Water testing of PR - 6/26

[buzzbaiter]

Based upon concerns about the river and the fishing in general, I decided to do some quick testing of the water. Being a chemist for over 28 years along with BS in Chemistry, I feel I'm more than qualified. preliminary results:

TSS - measure of suspended solids = <3. Limit can vary but for companies that discharge directly in rivers, its generally around 100 mg/L. Obviously less is better.

pH = 7.07 Usually Limits 6 to 9.

Conductivity = 781 uohms/s Basically a measure of ions - both negative and positive. Examples are sodium, magnesium, chloride, phosphorus, etc

TDS - measure of dissolved solids = 550 mg/L. Limit is 500.

Metals: I checked for 26 different metals. All were ND(non-detect) except for:

• Aluminum = 200 ppb(parts per billion)
• Boron = 120 ppb
• Calcium = 46 ppm(parts per million
• Iron = 655 ppb
• Potassium = 5 ppm
• Magnesium = 14 ppm
• Manganese = 176 ppb
• Sodium = 79 ppm

Nothing unusual there. Normal amounts of mostly naturally occurring metals. Iron is a bit high as is Manganese. These are aesthetic contaminants in that they affect color causing staining.

Ran some bacteria tests(fecal/total coliform; e.coli) as well but they won't be done for another 20-24 hrs or so.

Based upon all this data, river is - at least from a chemistry pov - in great shape. In fact cleaner then most trout streams. I saw fish and even recent spawning beds so fish are there.

[ChaosStarter]

Very cool and good to know. I'm curious if it will vary depending on where you sample. Obviously the closer to the ocean would get a broader randge as opposed to 30-50 miles upstream.

[buzzbaiter]

Originally Posted by ChaosStarter

I'm curious if it will vary depending on where you sample. Obviously the closer to the ocean would get a broader randge as opposed to 30-50 miles upstream.

It will vary being an 80 mile river but not by much. I would expect higher bacteria, cond and solids the further downstream you go as more industries and STP's discharge into it.

Samples were taken along the Morris/Essex border in Montville. River is a bit turbid but nothing unusual there. No noticeable smell either.

[Lard Almighty]

I've always been curious about the chemical loads in NJ's rivers. If I had thousands of dollars burning a hole in my pocket, I would run full TCL/TAL+30 on some major river systems.

Thanks for the info, very informative!

[Gatto1227]

I just think that river is getting a sh*t ton of pressure.. that mixed with poor water quality lately

[AndyS]

I don't believe the fishing pressure idea one bit. I keep thinking back to when my wife caught her state record brown trout from Round Valley. Back then the parking lot would close at 11am because there was no more parking, you could walk across the boats, and she nabs a state record, theory busted !