterococcus were found at almost half of the sampling sites between Yonkers and the Bear Mountain Bridge and all of the sampling sites from West Point to Newburgh.  

The discussion will take place at the Aug. 25, 7 p.m. meeting of the Environmental Committee, held in the Chambers of the Rockland County Legislature, 11 New Hempstead Road, New City.