AMBIENT SURFACE WATER MONITORING

The Monmouth County Department of Health (MCHD) monitors 80 representative sites throughout Monmouth County for surface water quality. Measurements of various criteria are performed in the field and at the laboratory.  For additional information on data collection procedures, click here.  For a GIS map of current ambient site locations, click the following links: Small Map - Large Map
 

BATHING BEACH REPORTS

The Cooperative Coastal Monitoring Program (CCMP) is a joint effort between the NJ Department of Environmental Protection, the Monmouth County Department of Health, and local health agencies. During the bathing beach season, 60 stations are monitored on a weekly basis for enterococcus bacteria. Samples are analyzed using the Membrane Filtration method and subsequent incubation.  To view our 2010 sampling locations, click here.  For current sampling results, please visit the NJ Beaches website.  For a downloadable spreadsheet of MCHD sampling results from 2004 to 2009, click here.

MONMOUTH PARK SURFACE WATER MONITORING

The Monmouth County Department of Health (MCHD) monitors 11 sites around Monmouth Park. Measurements are performed in the field and at the laboratory. Click here to view a GIS map displaying MCHD's monitoring locations. The most recent sampling results indicate elevated bacteria consistent with stormwater runoff from Monmouth Park, with the levels decreasing with distance from the park. Advisory signs are posted from the Branchport Av. bridge to Pocano Dr., Oceanport. Standards can be found at NJDEP's Surface Water Quality Standards Webpage.

RAPID BIOASSESSMENT

Benthic (bottom-dwelling) invertebrates are organisms that can easily be seen with the naked eye and their presence is an indicator of the stream's water quality. Certain families are more tolerant to pollution than others. Their ability to withstand poor water quality is given a number called Family Tolerance Value (FTV). This numeric value is based on a scale of 0 being the most sensitive to pollution and 10 being the most tolerant to pollution. The final stream score is totaled using the variety of insects, the number of insect families present in the sample that are intolerant to pollution, the family with greatest number of individuals and the family tolerance values.