This report is approximately 5.1 mb in size. A copy of this report can also be viewed on CD-ROM at the Monmouth County Library Headquarters in Manalapan, the Eastern Branch in Shrewsbury, and the Wall Branch in Wall Township.
This report is available for free download from this website. It is in the Adobe Acrobat format and can be viewed with their free viewer.
Download: A Trend Analysis Focusing on Impacts to Water Quality (5.1mb)
Executive Summary
The water quality in the Manasquan River has generally improved over the years, but it is continually impacted by commercial, residential and agricultural activities when it rains. Task 1 examines data from 5 freshwater water sampling stations in Monmouth County. Long Brook by the Howell/Freehold border is most impacted by non-point pollution. Task 2 examines nutrient and bacterial impacts at 38 estuary stations in both counties. Noticeable improvement in water quality began in late 1995 after 800 residences in Wall were connected to sanitary sewer. The estuary's designation as the first federal No Discharge Zone in 1997 will additionally reduce sewage discharged from commercial and recreational boats. Task 3 provides trends in the numbers of septic system malfunctions, emergency responses/hazmat incidents, and GIS data from Known Contaminated Sites List. The contaminated sites on this list, most of them residential leaking residential underground storage tanks, have significantly increased since it was first published in 1994. Task 4 inventories the number of septic system and well approvals issued by municipalities. Certificate of Compliance (COC) data is a useful predictor of the potential for non-point pollution. If innovative BMPs like the No Discharge Zone concept continue to be developed, and renewed dedication is focused on sources of non-point pollution, runoff and waterfowl populations, water quality can continue to improve at the rate it has in the past. The value that the river provides will remain for future generations. Various improvements in monitoring and BMPs are suggested.
Table of Contents
List of Figures
Download: A Trend Analysis Focusing on Impacts to Water Quality (5.1mb)