REPORT ON THE POLLUTION OF RARITAN BAY
RARITAN BAY CONFERENCE
August 22 - 23, 1961
Finished Draft
Prepared by the Field Operations Section,
Division of Water Supply and Pollution
Control, Public Health Service Sanitary
Engineering Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, with
the assistance of the staff of the Water
Supply and Pollution Control Program of the
Region II Office, New York, New York.
August 1961
PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND WELFARE
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REPORT ON THE POLLUTION OF RARITAN BAY
RARITAN BAY CONFERENCE
¦ August 22 - 23, 1961
Prepared "by the Field Operations Section,
Division of Water Supply and Pollution
Control, Public Health Service Sanitary
Engineering Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, with
the assistance of the staff of the Water
Supply and Pollution Control Program of the
Region II Office, New York, New York
August 1961
PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND WELFARE
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FOREWORD
Acknowledgement is made of the assistance provided
to the Public Health Service in the preparation of this
report by the following agencies:
Interstate Sanitation Comniission
New Jersey State Department of Health
New York State Water Pollution Control Board
New York State Conservation Department
Middlesex County Sewerage Authority
New York City Health Department
New York City Department of Public Works
U. S. Corps of Engineers, New York District
Hq_.} First U, S. Army
Hq_.} Third U. S. Naval District.
This report is based upon information assembled from
the published and unpublished reports and the files of the
above agencies and upon such other published information as
was available.
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STUDY AREA
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BACKGROUND
The Lower Bay and Raritan Bay, along with Sandy Hook Bay,
combine to form a triangular "body of tidal water that extends in-
land for about 10 miles between Staten Island, New York, to the
northwest, and an east-west shoulder of New Jersey to the south.
(Figure l). The boundary between the two states passes approximately
from east to west through the middle of the "bay area to the western
end, where it swings to a northerly direction and continues up the
Arthur Kill. The Arthur Kill is a relatively narrow body of water
connecting Raritan Bay, at its southern end, with Newark Bay, at
its northern end. Arthur Kill forms the western "border of Staten
Island and the eastern border of this portion of New Jersey.
The "bay area and Arthur Kill constitute an extremely impor-
tant water resource to the one and one-half million persons residing
in the four adjacent counties. About one and one-quarter million
live in the three New Jersey counties, and one-quarter million live
in the New York county. Tremendous quantities of cargo are trans-
ported on these waters. They provide recreation in the form of
"bathing, pleasure "boating, fishing, and scenic enjoyment. Industries
withdraw large quantities of water for cooling processes. Commercial
fish are abundant, and clams grow well in the depths of the "bay area.
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The waters receive for final disposal the waste waters from the
human population and the industries that occupy the adjacent land
area.
The value of these waters and the need for maintaining good
water quality to protect those who use them has long "been recognized.
This has been reflected by the construction of sewage treatment
plants during the past 30 "to 35 years, at a rate of nearly one per,
year. Information on the efforts of industry to control their wastes
was not available for this report.
The water quality of both Arthur Kill and the bay area has
become degraded despite the continued activities to control pollu-
tion. This fact is documented by a number of reports and records
of agencies dealing with the pollution problem in the area. One of
the several effects of water quality degradation was demonstrated
dramatically when, in early 1961, a number of cases of enteric up-
sets and hepatitis resulted from consumption of clams taken from
Raritan Bay.
Several reports have dealt with water quality and others
have dealt specifically with the effects of pollution on shellfish
growing areas. The following is a partial listing and brief summary
of the more recent of these reports:
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1. Southern Arthur Kill Survey - 1955
From. 1955 "to 1957 the Interstate Sanitation Commission con-
ducted three studies on the water quality of Arthur Kill. The first
of these studies took place during September and October of 1955«
The report pointed out that the pollution in the vicinity of Totten-
ville was from three main sources, Tottenville, Woodbridge Creek,
and the effluent from the Woodbridge sewage treatment plant. It
was concluded that "pollution conditions are generally worse as one
proceeds northward up Arthur Kill especially as regards dissolved
oxygen concentrations."
2. Study of Pollution in Arthur Kill - 1956
The second study conducted in 1955 and 195& stated that more
than 80 percent of the B.O.D. load in Arthur Kill originated in the
northern third. It also mentioned that "the use of the Kill as a
source as well as a recipient of...cooling waters tends to increase
the temperature of the Kill above that normally encountered in tidal
waters in this area." The report went on th mention that at the
lower end of the Kill (a class "A" water), Arthur Kill failed to
come up to the Compact standards for dissolved oxygen 30 percent
of the time.
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3. Interstate Sanitation Commission Annual Report - 1958
The third study was conducted in June and July of 1957 "to
determine conditions existing throughout the Kill. Samples were
collected and analyzed for dissolved oxygen, chlorides, pH, and
temperatures. The results obtained indicated that the Interstate
Sanitation Commission Compact requirements for dissolved oxygen in
class "B" waters were not "being met for 60 per cent of the Kill's
total length. The greatest pollution occurred at a point 8,3 miles
above Raritan Bay. It was also stated that a "slug" of pollution
approximately 6 A miles in length was located in the Kill. This
slug moves "to and fro with the ebb and flood of the tide."
U. Summary Report on the Qiial ity of Waters in Raritan and
Lower Bays - 1958
This report submitted by Harold F. Udell evaluated consider-
able data and presented the following conclusions:
"(l) Bacterial pollution in Raritan and Lower Bays is rela-
tively high at the head of Raritan and the entrance of
Lower Bay but decreases steadily, westerly in Lower
Bay and easterly in Raritan Bay.
"(2) The organic pollution in Raritan-Lower Bays does not
present a problem because of available dilution and
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effects of natural purification.
"(3) The pollution in Arthur Kill has a degrading effect
on the waters at the head of Raritan Bay.
"(it-) Pollution contributed "by shipping has not "been de-
termined.
"(5) Pollution in the waters of the westerly portion of
Raritan Bay should be re-evaluated after the Middlesex
County Sewerage Authority treatment plant has operated
for a suitable length of time."
5- Review Copy of New York City Water Survey Series, Report
No. 3 - Arthur Kill-Kill Van Kull - June i960
This report was prepared by Hazen and Sawyer for the classi-
fication of Arthur Kill and Kill Van Kull by the New York State Water
Pollution Control Board. The report summarizes the condition of the
waters of Arthur Kill as "... generally grossly polluted." Further-
more, the report states that "the quality of waters in Arthur Kill
and Kill Van Kull at present is almost wholly a function of the sew-
age and industrial waste load imposed from New Jersey."
6. Recommended Classification of Surface Waters in the Area of
and Including West and Lower Bay and Raritan Bay - June i960
This report was prepared by the New York State Conservation
5
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Department - Shellfisheries Management Unit for the New York State
Water Pollution Control Board. The report reviewed present condi-
tions in Raritan and Lower Bays and found the following areas to "be
polluted:
The waters lying east of a line running in a north-south
direction from Great Kills harbor to the New York-New Jersey
state line; also those waters of New York State lying west
of Princess Bay.
Numerous other reports, listed in the "bibliography, have
been written by local, State and Federal agencies on Raritan Bay
and the surrounding waters. In general, it may be stated that the
conclusions reached by the various authors of these reports have
shown that pollution of the waters of Raritan Bay and associated
watercourses has resulted from discharges of domestic and industrial
wastes from New York and New Jersey.
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THFI AREA
The land area of the region considered in this conference
involves Richmond County in New York, and Middlesex, Monmouth, and
Union Counties in New Jersey. The area is outlined by a line
(Figure l) extending from Elizabeth, New Jersey, across Arthur Kill
•giid Staten Island to Fort Wadsworth, then on across the Narrows to
Fort Hamilton in Brooklyn, turning south to Fort Fan cock on Sandy
Hook, and finally swinging in an elongated arc from Highlands
through New Brunswick and Highland Park, New Jersey, back to
Elizabeth.
The water area under consideration is an important part of
The New York Harbor complex, the largest seaport in the world.
Much of the seaport navigation traverses these waters.
The adjacent land area's 1.5 million population, living
within an hour's drive of the bay, has ready access to its waters
for both recreation and commercial pursuits. As a consequence,
the water uses include every category applicable to saline waters.
Most of the large industries of the area are situated along the
Arthur Kill, principally on the New Jersey side.
The water area under consideration includes a portion of
the Narrows, the Arthur Kill, the tidal portions of Raritan River
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and other smaller tributaries to the hay, and Raritan, Lower and
Sandy Hook Bays. The bay area receives drainage directly from
Arthur Kill and its tributaries, the Raritan River, and several
smaller streams on Staten Island and on the New Jersey coast from
the Highlands to South Amboy.
The area of the bay, west of a .line from the center of the
Narrows to Sandy Hook, is approximately 30 square miles, which is
about equally divided between the two states. The depth of water
varies from 7 to 25 feet, with the exception of the navigation
channels, which have depths up to 35 feet. The mean tidal range
is 4.9 feet. The ebb and flow of the tides and the physical
boundaries of the bay area lead to a generally circular clockwise
pattern of water flov throughout much of the bay. Many current
(
studies have led to the conclusion that water, and incidentally
pollution, entering the bay at almost any point ultimately may
travel to almost all other points in the bay.
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HYDROGRAPHY
In an. effort to more clearly define and demonstrate the com-
bined effects of the fresh water flow, the ebb and flow of the tide,
and the location and direction of the various channels, several
agencies have performed studies including model tracer and float
studies. Mixing and dispersion characteristics were studied in the
New York Harbor model of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, located
at Vicksburg, Mississippi. Tracers were introduced into the model
at six locations in the New York area. Of particular interest were
studies to determine mixing and dispersion when tracers were added
4;o the confluence of the Rahway River, and the Arthur Kill, a point
just north of the Narrows, and a point approximately 15.,000 feet
southeast of the Narrows. In each instance, the tracer was found
throughout the rest of the harbor at various concentrations after
15 tidal cycles.
Prototype float studies were also performed by several
agencies® While floats do not necessarily plot the actual path of
pollutants, they do give evidence of the existence of tidal patterns
at the time and depth covered by the observations which influence
the dispersion of pollutants. One investigation indicated that
pollutants from the Owls Head and Passaic Valley Plants can reach
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the Staten Island teaches in one tidal cycle (Figures 2 and 3)»
Figure 2 indicates that three pairs of floats released around ebb
current passed through the Narrows, turned in a clockwise manner
and swirled hack towards the "beaches along the Staten Island shore.
One of these floats went aground at South Beach within 5-l/2 hours
after being released. Figure 3 shows the path of two pairs of
floats released under similar current conditions.
Studies in the vicinity of West Bank Light were performed
by the New York State Conservation Department to determine the
direction of tidal transport of mixed Upper Bay and Atlantic Ocean
waters during flood tide (Figure 4). These float' studies appear
to confirm the model study and indicate that waters leaving the
Narrows can be transported across the State line, deep into Lower
Bay.
Floats were also released in the western portion of Raritan
Bay to determine the ebb tide drift of waters from Raritan Bay and
the Arthur Kill., These floats 11..» indicated that fresh water
from the Raritan River flows seaward and along the channel area to
approximately Bell $13 (the point where the channel turns north)
and then continues south of the main channel. It also indicated
that very little fresh water entering the embayment from the Raritan
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FLOAT STUDIES
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River returns to the river on the. flood tide." i/
Thus, the previously quoted studies show that the waters of
Raritan Bay are interstate in nature.
1J This and the following footnotes refer to the numbered entries
in the bibliography.
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WATER USES
The Importance of the water area under consideration to the
surrounding population is reflected "by their extensive use of these
waters. Conversely, the many and diverse uses reflect "both the
potential for pollution of the waters through some of these activi-
ties, and the potential damages and hazards of use where the
resulting pollution is not adequately controlled.
SHIPPING
New York has long "been recognized as the nation's leading
port in tonnage handled and passengers carried. In 1959 "the port
of New York handled about 100,000,000 short tons of waterborne
commerce entering and leaving through the lower entrance channels
(The Narrows, Raritan River, Arthur Kill). There were over 36,000
vessel trips recorded and about 1,000,000 passengers transported.
The Arthur Kill handled approximately 18,000,000 tons of this total
with 2,000 vessel trips„ (Table l).
But, total tonnage entering and leaving the harbor area is
only one part of the broader picture. There is a great deal of
activity generated by intraport shipping. The Arthur Kill has been
described as the nation's busiest inland waterway. A daily average
of twenty-four deep-draft vessels passes through the channel every
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TABLE 1
1959 STUDY AREA DATA.
Vessel
Area Tons Handled [Crips Passengers
New York and New
Jersey Channels 80,805,095 1^9,346 1,750,153
Thru Traffic 25,846,556
Raritan River 7,163,897 30,492 356,123
Thru Traffic 82,365
Shoal Harbor and
Compton Creek, New
Jersey 55,068 2,428
Cheese quake Creek,
New Jersey 14,400 25,250
Great Kills Harbor,
Staten Island 116,960 123,136
Shrewsbury River,
New Jersey 22,320 188,480
Sandy Hook Bay,
New Jersey 6,346
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day carrying more than 100,000,000 tons of cargo a year.
Further expansion of the Arthur Kill's facilities is con-
templated. A recent newspaper article described future improvements
including "the widening of the Arthur Kill channel to a minimum
width of 800 feet, instead of 400 feet and 500 feet now in certain
areas, and a deepening throughout the channel of forty and forty-
five feet." §/ [The Linden-Rahway-Woodbridge area of New Jersey,
which the Arthur Kill serves is the largest oil refining and
storage center on the eastern seaboard.
Smaller, but still very significant amounts of tonnage, are
regularly handled by the New Jersey shore ports located from Sandy
Hook Bay to Raritan Bay. Sandy Hook Bay handled nearly 60,000
tons of inedible fish and petroleum products in 1959•
BATHING
Figure 5 presents the existing and proposed public parks and
bathing beaches, and the marinas ("boat mooring facilities) along
the New York and New Jersey shores surrounding the bay area.
At present, about one-fourth of New York City's total public
"bathing beach frontage is represented "by South Beach, Great Kills
Park, and Wolfe's Pond Park along the southeastern Staten Island
shore. Average park attendance during 1959 and i960 was 720,000
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per year. The three parks were "built at a cost of 10.6 million
dollars, and are estimated to have a present property value of
more than 14 million dollars (Table 2). Maintenance and operation
costs for the past two years were over 0700,000, with an income to
the city of ^93*000. Ih addition to the public hath 1.ng beaches,
there are many private heaches, and much unauthorized bathing
occurs along the remaining shore .line surrounding the bay.
Little detailed information is available on the l4 New
Jersey beaches, which are fairly equally spaced from Highlands
to South Amboy,
BOATING
Pleasure boating has increased more rapidly than any other
type of aquatic recreation in recent years. Between 1951 and i960
national, .expenditures for pleasure boating quadrupled, to more than
2.5 billion dollars by i960. In 1959 New York and New Jersey ranked
first and fourth, respectively, in pleasure boats registered. The
two states combined registered nearly 50,000 of the national total
of about 5^0,000 boats. It is estimated that about 1,000,000
persons in the metropolitan area use pleasure boats, exclusive of
sailing craft, and that a win-Twiiim of 10 per cent, or 100,000 persons,
boat on the water area under consideration.
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WATER
USES
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TABLE 2
-STATEN ISLAND BEACH FACILITIES
Acreage-Beaches and Facilities
Great Kills
Wolfe's Pond
South Beach
Total
.1246.00
224.365
638.5
2108.865
Picnic Facilities
Tables Benches Fireplaces
114 228
33 66
147 294
32
32
Capital Expenditures for Construction Approximate Property Value
Great Kills 01,750,000 03,935,500
Wolfe's Pond 100,000 1,029,600
South Beach 8,784,000 9,372,450
Total $10,634,000 014,337,550
Maintenance and Operation
Costs per year (2 years)
1959 I960
Great Kills $106,564 0105,184
Wolfe's Pond 47,798 49,531
South Beach 198,865 200,735
Total 0353,227 0355,450
2-Year Total - 0708,677
Gross Receipts from Refreshment
Stands and Related Concessions-
1959
018,521
10,000
25,150
053,671
i960
018,400
12,000
37,000
067,400
(The Cityrs revenue is-
about"10$ of the gross receipts»)
Ihconfft from Parking, Bathhouse, Beach Admissions, etc.
Parking
Bathhouse
Admissions
1959
Great Kills
016,134.00
02742.50
—
Wolfe's Pond
8,728.00
—
—
South Beach
4,158.50
1006.90
08,196.20
i960
Great Kills
17,175.00
2443.20
—
South Beach
7,693.00
1597.90
013,896.40
Wolfe's Pond
7,984.50
—
—
2-Year Total of all income - 091,756.10
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Recent Corps of Engineers1 statistics show that more than
lj-00,000 passenger trips were attributed to "boats sailing out of
Sandy Hook Bay, Cheesquake Creek, Matawan Creek, and Shrewsbury
River in New Jersey.
With the increase in pleasure "boating, water skiing has
also become increasingly popular. The hazard of ingesting con-
taminated water in a polluted area is even greater for the skier
than it is for the boater.
In the bay area there are about recognized marinas
(Figure 5)> providing over 2,500 berths for pleasure and commer-
cial craft, with most of them in New Jersey. At an average cost
of $2,500 per pleasure boat this would amount to an investment of
06,250,000.
The recent growth in pleasure boating in this area is
illustrated by the experience of New York City's new public
marina on Staten.Islandy In 1959/ when, the marina opened, it
berthed 70 boats for gross receipts of $3/275• In i960 the marina
berthed 198 -boats representing a three-fold increase for gross
receipts of $9^075.
The increase in private pleasure boating, and better highway
facilities may partially account for a reduced interest in excursion
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boating. Before World War II many steamboats, often filled to
their 2,000 passenger capacities, made regular trips between the
Battery at the tip of Manhattan- and Keansburg, New Jersey. Nov
one boat makes this trip two or three times daily, with less than
500 passengers per trip.
FISHING
Some of the most popular fishing grounds in the United
States .are in. the. waters of the Metropolitan New York Harbor Area.
The New Jersey Fish and Game Department reported a total commer-
cial and game fish catch of 28.7 million pounds in 1956 in the
Sandy Hook-Raritan Bay area.
In 1952 the New Jersey Department of Conservation and
Economic Development reported the following conditions relative to
fishing on Raritan, Sandy Hook and Lower Bays:
"Although there is considerable pollution in Raritan Bay,
porgies, fluke, flounders, weakflsh and some bluefish are taken
there. Lower New York Bay and Sandy Hook Bay are heavily fished
by boats of all descriptions. Among the species taken are floun-
ders, porgies, fluke, bluefish, snapper blues, striped bass,
weakfish, croakers and crabs.
"Twenty-nine rowboat and U-drive liveries are scattered
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throughout this area, and party and charter "boats leave from Morgan,
Leonardo, Highlands, and Atlantic Heights. The area also is fished
"by "boats sailing from Staten Island, The Battery, and Long Island
Ports." 3/
Over llU,000 fishermen used the Staten Island bay frontage
in 1959) Qttd this number decreased to about 80,000 in i960.
WILDLIFE
Wild ducks are the principal wildlife game species of the
bay. In February, 1957> two accidental oil spills, one at Perth
Amboy, and the other at Cartaret, New Jersey, wiped out an esti-
mated 12,500 ducks. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Commissioner for
New Jersey reported that this represented about one-sixth of the
total duck population.
SHELLFISH
The shellfish beds in the Raritan Bay area constituted an
important commercial source of clams prior to 1925 (Figure 5).
One bed occupied much of the western end of the bay area under
consideration, and straddled the New York-New Jersey state line.
A smaller bed occupied Sandy Hook Bay in the angle formed by the
northern shoulder of New Jersey and Sandy Hook peninsula.* This
latter bed is entirely in New Jersey waters.
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In the past years the "bay area has been an important source
of clams. Contamination of the waters by raw sewage had become so
great that health authorities closed the bay to shellfishing in
1925. As sewage treatment plants were placed in operation and the
levels of contamination were apparently reduced, the New Jersey
authorities permitted reopening of a portion of the New Jersey
beds in 193^ • Subsequently, a portion of the New York beds was
reopened in 19^1 with an estimated 175,>000 bushels of clams being
taken from the bay that year. Based on 1961 prices, it is estimated
that the 19^0 yield of clams would have a current value of approxi-
mately one million dollars.
From 1950 the receipts in the New York market of clams taken
from the beds steadily decreased, with the i960 receipts estimated
at 29,000 bushels, worth about $175,000 (Table 3). These beds
represented the last approved locations available in the immediate
New York area for the taking of clams.
Clams characteristically feed by pumping water in which they
are submerged to their gills from a syphon, or opening through their
shells. Particulate materials and minute living organisms in the
water, including plankton, bacteria, and viruses, are passed
through the gills to the mouth, and thence into the digestive system
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YEAR
191+8
19^9
1950
1951
1952
1953
195^
1955
1956
1957
1958
1959
i960
TABLE -3
CLAM RECEIPTS FROM RARITAN BAY IN N. Y. MARKET
Conversion factors published "by the U. S.
Dept. of the Interior, Bureau of - Commercial
Fisheries show that one "bushel of hard clams
is equal to 11 pounds average weight. Also
the" price range for April, 1961 showed a
$3 l/2 to 5 for chowder hard clams, 07 l/2-
81/2 for cherrystones and 010-13 for little
necks, (per "bushel). An average price of
06 per "bushel was used in computing the
values in the above-list.
On the "basis of 06 per bushel and
using the-175*C>00 bushels given previously
for 19^0 the revenue derived from shell-
fishing then (19^0) was about 01,050,000.
NUMBER OF BUSHELS
VALUE (Based on 1961 prices)
15,000
lf0,000
50,000
38,000
28,000
26,000
26,000
22,000
20,000
22,000
23,000
25,000
29,000
0 90,000
2*1-0,000
300,000
228,000
168,000
150,000
150,000
132,000
120,000
132,000
138,000
150,000
17^,000
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Some of this food material is concentrated on the surfaces of the
gills and on the membrane lining the shells, and consequently, is
present in the shell liquor„ If enteric pathogenic organisms or
viral agents from sewage are present in the water overlying a
clem bed they may "become concentrated in the intestines and shell
liquor of the clams „ Persons eating such clams raw may be infected
by any disease organisms present.
During early 1961 substantial numbers of cases of enteric
upsets and hepatitis were traced to clams taken from Raritan Bay.
A press release issued by the New Jersey State Department of
Health on May 1, 1961 stated that "Doctor Roscoe P. Kandle,
State Commissioner of Health, today closed the New Jersey controlled
portions of Raritan Bay and Sandy Hook Bay and al so the Navesink and
Shrewsbury Rivers to the taking of shellfish."
"Dr„ Kandie said of 186 hepatitis cases who had a history
of eating raw clams in one or two restaurants, 85 are known to
have eaten raw clams traced to Raritan Bay.
" 'In the face of this and other evidence, I have no alter-
native except to close the indicated areas to the taking of shell-
fish until further notice.1 "
Subsequently, on June 2, 1961, the Sandy Hook Bay "bed was
re-opened0
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The New York State Conservation Department, as a result of
studies indicating pollution of the growing "beds in the New York
portion of Raritan Bay, closed these shellfish "beds on May 1, 1961.
20
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SOURCES OF WASTES
The Narrows, Arthur Kill, Raritan River, Raritan Bay and
Lower Bay water area under consideration receive raw and treated
sewage and industrial wastes from the adjacent land area in both
New York and New Jersey. The approximate land area involved in-
cludes 36 square miles in New York and 200 square miles in New
Jersey.
The combined waste discharged directly to the water area
from "both States has an estimated biochemical oxygen demand popu-
lation equivalent of 2,100,000.
SEWAGE
One borough in New York and JO communities in New Jersey
discharge their sewage and industrial wastes to the waters under -
consideration. An estimated total of 1,282,000 persons contribute
sewage to the 30 sewerage systems involved. Of these 1,190,000, or
93 percent, live in New Jersey,_and 92,000, or J percent, in New
York. Tables 4 and 5 incorporate available information on the
sewerage systems, including sewered populations, sewage flow, types
of treatment facilities, receiving waters, and results of inspec-
tions of treatment plant operations. Figure 6 shows the locations
of the points of sewage discharge.
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EFFLUENT STANDARDS
The Interstate Sanitation Commission Compact established
standards of performance and of effluent quality for treatment
plants under its jurisdiction. For plants discharging into Class A
"waters the coliform "bacteria shall not exceed 1 per milliliter in
more than 50$ of the samples and suspended solids shall be reduced
"by 60 percent. For plants discharging into Class B waters there
are no coliform bacterial limits and suspended solids shall be re-
duced by 10 percent. Most of the bay waters are classified as
Class A and those of Arthur Kill and the Upper New York Bay above
the Narrows as Class B. The Compact is reproduced in Appendix B.
UNTREATED SEWAGE
Raw sewage is discharged to Raritan Bay from three areas.
Tottenville, New York, on the southwestern tip of Staten Island,
discharges raw sewage from an estimated population of 4,000. The
S.S. White Dental Company on Staten Island discharges the sewage
from TOO persons with only chlorinatlon by HTH. No information is
available on the performance of this plant. The pier facilities of
the U.S. Naval Ammunition Depot at Leonardo, New Jersey, are
equipped with privies installed directly over the water and dis-
charge wastes from a population of 100 to 2^0 persons.
22
-------
©ffiLE 4
SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANTS TRIBUTARY
TO THE RARITAW-LOWEr'bAY
AND ARTHUR KILL STUDY AREA
MUNICIPALITY
SEWERED
AVERAGE
DESIGN
DATE
TREATMENT
STREAM
OR INDUSTRY
POP.
FLOW
FLOW
BUILT
New Jersey-
Highlands
3^000
w
0.4
1.2
1928
SCEB
Shrewsbury River
12^ 000
s
Atlantic Highlands
3,100
w
0.4
0.6
1928
CEB
Sandy Hook Bay
6,000
s
Leonardo Naval Depot
130
-
-
1940
CEB
Raritan Bay
Keansburg
5,600
w
1.4
2.0
1949
SKCEDV
Raritan Bay
15,000
s
Keypqrt
5,900
w
0.8
0.4
1936
SCEDB
Raritan Bay
0
0
0
s
Matawan
2,700
-
-
CEB
Matawan Creek
Matawan Township
1,000
O.13
Q.25
CAEDB
Matawan Creek
Knollcroft
850
-
0.2'
I960
SCE
Raritan Bay
Sayreville-Morgan
2,000
0.1
0.3
1951
SCDE
Raritan Bay
South Amboy
8,400
0.7
i.o
1940'
SCEDB
Raritan Bay
Sayreville-Melrose
1,000
0.05
0.1
1949
SCEDB
Raritan River
Middlesex County
300,000
4o.6o
52.0
1957
SGCKEX
Raritan Bay
Sewerage Authority
Camp Kilmer
1,000
1.0
6.0
CFCE
Tributary to
Raritan River
Raritan Arsenal
2,700
0.34
-
CFE
Raritan River
(Continued)
-------
TABLE .4
(Continued)
SEWAGE TREATMENT HANTS TRIBUTARY
TO THE RARITAk-LOWER BAY
AND ARTHUR KILL STUDY AREA
MUNICIPALITY' SEWERED AVERAGE DESIGN DATE TREATMENT STREAM
OR INDUSTRY-
POP.'
FLOW
FLOW
BUILT
Woodbridge -Keasby
8,000
0.15
1.35.
SGCFEDB
Kinsey's Creek to
Raritan River
Perth Amboy
41,300
7.0
10.0
1934
SKCFEZV
Raritan River
Woodbridge-Se'w&ren
21,000
2.2
10.0
1954
SGCKEV
Arthur Kill
'Cartaret
13,000
2.4
3-o
1953
SGKCFEZV
Arthur Kill
Rahvay Valley.
170,000
22.5
16.7
1928
SGECDB
Arthur Kill
,Linden Roselle
120,000;
12.2
12.5
1952
SGCXH
Arthur Kill
Elizabeth Joint
475,000
¦52.0
100.0
1937
SGCTHX
Arthur Kill
Meeting
New York
l
Willowbrook
4,000
0.6
0.6
1941.
C
Fresh Kills
Mt. Loretto Home #1
1,200
0.09
0.1
1937
CE
Raritan Bay
Mt. Loretto Home'#2
350
0.03
0.045
1937
C
Raritan Bay
Mar1st Fathers
35
-
-
C
Richmond Memorial
300
0.010
0.010
1936
CE
Raritan Bay
Hospital
Saint Joseph's Home
40 w
o.oo4
-
C
Raritan Bay
200 S
Oakvo'od Beach
85,000
, 9.90
15.0
1956
SGACETDX
Lower N«Y. Bay
W - winter, S - summer. Key to Treatment Code' in Appendix F.
-------
TABLE 5
SUMMARY OP SOURCES OF WASTES
COMMUNITY POPULATION FAILURES TO OVERFLOW OVERLOAD
EQUIVALENT MEET ISC OR OR NEAR
DISCHARGED STANDARDS BY-PASS CAPACITY
SS
BOD
SS
COLI
NewJersey
Highlands
1,231
1,955
7/14
o/i4
No
Yes*
Atlantic Highlands
1,136
2,462
9/14
3/13
No
Yes*
Leonardo N. D.
7-
12
0/2
2/3
No
No
Keansburg
9,822
^,736
11/13
9/13
Yes
Yes
Keyport
2,319
5,456
9/13
9/12
Yes
Yes
Matawan
NA
NA
-
-
-
-
Matawan Township
NA
NA
-
-
-
-
Knollcroft
No Samples Taken
-
1/1
No
No
Sayreville-Morgan
3^3
900
0/2
0/8
No
No
South Amboy
1,505
4,277
1/13
0/13
Yes
No
Sayreville-Melrose
102
185
1/2
0/8
No
No
Middlesex County
171,425
838,222
2/14
o/i4
Yes
Yes
Sewerage Authority
Camp Kilmer
na
NA
-
-
-
-
Raritan Arsenal
m
NA
-
-
-
-
Woodbridge-Keasby
NA
NA
-
-
-
-
Perth Amboy
14,949
34,469
4/14
3/14
Yes
Yes
Woodbridge-Sewaren
3,573
5,122
0/12
-
No
No
Carteret
9,111
12,715
1/13
-
No
No
Railway Valley
51,102
117,332
0/6
-
No
No
Linden-Roselle
44,762
176,305
0/12
-
Yes
Yes
.Elizabeth Joint
145,027
328,870
o/ll
-
Yes
No
Meeting
New York
Willowbrook Hospital 1,903
9,854
0/12
-
No
Yes
Tottenville
4,000
4,000
-
-
-
-
Mount Loretto Home
No Samples Taken
-
6/6
No
Yes
Richmond Memorial
No Samples Taken
-
5/5"
No
Yes
Hospital
S„S. White Dental Ca NA
NA
-
-
-
St. Joseph's Home
No Samples Taken
-
1/1
No
No
Oakwood Beach
11,019
9,949
2/14
2/14
No
No
* During summer months
NA No data available
-------
m
¦ • •:
..:
1
m,
111;::,
111
Ml
111
WMM,
%
ym:
%
-------
Incomplete records Indicate that at least six of the Bever-
age systems providing treatment have "by-pass or overflow devices
"which permit raw sewage to discharge directly to the receiving wa-
ters on occasions. Several of the systems have combined sewers.
The by-passing of raw sewage discharges visually occurs during periods
of rainfall when excessive quantities of water enter the sewers. No
estimate of the pollution potential of such overflow is available.
Many commercial ships and pleasure boats discharge untreated
sewage during passage through these waters. Although records are
not available, a conservative estimate indicates that such discharges
may be equivalent to the sewage from at least 1,000 persons daily.
TREATED SEWAGE
Most of the sewage discharged to the water area under consid-
eration receives treatment. The six treatment plants discharging
to the Class B waters of Arthur Kill serve 803,000 persons or 63
percent of the total sewered population, generally with primary
treatment only. A few of the plants have chlorination equipment on
a stand-by basis but are not required to operate it. The other
treatment plants, discharging to the tidal portion of Raritan River
and to the bay area generally provide the equivalent of primary
treatment and chlorination. Five small septic tank plants, serving
23
-------
a total of 2,000 persons, do not have chlorination equipment. At
three of them, chlorination with HTH is attempted but disinfection
"by this method has usually given poor results in many locations.
All of these plants are on Staten Island east of Totterrville.
Figures J and 8 indicate the quantities of suspended solids
and biochemical oxygen demand discharged to the waters of the area,
in the form of population equivalents. These permit ready identi-
fication of those areas where the major loads are discharged.
Figure 7 indicates that the total suspended solids popula-
tion equivalent from all sources of sewage is 473>000• Of this
total, 456,000 population equivalent or $6 percent, originates from
New Jersey, and 17,000 population equivalent or 4 percent originates
from New York.
Figure 8 indicates that the total biochemical oxygen demand
population equivalent from all sources of sewage is 1,550,000 with
about 1,500,000 or 98 percent originating from New Jersey, and
24,000 or 2 percent originating from New York. It is interesting
to note that the total 1,550,000 biochemical oxygen demand popula-
tion equivalent of the wastes discharged from the sewerage systems
Is 20 percent greater than the total population of 1,280,000 served
by the systems. This Indicates that considerable quantities of
2k
-------
-------
-------
industrial wastes are treated "by these sewerage systems.
IMJQKDS of inspection
Inspection of 17 of the 28 sewage treatment plants is made
routinely "by the Interstate Sanitation Commission and"the following
discussion is based principally on the records of the Commission.
The records of inspection since 195$ have been reviewed.
Performance of many of the plants have "been checked between 11 and
15 times during this period. Some of the smaller and less important
plants have been checked from 1 to 5 times. Kecords on 17 plants
are involved in the following summaries. These records include
checks for suspended solids removals on 17, and for coliform bacteria
on 15 plantso Effluents discharged in Class B waters are not checked
for coliform densities.
Suspended solids removal efficiencies were examined l8l
times with the plants failing to meet the required removals Vf
times, or 26 percent of the times tested. There were no failures
for 7 plants, while on the other hand, 3 plants failed. 9 to 11
times each. Five of these plants failed to meet standards 50 per-
cent or more of the time.
The coliform limit on the effluents was checked 139 times.
There were hi failures to meet this requirement, or 29 percent of
25
-------
the total checks made. Five plants had no failures, "but 2 failed
9 times each out of 12 and 13 checks. More than 50 percent failure
to meet standards occurred in J plants.
It is reported that 10 of the plants are overloaded. Two of
these are overloaded during the summer only, because of the large
increases in populations during the vacation period. This is a
problem common to many seashore towns.
The discharge of the Perth Amiboy, New Jersey sewage treat-
ment plant effluent deserves special comment. This effluent dis-
charges about 200 feet offshore at approximately the center of the
bathing area of a Perth Amboy public bathing beach. The resulting
boil is readily apparent from the beach. The coliform content of
the effluent failed to meet the Interstate Sanitation Commission
standard on 3 occasions during 15 visits. It failed to meet the
suspended solids removal requirement on 4 occasions.
INDUSTRIAL WASTES
The detailed information available on sewerage systems is
not matched by similarly detailed information on industrial wastes.
The only information available for this report is a list
of plants (Table 6) discharging wastes to the Arthur Kill, and an
estimate that the combined wastes from all plants discharging
26
-------
TABLE 6
INDUSTRIES DISCHARGING TO ARTHUR KILL
New Jersey
1. Phelps Dodge Copper Product Corporation
2. Archer Daniels Midland Company
3. Cities Service Oil Company
National Lead Company
5. Koppers Company, Inc., Wood Preserving Division
6. Vulcan Detlnning Co., Div. of Vulcan Materials Co.
J. Westvaco Mineral Products Division of IMC
8. General American Tank Storage Terminals
9. American Cyanamid
10. General Aniline & Film Corp.
11. E. I. duPont de Nemours & Company
12. Esso Bayway Refinery
13. California Oil Company
New York
1. Nassau Smelting and Refining Co. Inc.
2. Socony Mobil Oil Co., Inc.
3. Gulf Oil Corp,
I4-. Onyx Chemical Co.
-------
directly to the Kill has a biochemical oxygen demand of 100,000
pounds per day, or a population equivalent of about 600,000.
i
The Interstate Sanitation Commission reported on page 13 of
their 1959 Annual Report that "...the industrial wastes still
discharging raw must receive attention. The Arthur Kill is such
an area and has a larger concentration of industry than any other
portion of our District..."
"Since the majority of industry is on the New Jersey side
of the Arthur Kill, the Commission has worked very closely with
the New Jersey State Department of Health in the study of the
problem. A joint meeting was held with the industries which
contribute the greatest volume of untreated industrial wastes into
the Arthur Kill and acquainted them with the problem. It was de-
cided that other meetings should be held with each industry so
that its individual problems could be discussed in more detail.
A number of such meetings have already been held between represen-
tatives of industry and the control agencies. These meetings have
indicated that the industries are aware of the magnitude of this
problem and are anxious to cooperate in reducing the amount of
pollution being discharged. After a complete picture is obtained,
the Commission and the New Jersey State Department of Health will
27
-------
determine the action that will he required to correct this condi- .
tion."
Additional information on waste treatment or other measures
to reduce industrial wastes was not available from the various
regulatory agencies at the time this report was prepared.
28
-------
EFFECTS OF POLLUTION
ON WATER QUALITY AND USES
Two principal indicators of water quality are'used in this
discussion of the effects of pollution. These are densities of
collform bacteria, vhich indicate the fecal pollution and the
potential of "water-"borne disease from sewage contamination; and,
concentrations of dissolved oxygen which reflect the effects of
organic pollution "by "both sewage and industrial wastes, indicating
the potential damage to or destruction of aquatic life, including
fish.
STANDARDS OF WATER QUALITY
There are several water quality standards applicable to the
waters under consideration.
In addition to its standards of effluent quality the
Interstate Sanitation Commission requires that the dissolved
oxygen of Class A waters shall not "be less than 50 percent of
saturation, and of Class B waters not less than 30 percent.
The New York City Department of Health -Fe
-------
4
i
"bathing in waters having average coliform concentrations in excess
of 2,14-00 for 100 ml.
New Jersey State Department of Health recommends for. surf
"bathing waters that the content of coliform organisms is tentatively
*
established as 2,400 per 100 milliliters as the maximum limit
tf
recognized as "being satisfactory.
Both New York and New Jersey authorities adhere to the U. S.
Public Health Service recommended standard for shellfish waters.
This standard requires that the median coliform bacterial concen-
tration shall not exceed 70 per 100 ml., and that not more than
10 percent of the values in a series of samples shall exceed 230
coliform "bacteria per 100 ml.
-AHefcheugh no standard has "been adopted for the waters used
for boating in this area, many State pollution control agencies
recommend that the mean coliform concentration of such waters
should not exceed 5,000 per 100 ml.
These various standards have been developed with a variety
of different objectives. In the case of the Raritan Bay area,
there is no assurance that, even if these standards were attained,
all potential danger to health and welfare would be eliminated.
Consideration must be given to the attainment of a water quality
30
-------
compatible with the existing and. projected water uses of the area.
There is an=abuB4fi&ce«=of- data on coliform "bacteria and dis-
solved oxygen concentrations on most of the waters involved.
-Several' official agencies have procured data through both routine
and special studies. -Su-££tefcen:t- data have been used to document
the pollution in this area. Requirements for^ these data were:
sample collection and laboratory procedures used were considered
acceptable; numbers of samples from an individual location were
sufficient to yield statistically significant data; no indeter-
minate values were used; and the period covered by sample collec-
tion was recent enough to represent present conditions.
ARTHUR KILL
The Arthur Kill has been designated as Class A water} south
of Outerbridge, and Class B north of Outerbridge by the Interstate
Sanitation Commission. The Kill receives large quantities of both
sewage containing fecal excreta and industrial wastes.
Coliform Bacteria
Geometric means of data on coliform bacteria procured at 3
stations on the Arthur Kill by the New York City Department of
Public Works during 1958 to 1961 are presented in Figure 9* The
3 stations are about equally spaced along the length of the Kill,
31
-------
with station K3 near the northern end, K4 about midway, and K5
near the southern end. The mean values at K3 and Klj- indicate
gross "bacterial contamination of the Kill north of Outerbridge.
The lowest mean annual density of coliform bacteria at the 2
stations was 13,500 per 100 ml. at K4. - The other mean values
were between V7,000 and 110,000 per 100 ml. These data show
that contamination was greater at the northern end of the Kill
than, at midpoint. The coliforms at the southern end of the Kill
were lower with annual means at Station K5 ranging from 1,800 to
6,400 per 100 ml. Station K5, at the confluence of Arthur Kill
and Raritan Bay, is subject to dilution through tidal exchange.
Any uses of the Arthur Kill and its tidal tributaries which
might result in the ingestion of even small quantities of the
highly contaminated water involve a potential hazard of contract-
ing a water-borne disease.
Dissolved Oxygen
Data obtained by the Interstate Sanitation Commission in
1957 011 dissolved oxygen in Arthur Kill at 18 stations are
presented in Figure 10. At 10 of the 16 stations above Outerbridge,
representing 6.4 miles of the Kill, the dissolved oxygen was less
than the Commission's standard. The dissolved oxygen saturation at
32
-------
-------
1957 Arthur Kill Survey
Percent
Saturation
CLASS A
50% Saturation
CLASS 8
30% Saturation
CiWPACT REOlflSFME^TS
:>>; <-< jj>C &r**i
¦ems a
: CLASS B-
WATERS
! !l
mms
10 9
STATION
-------
Station J, near Tremley Point, was at)out 7 percent representing
the lov point in the Kill. At the northern end of the Kill, the
dissolved oxygen saturation vas just above 30 percent. In the
lower portion of the Kill the dissolved oxygen rose to above 50
percent saturation in the vicinity of Outerbridge, and to about
65 percent at Station 18 near the southern end of the Kill.
The very low dissolved oxygen at Station 7 approached the
r
condition of total oxygen depletion which creates odor nuisances.
The' dissolved oxygen for some distance in both directions from
this station was low enough to be deleterious to aquatic life,
including fish.
THE NARROWS
The ebb and flow of the tides cause water in the Narrows
to fluctuate back and forth, -with the over-all preponderance of
movement outward toward the Lower Bay and the Atlantic Ocean.
The quality of the water in the Narrows is influenced by wastes
discharged either north or south of the Narrows. Undoubtedly, the
major influence on water quality in this area is exerted by treated
and untreated wastes discharged by 10 million people to Upper
Harbor, north of the Narrows.
33
-------
Coliform Bacteria
The New York City Department of Public Works annually col-
lects samples over a tidal cycle in the Narrows. Samples are col-
lected at both top and bottom from 3 points across the Narrows.
in Table 7.
The range of the means was 11,000 to 64,000 per 100 ml. with
an additional value of 5 j 300. In general, the higher means occurred
at the surface of the 3 sampling points and of the total of 18 means
involved, 12 were in excess of 20,000 per 100 ml. Thus, the waters
flowing through the Narrows generally carried coliform bacteria in
excess of 20,000 per 100 ml. with half of the means in excess of
30,000 per 100 ml.
Dissolved Oxygen
A 1959 report of The Interstate Sanitation Commission indi-
cates that the weighted mean dissolved oxygen saturation of the
water at the Narrows was 52 percent. This just meets the Com-
mission's requirement.
TIDAL PORTION OF RARITAN RIVER
Previous to 1958 much of the sewage and industrial wastes
from Middlesex County, New Jersey, was discharged to the Raritan
Geometric means of the MPN data for 1959 through
3^
-------
TABLE 7
COLIFORM DENSITY PER 100 ML.
GEOMETRIC MEANS FOR A TIDAL CYCLE
AT THE NARROWS
YEAR N8 WEST N8 N8 EAST
1959
Top
15,000
14,000
26,000
Bottom
12,000
11,000
5,300
i960
Top
55,000
33,000
15,000
Bottom
34,000
64,000
32,000
1961
Top
34,000
30,000
37,000
Bottom
27,000
24,000
34,000
-------
River. In 1957 the Middlesex County Sewerage Authority completed
a sewage treatment plant with an outfall discharging into Raritan
Bay south of Tottenville, New York. Rand and Segesser made a study
of the river to determine what improvement had "been achieved.
Coliform Bacteria
The investigators did not present over-all data on coliform
bacteria "because "It was found that the occurrence of heavy rainfall
and subsequent surface runoff resulted in abnormally large numbers
of coliform organisms in the various streams." V They did present'
coliform data^for.dry weather periods in Raritan Bay at the Junc-
tion- of Raritan Bay and the Arthur Kill. The geometric means were
1,1j-00 per. .100 ml. for 1958* and 1,800 per 100 ml. for 1959 j with 10
percent of the values in excess of 10,000 per 100 ml.
Dissolved Oxygen
During 1958 the dissolved oxygen saturation of the Raritan
River at Victory Bridge, one-half mile above Raritan- Bay, was 62
percent. This represented a marked improvement over the 2 percent
dissolved oxygen saturation found at this point in 1957, prior to
completion of the new sewage treatment plant.
—
35
-------
THE BAY AREA
The waters of the "bay area have "been designated as Class A
"by The Interstate Sanitation Commission. The City Health Depart-
ment of New York and the State Health Department of New Jersey
have responsibilities for surveillance of water quality of their
respective "bathing "beaches surrounding the "bay.
The New Jersey State Health Department and the New York
State Conservation Department are responsible for the surveillance
of these waters in regard to their use as a shellfish production
and harvesting area.
The data available on water quality indicate that pollution
reaches the bay from 3 principal sources. These are the communi-
ties which discharge wastes directly to the bay, the outflow from
Arthur Kill, and that portion of the flow through the Narrows
which enters the bay.
Collform Bacteria
All data on coliform bacteria yield the same general pat-
tern of bacterial contamination of the bay area. This pattern
reveals high levels of contamination at both the northeastern and
western ends of the bay, with lower densities in the middle and
southeastern portions of the bay area.
36
-------
Geometric annual means of coliform data -collected, "between
1958 arid 1961 "by the New York City Health Department along the
"bathing "beaches of southeastern Staten Island are shown in
Figure 11. At 3 stations between Tottenville and Sequine Point
7 of the 12 annual, means exceeded 1,000 coliforms "per 100 ml.
The highest of the four annual means at Tottenville was Iv/fOO
-per 100 ml. in 1960, and near Sequine Point the highest was
2,100 per 100 ml. in 1961. The high value at Tottenville exceeds
the maximum of 2,^00 per 100 ml. considered acceptable for "bathing
waters "by the New York City Health Department, and the other 6
values in excess of 1,000 place all of the waters in this reach
in the group subject to reclassification. Data for 6 of the 7
stations in the reach between Sequine Point and the eastern end
of Great Kills Park were limited to data for single years, A
maximum value of 860 per 100 ml. was reported at CP-1 at Great
Kills Park in 1961. For the reach between Great Kills Park and
the Narrows, there are 21 annual means for the 9 sampling stations.
15 -f these 21 annual means exceeded 1,000 per 100 ml., and 10
exceeded 2,^00 per 100 ml. The general trend along this reach is
upward from Great Kills Park to the Narrows, with an annual mean
of 11,500 per 100 ml. below the Narrows at the upper end of South
-------
Beach. Thus, most of the Staten Island shore line has waters of
questionable to hazardous bacterial quality for "bathing.
The Commanding Officer of Fort Wadsworth in complying with
Army directives found that the quality of the waters along all of
the teaches on Staten Island did not meet the "bathing standards
acceptable to the U.S. Army. Accordingly, he has placed certain
1 "V*—
areas off limits. Furthermore, he advised his command that
ej=4hou^-severa-l-beaches~vere"accepta'b-le-to-the. local_!aS:FFit?frrHyl.eR,
they were unsatisfactory by U.S. Army standards. (T.B. Med. 163).
(See Appendix G),
Comparable data for the evaluation of the New Jersey beaches
were not available.
A profile of annual geometric means along the New York-New
Jersey Ship Channel is presented in Figure 12, and one along the
New York-New Jersey state line is shown in Figure 13. Both of
these profiles exhibit trends similar to that of the Staten Island
beach stations, with the higher values at the ends and the lower
values near the middles. The 3 western stations of the Ship Chan-
nel profile have generally higher mean annual densities, in the
range of 2,^00 to 6,400 per 100 ml., than the comparable bathing
beach stations. The remaining stations of this profile, on the
38
-------
'STis-S'SC'SI
'SSSS'OC'S: c C< ;€0;S! 'ss
STATION
o«vvj ¦ f<
-------
GEOMETRIC MEAN COLfFORM
Profile Along New York-New Jersey Chonnel-
F«r 100 mi;
. : .. ..
5.,i . i/ ...
L
¦:
STATION
3** mca -; ttmu - $ rm - mam
-------
-------
other hand, have lower densities than the "beach stations, ranging
between 82 and 360 per 100 ml« in the middle area, and "between 300
and 790 at the eastern end. The State Line profile is somewhat
similar to the Ship Channel profile, but with lower densities in
the western end and middle area, but higher values for the eastern
stations. The eastern stations of both profiles generally indicate
a trend of increasing densities from 1959 "to 1961. While the geo-
metric mean values used for these profiles are not exactly compa-
rable to the median values used as a basis for evaluating water
quality over the shellfish beds, it is obvious from these data
that much of the water of the bay area would have median coliform
values well in excess of the 70 per 100 ml. which is the recom-
mended standard for shellfish areas.
Typical data from two sampling stations are evaluated to
illustrate the water quality over the shellfish beds at these
points. 6 to 12 top and bottom samples have been taJten over a
tidal cycle on 13 occasions. These'points were sampled during
the months of April through October, for the years 195$, i960
and 1961. The median coliform densities of these samples for
each sampling period at Stations A and B are given in Figure llj-.
At Station A the medians on 11 of the 13 sampling dates exceeded
-------
the permissible limit of 70 per 100 ml. for "both top and "bottom
samples. At Station B, 10 of the 13 top sample medians exceeded
the permissible limit, and 12 of the bottom sample medians
exceeded the limit. At Station A on 6 of the 13 days more than
10 percent of the bottom samples exceeded the permissible 230 per
100 ml. limit. For the top samples at this station and for both
top and bottom samples at Station B more than 10 percent exceeded
230 per 100 ml. on 9 of 13 sampling days. At both stations there
were days on which all samples from both top and bottom exceeded
230 per 100 ml.
These data were supported by the evidence of the previously
discussed coliform profiles throughout the bay. Bacterial conta-
mination of much of the water of the bay area presents the hazard
of contracting disease to those who eat^lams taken from the
contaminated aress.
A large amount of MPN data has been collected during the
past 4 years by the 5 agencies that are principally responsible
for investigating the water quality of the bay area. From these
data a single geometric mean for each sampling station where data
were adequate has been developed. Based on these means Figure 15
presents lines of equal coliform density throughout the bay area.
-------
MEDIAN COLIFORMS
IN WATERS OVERLYING SHELLFISH BEDS
mm
STATION B-TQP
5M3 ej\f _r«2¦a/is ma smjws k>/i§ . 4/%r4/2a <5/29 wsa m
STATION A-BOTTOM
83.3%
' $-'
-------
GEOMETRICHH|
MEAN :¦¦¦¦¦¦¦ m
COLIFORM
H mi ttj (flKn i St i Imm 8
i iTmThVH 11111111111111111 > 111 > m 1111 OOfrTTfti ija^v.v.v •.•!•!!•!•.-!•-!•!•!¦!
. :
PER 100 mi
i ;,;.i i.i; 11:; i! ¦;:
• - • • I II! Ill
•': •
. ¦ :¦ •¦ ' i.
it JS.y
¦
/•'•¦"".i.H.i.mi"
,.Sr. ¦( j:
li.ll.l "" w * >** ^
¦ " . v.¦. ¦ ¦
' • . ¦ ,¦: . ¦ . ¦:¦¦¦ :¦¦¦¦¦:, ;
| ;§f ;v
' .
s|:
:
Ml
ill
%
% \ \
¦ill
. ...vX";- ¦¦¦ ¦ ry>.. ^ f
illliitt:::!
iililiiiM;.
I •
illillllllil
¦¦
ii'lin'" 11ji; • :'•?'v ::1
1.1 i j ' 'UHOTJlTOOlCu.111" 11111 1... .
I 11 I.I I 111 111 III 111 I.I I.I I i I llll...
I.I I I.I.'." I-
'u. . " ,:i 1,r" " "
-II ,"""""11111.11 Illllll
' \ ¦'
. ¦ . ! ¦ :¦!
-------
The density lines for the eastern end of the area illustrate clearly
the passage of the contaminated water from the Narrows into Lower
Bay. Starting with coliform densities greater than 20,000 per 100
ml. at the Narrows there was a continuing decrease in density in a
southwesterly direction along the Staten Island shore to 200 per
100 ml. in the vicinity of Great Kills Park. There was a similar
decrease from the Narrows in a southerly direction to 200 per 100
ml. near the tip of Sandy Hook. The 200 density line was not
straight across "between Sandy Hook and Great Kills Park, but swung
in an arc starting in a westerly direction from Sandy Hook and
turning toward the north as it approached Great Kills Park.
The density lines for the western end of the hay area showed
high coliform densities in the vicinity of the mouth of the Raritan
River, the southern end of Arthur Kill, and the area of the Middle-
sex County Sewerage Authority treatment plant outfall. In the
Raritan River the coliform density decreased, downstream from 4,000
per 100 ml. near Sandy Point to 2,000 per 100 ml. near Ferry Point.
The density near the southern end of Arthur Kill also was 2,000
per 100 ml. As the waters from these two tributaries entered
Raritan Bay the density rose to 3,000 per 100 ml. and continued to
increase to more than 4,000 per 100 ml. in an area in the vicinity
-------
of the Middlesex County Outfall. In the Immediate area of the
outfall a peak of 10,000 was recorded. Generally, the density of
the coliforms decrease as you move eastward to the center of the
bay. The New York-New Jersey state line in a general way bisects
longitudinally the elliptical lines centering around the area of
the Middlesex County outfall. Much of the central portion of the
Bay had mean coliform densities less than 200 per 100 ml. The
combined evidence of the coliform data indicate the health hazards
involved in the use of the waters of portions of the bay area.
The bacterial contamination of the waters of the western
end of Raritan Bay and of the northeastern end of Lower Bay in the
vicinity of the Staten Island shore presents a health hazard in
the recreational use of these waters for boating, water skiing,
fishing, etc.
Much of the waters of the bay area are unsuitable for the
taking of shellfish for human consumption. This is demonstrated
by the closing .off-masfe of the bay to shellflshing by the New York
and New Jersey Authorities on May 1, 1961. The health hazard
involved in human consumption of raw clams taken from Raritan Bay
was converted to a reality in early 1961 when a substantial number
of cases of hepatitis resulted from eating clams taken from these
-------
waters. jJEhe hepatitis outbreak was accompanied "by numerous cases
of enteric upsets ^7^—
Dissolved Oxygen
During the last half of May, i960, the New York State
Conservation Department collected samples for dissolved oxygen
determinations along 3 profiles in the "bay area. One profile,
involving 5 stations, extended in a southerly direction from the
Narrows perpendicular to the state line. The results, presented
in Figure 16, of 4 sets of samples show that the dissolved oxygen
in this area generally exceeded 50 percent saturation, although
3 of the 18 values were approximately 50 percent and 1 value was
"below 50 percent. Maximum dissolved oxygen saturation was about
70 percent. Figure 17 presents the results of samples collected
at 8 stations, starting at Arthur Kill and extending along the
southeastern shore of Staten Island. Nine of the 32 samples had
dissolved oxygen saturation values of less than 50 percent, with
2 of these "below 30 percent. At 5 stations on a profile about
1 mile off the Staten Island shore, 9 of 21 samples had dissolved
oxygen saturations of less than 50 percent, as shown in Figure l8„
Two of these samples had saturations of approximately 30 percent.
Most of the lower values occurred along the western ends of the 2
^3
-------
profiles in Raritan Bay.
Thus, bay waters along the Staten Island shore line and 1
mile off shore had dissolved oxygen saturation values "below the
50 percent saturation required for Interstate Sanitation
Commission Class A waters,, Comparable dissolved oxygen data in
New Jersey waters of the bay were not available for this report.
-------
DISSOLVED OXYGEN
_E
Station
-------
-------
5/31/80
5/17/60
-------
SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS
The waters of the Arthur Kill; the tidal portion of the
Raritan River and its tributary; and of the Raritan Bay, the Lover
Bay, and Sandy Hook Bay; are extensively used by, and axe very
valuable to, the 15 million inhabitants in the New York-New Jersey
metropolitan area.
Water uses include: navigation; recreation, including
bathing, skiing, boating, and fishing; commercial fishing; indus-
trial process cooling; shellfishing; and disposition of sewage and
industrial wastes from the adjacent land area.
The combined sewage and Industrial wastes discharged to
the waters under condiseration have an estimated total biochemical
oxygen demand population equivalent of 2,100,000. Of this total
29 percent is attributed to direct waste discharges from industrial
plants, mostly on Arthur Kill. An estimated 1,282,000 people are
served by the 30 sewerage systems discharging to these waters.
Of this population 93 percent resides in New Jersey, and J percent
In New York. ^'t^the^exceptlon-of^wo^smgill^s^steiBP^Xme'st^of-^
Treatmentxplants which discharge Into the_^waters of the bay gener-
al Tyyare equipped to disinfect the~gettled effluents' with^hlorine_. \
-------
About 63 percent of the sewered population is tributary to systems
discharging to Arthur Kill.
The biochemical oxygen demand population equivalent of efflu-
ents discharged from all the sewerage systems is estimated td be
1*550,000, of "Which 98 percent originates from New Jersey and 2
percent from New York. Population equivalents of suspended solids
are estimated at 473*000, of which 96 percent originates from New
Jersey,-and 4 percent from New York.
During the period 1958 to 1961 there have been at least l8l
inspections of suspended solids removal at 17 sewage treatment
l-k {^"V'
plants, and at least 139 inspections of the coliform content of 15
plant effluents. Of these, 26 percent of the suspended solids tests
indicated inadequate removal efficiency and 29 percent of the coli-
form tests indicated inadequate disinfection. Ten of the treatment
plants are reported to be overloaded.
In addition to the direct discharges from sewerage systems
and industrial plants the waters receive untreated sewage from large
numbers of ships and-boats.' "Lower-Bay receives a portion of the
residual pollution, from the 10 million people tributary to the
Upper Harbor area. These wastes pass through the Narrows and affect
the water quality of Raritan and Lower Bay.
46
-------
Gross pollution of Arthur Kill is evidenced by high coliform
densities and lov dissolved oxygen values.
In tfee-jfeay-axea the greatest bacterial contamination is in
1
the western portion of R&eJ.4wfi" Bay, in the vicinity of the southern
end of the Arthur Kill, the mouth of the Raritan River, and the
outfall from the Middlesex County Sewage Treatment.. Plant.. .In Lower
Bay the greatest "bacterial contamination is in the northeast area
of the bay, generally along the Staten Island shore. Bacterial
contamination decreases from these opposite ends of the bay area
toward Sandy Hook Bay and toward the central portion of the bay
area. W&eJSe—nn t~p.
A\
Oxygen depletion is excessive in the extreme western end of
the bay area and along a portion of the Staten Island shore. There
is improvement towards the central and eastern end of the bay area.
The excessive bacterial contamination of Arthur Kill renders
its water potentially hazardous to the health of those who use it
for any purpose that might permit ingestion of even small quantities
of the water. The low dissolved oxygen content of several miles
of the Kill is damaging to aquatic life.
The waters of the beaches along both the upper and lower
ends of Staten Island's southeastern shore, and along the New Jersey
kl
-------
shore in the vicinity of the mouth of Raritan River and the south-
ern end of Arthur Kill, have bacterial contamination in excess of
that considered safe for bathing. The offshore waters ,of these
same areas present a health hazard to those who use them for boat-
ing, skiing, or fishing.
«ta&en-from-themrj- All clam beds in the bay area were closed by New
York and New Jersey authorities on May 1, 1961, but subsequently
New Jersey reopened Sandy Hook Bay for clamming. An epidemiologi-
cal survey established the fact that a substantial"number of cases
of hepatitis resulted in early 1961 from the ksw- consumption of
clams taken from Raritan Bay.
It is evident that pollution of waters of the bay area and
its tributaries by sewage and industrial wastes discharged from
adjacent areas in New York and New Jersey constitutes pollution
of interstate waters subject to abatement under the Federal Water
Pollution Control Act, as such pollution endangers the health o^
welfare of persons in a State other than that in which the dis-
charges contributing to such pollution originate.
k8
-------
BIBLIOGRAPHY
1. Summary Report on the Quality of Waters In Raritan and Lower
Bays, Harold F. Udell, New York State Conservation De-
partment, Shellfish Sanitation and Management Unit,
Freeport, New York, 1958. Page 7.
Footnote 1/
2. New York Times, March 12, I960, "Arthur Kill Free of Last
Obstacle", John P. Callahan
Footnote 2/
3. Federal Aid for Fisheries, Report of Project F-2-R-1, Inventory
of New Jersey's Salt Water Sport Fishery, Department of
Conservation and Economic Development, Division of Fish
and Game, Trenton, New Jersey, 1952. Page 5°
Footnote 3/
A. Raritan River - Raritan Bay Survey, Summary Report, March i960,
Myrton C. Rand, Ernest R. Segesser. Page 3.
Footnote bj
5. Annual Report of the Division of Fish and Game, Fiscal Year
Commencing July 1, 1956 and Ending June 30, 1957t New
Jersey Department of Conservation and Economic
Development.
6. Bacterial Pollution of Raritan and Lower Bays and Its
Relation to Shellfish, hy Harold Udell, Shellfish
Sanitation Consultant, Federal Security Agency, Public
Health Service, May 1952.
7. Contamination Dispersion in Estuaries, New York Harbor,
Hydraulic Model Investigation, Miscellaneous Paper No.
2-332, Report 3, U.S. Army Engineer Waterways Experiment
Station, Corps of Engineers, Vicksburg, Mississippi,
January 1961.
8. Great Kills, A New Beach for New York. The City of New York,
Department of Parks, 1959*
9. The Improvement of Coney Island, Rockaway and South Beaches,
Department of Parks, City of New York, November 30, 1937-
10. Interstate Sanitation Commission 1955-1960 Annual Reports.
11a Middlesex County Sewerage Authority, First through Seventh
Annual Reports.
12. New York City Beaches, the City of New York, Department of
Parks, 19^60
k9
-------
BIBLIOGRAPHY
13. New York City Department of Public Works 1955-1960 Annual
Reports.
Ik. New York City Waterfront, Reprinted from The New York
Times Magazine.
15. New York City Waters Survey Series, Report No. 1, Upper Bay-
East Lower Bay, Water Pollution Control Board, New York
State Department of Health, i960.
16. New York City Waters Survey Series, Report No. 3j Arthur Kill
and Kill Van Kull, Water Pollution Control Board, New
York State Department of Health, i960.
17. Quality of the Waters of Raritan Bay; Effect of Middlesex
County Sewage Treatment Plant, Bureau of Sanitary
Engineering, Department of Health, City of New York,
June 23j 1958.
18. Recommended Classification of Surface Waters in the Area of
and Including West and Lower Bay and Raritan Bay, New York
Conservation Department, Shellfisheries Management Unit,
Freeport, New York, June i960.
19. Recreational Facilities for New Yorkers, Dept. of Parks, 1961-62.
20. Remarks of Robert Moses at the Celebration of the 75th Anniv. of
the Staten Island Inst, of Arts and Sciences, April 13, 1957*
21. A Report on the Public Health Aspects of Clamming in Raritan Bay,
Federal Security Agency, US Public Health Service, 19^1.
22. Second Annual Report of the Commissioner of Conservation for the
Period July 1, 19^6 to June 30^ 19V7 > State of New Jersey,
January 15, 195®•
23• Sewage Pollution - Report Relative to Shellfish Industry in New
York Harbor, Federal Works Agency, WPA for the City of New
York, The Interstate Sanitation Commission, January 1939»
24. Southern Arthur Kill Surveys, Interstate Sanitation Comm., 1955•
25. Staten Island, South Beach Ocean Front Improvement, City of
New York, May 1953-
26. Study of Pollution in Arthur Kill, Technical Report 56-3t
Interstate Sanitation Commission, June 1956.
27. A Study of the Pollution of a Shellfish Producing Area, Arthur
P. Miller, Public Health News, February 1937*
28. Tides and Currents in New York Harbor, H.A.Marmer, US Dept. of
Commerce, C&GS, Special Publication No. HI, 1935*
29. Waterborne Commerce of the United States, Calendar Year 1959*
Part 1, Waterways and Harbors Atlantic Coast, Department of
the Army, Corps of Engineers, New. York, N.Y.
50
-------
APPENDIX A
SUMMARY OF SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT PERFORMANCE
FROM INTERSTATE SANITATION COMMISSION RECORDS
-------
FORT HANCOCK, NEW JERSEY
Fort Hancock is located on Sandy HookD The treatment
facilities provided at this "base consist of primary treatment
and chlorination with a capacity of .5 mgd. The discharge
line from this facility discharges to the ocean off the east
shore of Sandy Hook and does not enter the waters of Sandy
Hook or Lower Bays,
A-l
-------
HIGHLANDS SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT
SUMMARY OF PERFORMANCE
FROM
INTERSTATE SANITATION COMMISSION RECORDS
DATE
FLOW
SUSPENDED i
SOLIDS
B.O.D. (5 day)
COLIFORM
Eff.
Percent
Eff.
Eff.
Percent
Eff.
$ over
Mgd.
PPM
Removed
P.E.*
PPM
Removed
P.E.*
l/ml
4/30/58
0.452
66
51
1242
60
47
1356
0
6/18/58
0.370
82
66
1264
93
62
1720
0
10/21/58
0.4*
69
74
1151
97
46
1940
0
5/ 6/59
0.4*
58
75
967
100
54
2000
0
6/ 7/59
0.4*
48
82
801
152
50
3040
50
8/2 ^9
0.4*
87
58
1451
138
35
2760
0
10/28/59
0.4*
68
46
1134
86
38
1720
0
12/15/59
0.4*
63
63
1051
62
59
1240
0
5/17/60
0.4*
73
65
1217
113
31
2260
25
8/ 1/60
0.4*
53
73
884
117'.
49
2340
25
8/22/60
0.4*
90
42
1501
No
Samples Taken
0
9/ 2/60
0.4*
84
42
i4oi
63
36
1260
0
3/28/61
0.4*
87
47
1451
78
36
1560
25
6/ 5/61
0.4*
103
55
1718
111
38
2220
0
Average
1231
1955
Failure to meet Compact requirements
for Suspended Solids removal - 7/l4 visits
Failure to meet Compact requirements
for Coliform removal - 0/l4 visits
* Estimated
A-fi
-------
HIGHLANDS-, NEW JERSEY
The Highlands treatment plant was "built in 1928 to
accommodate a design flow of 1,2 mgdo The treatment consists
of sedimentation plus chlorination. The treatment units axe
a bar rack, sedimentation tank, chlorination with a contact
tank, and glass-covered sludge "beds. The original outfall
line traversed the Shrewsbury River and the neck of land
connecting Sandy Hook to the mainland, and entered the
Atlantic Ocean. This outfall line was reported to "be broken
sometime in the past and, according to the records of the
Interstate Sanitation Commission, the effluent is presently
being discharged to the Shrewsbury River „ The estimated
population served is approximately 3 .>000 persons during the
winter and upwards of 6 to 12,000 during the peak summer
months. This is approaching the designed capacity of the
existing plant,, The i960 Census population for this area
is 3^536. Average flow during the winter months is approx-
imately 0.4 mgd.
Inspections by the ISC, since 1958, have shown that
the plant failed to comply with the Compact suspended solids
removal requirement on 7 occasions out of the 14 visits made
by the Commission staff. Removals ranged from a low of 42#
on September 20, i960 to a high of 82# on June 7, 1959« The
coliform requirements of the Commission were met on every
occasion. The Interstate Sanitation Commission records also
indicate that the flow meter and totalizer have been out of
order since prior to their April 30> 1958 visit. The records
of the ISC indicate that the system is a separate system with
no known by-pass„
A-3
-------
¦ATLANTIC HIGHLANDS SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT
SUMMARY OF PERFORMANCE
FROM.
INTERSTATE SANITATION COMMISSION RECORDS
DATE FLOW SUSPENDED SOLIDS B.O.D. (5 day) COLIFORM
Eff. Percent Eff. Eff. Percent Eff. $ over
Mgd. PPM Removed P.E.* PPM Removed P.E.* l/ml
4/30/58
48
61
33
j
0
6/1T/58.
0.510
57
1212
105
0
2680
0
10/ 7/58
O.277
39
69
450
118
7
2678
0
5/ 7/5?
0.300*
75
938
112
0
1680
. 0
T/ 1/5?
0.369
107
17
1646
184
0
3395
25
8/26/59
0.355
107
16
1585
154
6
2735
T?
11/ 4/59
0.226
130
11
1226
102
27
H55
25
5/18/60
O0667
38
69
1061
83
3^
2768
0
8/ 1/60
Oo 502
33
75
688
120
10
3012
0
8/22/60
0.5*
4l
61
854
No Samples Taken
9/21/60
0.5*
121
0
2522
100
0
2500
100
9/27/60
0 = 5*
65
1355
113
7
2825
75.
3/29/61
0.5*
4o
32
834
67
16
1675
0
5/ 9/61
0.741
19
77
396
66
35
2445
0
Average
1136
2462
Failure to meet Compact requirements
for Suspended Solids removal - 9/^-4 visits
Failure to meet Compact requirements
for Coliform removal - 3/l3 visits
* Estimated
A-4
-------
ATLANTIC HIGHLANDS;, NEW JERSEY
Atlantic Highlands treatment plant was built in 1928 for
a design flow of 0o6 mgd, providing sedimentation and chlorination.
The treatment units consist of a sedimentation tank, chlorination
in the vet well on the effluent line, and glass-covered sludge
"beds. The outfall from this plant enters Sandy Hook. Bay next
to a private marina dock and discharges approximately 1,000 feet
off shore. The i960 estimated population served is approxi-
mately 3,000 persons during the winter months with approximately
double this number served during the peak summer months. The
I960 Census for Atlantic Highlands shows a population of 4,119.
The average flow during the winter months is estimated at 0.4 mgd.
Inspections by the ISC since 1958 show the plant failed
to meet the Compact Standard for suspended solids removal during
9 of the 14 visits that the Commission staff ma.de <> The removals
ranged from a low of a negative removal on September 1, i960, to
a high of 77 1° on May 9f 1961. The plant has failed to meet the
coliform requirements of the Commission on 3 occasions during the
14 visits. The plant is operated by a part time operator, and
according to the Interstate Sanitation Commission records, the
operator was not present during 2 of the 14 visits made by the
Commission staff. On various occasions the Commission staff
has reported that no operation records were available at the
plant. The tide backs the flow of the treated effluent into
the wet-wall necessitating pumpage during periods of high tide.
The pump on the effluent line was out of operation from Decem-
ber 12, i960 through March 285 I96I0 During that time a
portable pump was used to pump the effluent during periods of
high tide. Records of the ISC indicate that this is a separ-
ate system with no known by-passes0 A by-pass at the plant is
located in a manhole in the street opposite the plant. This
manhole has been well sealed with an accumulation of paving
material over the years, indicating that this by-pass has not
been used. This plant is operating at or near its design
capacity during the peak summer season.
A-5
-------
LEONARDO SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT
SUMMARY OF PERFORMANCE
FROM
INTERSTATE SANITATION. COMMISSION' RECORDS
DATE
FLOW
Mgd.
SUSPENDED SOLIDS
B.O.D. (5 day)
Eff.
PPM
Percent
Removed
Eff.
P.E.*
Eff.
PPM
Percent
Removed
Eff.
P.E.*
COLIFORM
$ over
l/ml
7/ 8/58
6/30/59
6/30/60
1961
0.015* 11 71
0.015* 13 92
0.015
No visits so far
Average
6.9 16 36
8.1 15 92
¦No Samples Taken
7-5
12
11
12
75
25
.100
Failure to meet Compact requirements
for Suspended Solids removal - 0/2 visits
Failure to meet Compact requirements
for -Coliform removal - 2/3 visits
* Estimated
A-6
-------
U. S. NAVAL AMMUNITION DEPOT, LEONARDO, NEW JERSEY
The Leonardo Naval Depot sewage treatment plant was con-
structed during the 19^0's and consists of sedimentation, fil-
tration, and chlorination with a design flow of 0.08 mgd. The
treatment units are pre-chlorination facilities, Imhoff tank,
intermittent sand filters (out of operation since 19^9)t sad
sludge "beds. The effluent from the treatment plant discharges
to Ware Creek at its confluence with Raritan Bay. The esti-
mated population served at the present time is approximately
130 persons. The ISC has made 3 visits to this plant since
1958* The plant has met the suspended solids requirement of
the Compact on each occasion tested, but has failed to meet
the coliform requirement on 2 of the 3 visits.
There are 3 pier facilities on this base with privies
-located on each of the piers. These facilities discharge over
pierside without treatment. The approximate population using
these facilities is 100 persons, with a maximum of 250. Dis-
cussions are being held with the Naval District in charge to
obtain compliance with local regulations.
A-T
-------
KEANSBURG SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT
SUMMARY OF PERFORMANCE
FROM
INTERSTATE SANITATION COMMISSION RECORDS
DATE FLOW SUSPENDED SOLIDS B.O.D. (5 day) COLIFORM
Eff.
Percent
Eff.
Eff.
Percent
Eff.
$ O1
Mgd.
PPM
Removed
P.E.*
PPM
Removed
P.E.*
l/i
4/23/58
1.57
115
0
7351
36
18
2825
100
6/24/58
1-53
116
±2
7401
56
59
4285
T5
10/28/58
1.84
104
18
7980
44
19
4050
100
?/ 6/5?
1.37
79
24':
4512
4l
46
2809
50
6/24/59
1.44
831
70
49000
93
57
6695
75
8/25/59
1.66
77
64
5329
110
39
9130
0
11/17/59
1.27
71
21
3757
38
4o
2413
67
5/25/60
1.19
92
22
4566
55
27
3272
7?
8/ 1/60
3.H
81
32
10504
78
44
12129
75
8/23/60
2.74
117
12
13368
Nc
) Samples
Taken
T5
10/ 4/6o
1.38
66
45
3798
26
62
1794
50
3/21/61
1.82
56
19
4250
4l
27
3731
100
5/10/61
1.45
97
0
5865
51
25
3697
50
Average
9822
4736
Failure to meet Compact requirements
for Suspended Solids removal - ll/l3 visits
Failure to meet Compact requirements
for Coliform removal - 9/l3 visits
* Estimated
A-8
-------
KEANSBURG, NEW JERSEY
The Keansburg treatment plant was rebuilt in 19^9
to accommodate a design flow of 2.0 mgd providing sedi-
mentation; plus chlorination facilities. The treatment
units congst of screens, mechanically-equipped sedimen-
tation tanks, post-chlorination facilities, chemical
flocculation and sludge digester with vacuum filtration.
The outfall line discharges into Raritan Bay, approxi-
mately 1500 feet offshore from the city of Keansburg.
The estimated population served is approximately 56OO
persons during the winter months, with a summer popula-
tion reaching 3 to 4 times this total during the peak
months^. The average flow during the winter months is
approximately 1,4 mgd. Flows as high as 3.1 mgd have
been noted in the Interstate Sanitation Commission's
records, the i960 Census population for this community
is 6,854.
Inspections by the Interstate Sanitation Commission
staff, since 1958, have shown that this plant has failed
to meet the Compact requirements for suspended solids
removal on 11 of 13 plant visits. The suspended solids
removals have ranged from a low of negative removals on
2 occasions to a high of 70$ on June 2b, 1959* With
respect to the coliform standard of the Commission, the
plant has failed to meet the standard on 9 of the 13
plant visits. Of the b visits on which the requirements
were met, 3 of these had borderline performances.
The records of the Commission note that on May 6,
1959 sludge stored in the digester was hauled away after
2 years of storage. On the occasion of the Interstate
Sanitation Commission's visit of June 2b, 1959 iron
wastes were being dumped into the treatment plant at
so great a rate that the pumps in the plant could not
handle the flow and the plant was observed to be over-
flowing during the morning sampling period. On that
occasion the influent suspended solids was recorded at
2,737 ppm and the effluent at 831 ppm.
A-9
-------
There is no State licensed operator at this plant,
although there is a full time employee designated as the
Chief Operator. The records of the Interstate Sanitation
Commission indicate that this is a separate gravity system
having no known by-passes. This plant is operating over
its design capacity during the summer months.
A-ll
-------
KEYPGRT SEWAGE TREA3MENT PLANT
SUMMARY OF PERFORMANCE
¦ FROM
INTERSTATE SANITATION COMMISSION RECORDS
PATE FLOW SUSPENDED SOLIDS B.O.D, (5 day) COLIFQRM
Eff.
Percent
Eff.
Eff.
Percent
Eff.
$ ove:
Mgd.
PPM
Removed
P.E.*
PPM
Removed
P.E.*
l/ml
V23/58
0.800
68
49
2268
111
8
4440
6/25/58
0.9
104
25
3903
173
14
7785
25
10/22/58
0.8*
103
^3
3^36
184
16
7360
75
5/13/59
0.8
53
73
1768
121
27
4840
100
6/30/59
0.8
61
61
2035
165
34
6600
50
8/26/59
0.8*
104
38
3469
176
25
7050
15
11/18/59
0.8*
68
76
2268
103
53
4120
§1
6/ 1/60
0.8*
77
55
2568
157
22
6280
100
8/ 2/60
0.8*
27
63
900
106
29
4240
25
8/23/60
0.8*
71
37
2368
No Samples
Taken
11
9/28/60
0.8*
53
51
1768
104
20
4160
100
3/15/61
0.8*
51
4l
1701
' 93
18
3720
100
5/10/61
0.8*
51
k6
1701
122
23
4880
100
Average
2319
5456
Failure to meet Compact requirements
for Suspended Solids removal - 9/l3 visits
Failure to meet Compact requirements
for Coliform removal - 9/l2 visits
* Estimated
A-12
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KEYPORT, NEW JERSEY
The Keyport treatment plant was rebuilt In 1936
to accommodate a design flow of 0.4 mgd providing sedimentation
plus chlorination0 Treatment units consist of a "bar rack, sedi-
mentation tank, chlorination facilities including a contact tank,
sludge digestion facilities, glass-covered, sludge drying beds.
The outfall line discharges approximately 25 feet offshore into
Rarltan Bay. The estimated population served is approximately
7,000 persons during the winter months and upwards to 3 times
this figure during the summer months. The i960 Census for this
area gives a population of 6,kh0 persons. Average flow during
the winter months is approximately .8 mgd. The population served
during the winter months is 100$ in excess of the designed pop-
ulation of this plant and the flow is 3-00$ in excess of the de-
signed flow .during the peak summer months.
Inspections of the Interstate Sanitation Commission have
shown that this plant failed to meet the suspended solids require-
ment of the Commission on 9 of 13 plant visits. Suspended solids
removal have ranged from a low of 25 $ on June 25} 195^, to a high
of 76$ on November 18, 1959- The plant has failed to meet the
Commission coliform standards on 9 of 12 occasions. Records of
the Commission indicate that the plant is in very poor condition
and is subject to flooding by tidal action. The digesters have
been completely out of operation for some time and the sludge
beds have not been used for a period of 2 or more years. The
greenhouse is in poor repair with much of the glass broken. During
the Commission visit of May 10, 1961 the bar screen was under water
during the entire visit and the records indicated that raw sewage
had been by-passed through an outfall line on Front Street for
a period from May 2 through May 9= The south Keyport pump station
was noted as by-passing on April 260 Both of these by-passes
were made with the permission of the New Jersey State Health
Department. During a visit on April 28, I96I by the staff of
the Interstate Sanitation Commission it was noted that the flow
meter was out of operation. The flights for the sedimentation
tank had been out of operation since April 13. A septic tank
scavenger was removing sludge from the tanks during the period
of the visit, the sludge digestion tanks were under water, the
chlorine contact tank contained a large quantity of sludge and
A-13
-------
gas "bulking was observed. The grit chamber-bar rack was surcharged
with a flow of water approximately 6" above the tops of the bar rack.
The plant was being operated by an inexperienced man from the City
Highway Department. The operator was attempting to do the best he
could, but was unprepared for the situation that faced him.
An examination of the sewage system records of the Interstate
Sanitation Commission indicates that this is a separate system having
3 pumping stations. One pumping station is equipped with a by-pass
overflow arrangement. This is the pump station previously reported
as by-passing.
The State has this plant under orders and it is proposed to
completely rebuild this plant. A project has been submitted under
the Construction Grants Program—PL 87-88 for a grant for the con-
struction of a sewage treatment plant. Additions and improvements
estimated at 03^3^500 are proposed. A Federal grant of 0108,600
has been accepted. The bids were received in May I96I0
A-15
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MATAWM TOWNSHIP (RIVER GARDENS SECTION) SEWAGE TREATMENT
PLANT, NEW JERSEY
The Matawan Tbwnship sewage treatment plant was designed
to accommodate a flow of 0.25 mgd, providing contact aeration
and chlorination. The treatment units consist of a sedimentation
tank with contact aeration and post-chlorination facilities with
a contact tank, sludge digester and sludge "beds „ The effluent
is discharged to Matawan Creek approximately l/2 mile upstream
from the confluence of Matawan Creek with Raritan Bay. The
estimated populations served is approximately 280 families
or about 1,000 persons with an average flow of approximately
0ol3 mgdo
During a visit "by the State Health Department
representative on April 20, 1961 it was noted that the flow
meter was out of order andiissecond stage aeration tank was
not functioning properly, .The operator is a part-time man
putting in approximately two hours per day and the plant
has suffered in the past from vandalism„ It is our
understanding that the Township plant is under orders of
the State and that the matter has "been referred to the
New Jersey Attorney General's office. No information
was available on the current performance of this plant nor
was any information available on the sewer system as to
whether there are any known "by-passes.
A-17
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KNOLLCROFT SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT
SUMMARY OF PERFORMANCE
FROM
INTERSTATE SANITATION COMMISSION RECORDS
DATE FLOW SUSPENDED SOLIDS B.O.D. (5 day) COLIFORM
Eff. Percent Eff. Eff. Percent Eff. "jo over
Mgd. PEM Removed P.E. * PPM Removed P.E. * l/ml
6/l2/6l No Samples Taken 100
Failure to meet Compact requirements
for Coliform removal - l/l visits
* Estimated
A-18
-------
MATAWAN TOWNSHIP (KNOLLCROFT SECTION) SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT,
NEW JERSEY
The Knollcroft treatment plant was completed early In i960
to accommodate ;a design flow estimated at 0.2 mgd providing sedi-
mentation plus chlorinationo The treatment units consist of a
"bar rack, sedimentation tank and chlorination facilities including
a contact chamber. The discharge is to an outfall line running
1,000:' off the shore into Raritan Bay. The present population
served is estimated at about 850 persons in the housing develop-
ment called Knollcroft.
The Interstate Sanitation Commission made its first
visit to this plant on June 12, 1961 and at that time found the
coliform removal to he in violation of the Compact standard. This
has been the only sampling of this plant and only one coliform
series "was tested. No information was available as to known
by-passes.
A-19
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SAYREVTLLE-MORGAN SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT
SUMMARY OF PERFORMANCE
FROM
INTERSTATE SANITATION COMMISSION RECORDS
DATE FLOW SUSPENDED SOLIDS B.O.D. (5 day) COLIFORM
Eff. Percent Eff. Eff. Percent Eff. °jo over
Mgd. PPM Removed P. E. * PPM Removed P.E. * l/ml
4/24/58 O.lOO No Samples Taken 0
9/23/58 " " " 0
6/18/59 0.074 " " " 0
9/17/59 0.113 " " " 0
12/ 3/59 0.094 " " " 0
6/30/60 ¦" " " 0
8/24/60 0.156 75 78 488 No Samples Taken 0
6/12/61 0.110 43 86 1^7 i64 38 299. 0
Average 343 900
Failure to meet Compact requirements
for Suspended Solids removal - 0/2 visits
Failure to meet Compact requirements
* Estimated
A-20
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SAYREVILLE (MORGAN SECTION) SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT, NEW JERSEY
The Morgan sewage treatment plant was built In 1951
to accommodate a design flow of 0.3 mgd providing sedimentation
plus chlorination0 The treatment units consist of a bar rack,
mechanically-operated sedimentation tank, sludge digesters, and
chlorination facilities including a contact tank. The outfall
line discharges into Raritan Bay approximately 600' offshore
at the confluence of Cheesequake Creek and Raritan Bay. The
estimated population served is approximately 2,000 and the average
flow is estimated at approximately 0.1 mgd.
The inspections of the Interstate Sanitation Commission
have shown that this plant has consistently met the coliform
requirements of the Commission on all occasions. The plant
has "been sampled eight times in the last four years. During
i960 and 6l the plant was sampled once each year to determine
Compact requirements on suspended solids. On both occasions
the plant met the Compact requirements with removals of 78
and 86 per cent respectively in i960 and 6l„ No information
was available as to known by-passes.
A-21
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SOUTH AMBOY SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT
SUMMARY" OF PERFORMANCE
FROM
INTERSTATE SANITATION COMMISSION RECORDS
DATE
FLOW
SUSPENDED !
30LIDS
B-O.D,, (5 day)
COLIFORM
Eff.
Percent
Eff.
Eff.
Percent
Eff.
$ over
Mgd.
PPM
Removed
P.E.*
PPM
Removed
P.E.*
l/ml
5/ 6/58
0.735
56
66
1716
81
38
2975
0
6/30/58
0.595
67
74
1664
114
52
3390
25
10/21/58
o„6oo*
62
65
1551
147
4o
4410
0
5/ 5/59
0.575
69
69
1655
180
35
5175
0
6/23/59
0,600*
66
70
1651
140
44
4200
0
9/ 1/59
0.600*
91
55
2277
156
11
4680
25
11/ 1/59
0.600*
65
69
1626
136
26
4o8o
25
6/ 7/60
0.56*
62
74
1447
178
39
4984
25
8/ 2/60
o„6*
46
75
1150
143
24
4290
25
8/24/60
o„6*
67
66
1676
No Samples
Taken
0
10/19/60
O06*
53
72
1326
147
23
4410
25
5/ 8/61
0.6*
23
87
575
137
28
4110
25
6/13/61
0.6*
50
69
1251
154
25
4620
25
Average
1505
4277
Failure to meet Compact requirements
for Suspended Solids removal - l/l3 visits
Failure to meet Compact requirements
for Coliform removal - 0/13 visits
* Estimated
A-22
-------
SOUTH AMBOY SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT, HEW JERSEY
The South Amboy sewage treatment plant was built in 19^0
to accommodate a design flow of 1.0 mgd providing sedimentation
plus chlorinationo The treatment units consist of a bar rack,
two mechanically equipped circular sedimentation basins, chlorina-
tion facilities including contact tank, sludge digester and
glass-covered sludge beds. The outfall line discharges off-
shore into Raritan Ba,y« The estimated population served is
8,400 persons with an average flow of 0*J mgd. The i960 Census
population for South Amboy was 8,422 persons.
Inspections by the Interstate Sanitation Commission
since 195^ have shown that the South Amboy plant has met
suspended solids removal requirements on 12 of the 13
occasions of a plant visit. The only failure to meet
Compact requirements was on September 1, 1959) at which
time the removal efficiency was 55$° The removals over
the past 4 years have ranged from a low of 55$ to a high
of 87$ during the visit of May 8, 1961. The South Amboy
plant has met the coliform requirements of the Commission
on every visit by the Commission staff during this past k
years. The records of the Commission also noted that the
South Amboy plant had by-passed for a period of time on or
about June 30, 195^ while the clarifiers were undergoing
repair. Again, in May of i960, on or about May 16 to May 20,
the plant by-passed to allow for the repair of the chlorine
detention chamber. Again, on May 8, 1961, the Commission noted
that the plant was by-passing for a period from March 6, 1961
to April 17, 1961 while repairs to the pumps and piping as
well as cleaning of the settling tanks were under way. The
Interstate Sanitation Commission records indicate that the
South Amboy sewer system is a separate system with 5 pumping
stations, none having built-in by-passes„
A-23
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SAYREVILLE-MELROSE SEWAGE TREATMENT PLAM1
SUMMARY OF PERFORMANCE
FROM
INTERSTATE SANITATION COMMISSION RECORDS
DATE FLOW SUSPENDED SOLIDS B.O.D. (5 day) COLIFORM
Eff. Percent Eff. Eff. Percent Eff. $ over
Mp;d. PPM Removed P.E.* PPM Removed P.E.* l/ml
4/2V58 0.038* No Samples Taken— 0
9/23/58 0.04-5 " " 11 0
6/18/59 0.030 " " " 0
9/17/59 0.019 " " " 0
12/ 3/59 0.017 " " " 0
6/30/60 " " " 0
8/24/60 0.042 58 68 100 No Samples Taken 0
4/ 4/6i 0.045 56 33 io4 74 48 185 0
Average 102 185
Failure to meet Compact requirements
for Suspended Solids removal - l/2 visits
Failure to meet Compact requirements
for Coliform removal - 0/8 visits
* Estimated
A-24
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SAIERVILLE (MELROSE SECTION) TREATMENT PLANT, NEW JERSEY
The Melrose treatment plant was built in 19^9 to
accommodate a design flow of 0.1 mgd, providing sedimentation
plus chlorination„ The treatment units consist of a "bar rack,
mechanically-equipped sedimentation tank, chlorlnation facil-
ities with a contact tank, sludge digester, and glass-covered
sludge "beds „ The outfall discharges to the Raritan River up-
stream of the Garden State Parkway Bridge. The estimated
population served is a thousand persons with an average flow
of approximately 0.05 mgd.
Inspections "by the Interstate Sanitation Commission
since 195^ have shown that the plant has failed to meet the
suspended solids removal requirements of the Compact on 1 of
the 2 occasions during which the plant was sampled for sus-
pended solids „ This was a removal of 33$ recorded on April 4,
1961. On August 2k, i960 the removal was recorded at 68$. The
plant has met the Commission standards for coliform removal on
every occasion during the last 4 years - a total of 7 plant
visits. No information was available as to known "by-passes.
A-25
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MIDDLESEX COUNTY SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT
SUMMARY OF PERFORMANCE
FROM
INTERSTATE SANITATION COMMISSION RECORDS
DATE
FLOW
SUSPENDED !
SOLIDS
B.O.D. (5 day)
COLIFORM
Eff.
Percent
Eff.
Eff.
Percent
Eff.
$ over
M&d.
PPM
Removed
P.E.*
PPM
Removed
P.E.*
l/ml
6/30/58
29.77
50
84
62070
385
0
573073
0
IO/8/58
34.1
62
80
88162
387
7
659835
0
4/22/59
36-9
106
64
163105
367
17
677115
25
6/16/59
39.9
107
62
178030
412
6
821940
25
8/25/59
4o.o*
165
81
275220
503
26
1006000
0
10/28/59
46.71
110
67
214258
444
16
IO36962
25
12/16/59
4-3.21
77
71
138736
369
18
797224
0
5/11/60
42.87
95
74
169829
475
13
1018163
0
8/ 2/60
52.08
36
77
78182
355
11
924420
25
8/23/60
50.37
172
19
361273
No
Samples
Taken
0
10/15/60
41.83
74
75
129079
375
16
784312
0
12/ 6/60
37.8
155
^8
244320
493
10
931770
0
3/22/61
55.4
72
68
166332
291
21
806070
25
6/ 7/61
50.0*
63
76
W55
344
10
860000
0
Average
171425
838222
Failure to meet Compact requirements
for Suspended Solids removal - 2/l4 visits
Failure to meet Compact requirements
for Coliform removal - o/l4 visits
* Estimated
A-26
-------
MIDDLESEX COUNT! SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT, NEW JERSEY"
The Middlesex County sewage treatment plant was "built
in 1957 "to accommodate a design flow of 52.0 mgd. The treat-
ment consists of sedimentation, chemical treatment and chlor-
ination. The treatment units are a bax rack, a grit chamber,
chemical distribution chamber, clarriflocculators and chlor-
ination facilities including a contact chamber with sludge
storage and sludge digestion with disposal of sludge to the
sea. The outfall line discharges to Raritan Bay approximately
7500' offshore through a series of ^ dispersion nozzles. The
estimated population served by this plant is 299>^10, served by
trunk sewers. This includes 13 municipalities and 8 industries
in the area. Average daily flow for i960 was approximately
lj-1 mgd.
Inspections by the Interstate Sanitation Commission
staff since the beginning of operation, 1958, have shown the
plant failed to meet Compact suspended solids requirements on
2 occasions during a total of 14 visits. The suspended solids
removal has ranged from a low of 19$ on August 23, i960 to a
high of 81$ on June 30, 1958.. The plant has met the ISC coli-
form requirements on every occasion during the last 14 visits.
The records also indicate that for a period of 2 weeks, from •
February Ik to February 28, 1961, it was necessary to by-pass
approximately 2 mgd for a total of 28 mgd at the Heyden Pumping
Station because of a broken valve at this station.
Although the system is a combined system in that it takes
both sewage and storm water flow, the plant is equipped to take
the full storm discharge without necessity for by-passing of
treatment facilities. By-passing of the treatment plant is
possible from the grit chamber directly to the post-chlorination
chamber. Records of the ISC indicate 3 pumping stations, 2 small
ones with no known by-passes, and the main pump station with 2
by-passes» This plant is operating at its designed capacity and
during times of storm it has operated at flows considerably in
excess of design.
A-27
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CAMP KILMER, NEW JERSEY
Camp Kilmer is located on the Raritan River near New
Brunswick, N„ J„ The treatment facilities at this plant con-
sist of high rate filtration, sludge digestion, and chlorin-
ation. The average flow is 1.0 mgd and the capacity of the
plant is rated at 6,0 mgdo The discharge from this plant goes
to the Raritan River.
Inspection "by the State Health Department has shown the
effluent to "be satisfactory with the exception of coliform or-
ganisms. Discussions are "being held with the federal agency
concerned "by the Public Health Service Regional office to
remedy this problem®
A-29
-------
RARITAN ARSENAL, NEW JERSEY
Raritan Arsenal is located in Edison Township,, The
sewage treatment facility for this post provides primary-
settling, standard rate trickling filters, and sludge di-
gestion and drying„ A dry chlorinator is available hut not
in use. The capacity of the plant is 0»5 mgd.f and the
average flow is 0.25 mgd.
The State Health Department has found this plant to
he satisfactory with the exception of the lack of chlorination.
Discussions are being held with the federal agency responsible
for this plant to see that there is compliance with the State
requirements.
A-31
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WOOEHRIDGE (KEASBY SECTION) SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT, NEW JERSEY
The Woodbridge-Keasby sewage treatment plant was "built
to accommodate a design flow of 1.35 mgd providing sedimentation,
and chlorination. The treatment units consist of a bar rack, grit
chamber, mechanically equipped sedimentation tanks, chlorination
with a contact tank, sludge digestion and sludge drying "beds. The
outfall discharges to Kinsey Creek which flows into the Raritan
River upstream from Perth Amboy, The estimated population served
is 2,000 persons.
No information is available as to the performance of this
plant, at the time of the preparation of this report.
A-33
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PERTH AMBOY SEWAGE TREATMENT FLAM1
SUMMARY" OF PERFORMANCE
FROM
INTERSTATE SANITATION COMMISSION RECORDS
DATE
FLOW
SUSPENDED SOLIDS
B.O.D. (5 day) COLIFORM
Eff.
Percent
¦Eff.
Eff.
Percent
Eff.
$ over
Mgd.
PPM
Removed
P.E.*
PPM
Removed
. P.E.*
l/ml
5-75
113
£
27094
114
20
32775
100
5-7
27
87
6422
99
24
28200
25
5.32
49
76
10870
82
51
21800
0
5.79
56
67
13511
132
62
38215
50
4.12
39
69
6700
97
4l
19982
0
4.58
79
63
15095
86
39
19700
IS
6.43
61
62
16346
122
32
39225
0
6.64
53
14678
156
0
51800
25
7.60
85
46
26938
145
7
55100
0
60 91
9
92
2594
185
26
63918
0
5.46
62
61
14115
No Samples Taken
50
5.22
52
75
11319
126
25
32885
50
5.88
138
0
33831
55
0
16170
100
5.45
43
69
9772
104
66
28340
25
Average
14949
34469
4/22/58
7/ 1/58
10/ 4/58
4/21/59
6/17/59
7/ 9/59
8/26/59
12/ 8/59
5/10/60
8/ 2/60
8/22/60
9/15/60
12/ 7/60
3/iWa
5/ 9/61
Failure to meet Compact requirements
for Suspended Solids removal - 4/l4 visits
Failure to meet Compact requirements
for Coliform removal - 3/l4 visits
* Estimated
A-3b
-------
PERTH AMBOY SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT, HEW JERSEY
The Perth Amboy sewage treatment plant was built in 193^
to accommodate a design flow of 10.0 mgd. providing sedimentation,
chemical flocculation and chlorination. The treatment units con-
sist of a "bar rack, chemical flocculation chamber, mechanically-
equipped settling tanks with magnetite filters, chlorination
facilities including a contact tank, and vacuum filtration of the
raw sludge after sludge conditioning. The outfall line discharges
approximately 200' offshore of the treatment plant site into the
Raritan River at approximately the center of the bathing area of
a public bathing beach of the city of Perth Amboy. The estimated
population served, is 42,000 persons with an average flow of
approximately 7.0 mgd.
Inspections by the Interstate Sanitation Commission staff
since 1958 have shown that the plant has failed to meet compact
requirements on suspended solids removal on 4 occasions during
the 15 visits of the Commission. The suspended solids removals
have ranged from a low of a negative removal recorded on March 14,
19.61 to a high of 92$ recorded on August 2, i960. The plant has
also failed to meet the Compact requirements on coliform removal
on 3 occasions during the last 15 visits of the Commission staff.
Records of the Interstate Sanitation Commission show that
the plant was by-passed for a period of one week from September 21
to September 28, 1958 while the pumps were being repaired. During
a visit of August 2, i960 the Commission staff noted that bubbles
were rising in the center portion of both clarifiers indicating a
septic condition. It was also noted on this report that in the
beginning of July a State Inspector had. reported, recommending an
extension of the outfall pipe. Furthermore, a lifeguard on the
beach had said that several samples had recently been taken at
the beach by the State inspectors. During a visit of May 9* 19^1
the Commission staff said that the filters had started spilling
over through the emergency relief passes recently built into the
filters. During a visit on April 21, 1961 by the State inspector
it was noted that one filter was out of operation due to clogging
by industrial waste from a local paper company„ It was also noted
that this filter had been out of operation since April 5. These
filters are by-passed by a series of relief pipes inserted in the
A-35
-------
circumference of the filter to allow the liquid to escape
through the pipe rather than up-flow through the filter as
the plant was designed.
The sewer system in Perth Amboy is a combined system
with 18 leaping weir devices. These devices are set to "by-
pass all flows over 9 million gallons per day. By-passing
has occurred from time to time during periods of storm.
A-37
-------
WOODBRID GE- SEWAEEN SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT
SUMMARY' OF PERFORMANCE
FROM
INTERSTATE SANITATION COMMISSION RECORDS
DATE FLOW SUSPENDED SOLIDS B.O.D. (5 day) COLIFORM
Eff.
Percent
Eff.
Eff.
Percent
Eff. ?
9 over
Mg&.
PPM
Removed
P.E.*
PPM
Removed
P.E.*
l/ml
V 9/58
5.9
35
78
8611
25
62
7375
6/26/58
1.04
3^
74
1476
82
3^
4264
no/pp/^ft
HT/S Onvn-nl « H1a 1^ /-w-i .
lV/ £_^_/
—iMU DamjLu.es j-ajxen—— ——— — -
b/22/59
2.28
^5
T5
4278
59
56
.6726
1/ 2/59
1.25
41
60
2137
No Samples Taken
8/27/59
1.11
38
79
1759
82
53
4551
10/14/59
0.566
80
60
1888
76
19
2151
12/10/59
0.903
42
68
1580
36
63
1625
6/23/60
1.01
23
89
968
81
'40
4091
7/28/60
2.19
38
36
3470
56
23
6132
8/25/60
3.91
27
71
4402
No Samples Taken
10/20/60
3.66
63
79
9615
58
52
10614
5/18/61
4.34
15
81
2714
17
71
3689
Average
3573
5122
Failure to meet Compact requirements
for Suspended Solids removal - 0/l2 visits
* Estimates
A-38
-------
WOODBRIDGE (SEWERAN SECTION) SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT, NEW JERSEY
The Woodbridge (Severan) sewage treatment plant was
"built in 195^ to Accommodate a design flow of 10o0 mgd. The
treatment consists of sedimentation. The treatment units in-
clude a grit chamber, "bar screens, aerated flocculation tanks,
mechanically-equipped settling tanks, mechanical filters, chlor-
lnation equipment including chlorine contact tanks and vacuum
filtration for sludge. The outfall discharges to Arthur Kill.
The estimated population served is 21,000 persons. The plant
serves a portion of Woodbridge Township. The remainder of the
Township is sewered to the Rahway Valley Sewage Treatment Works
or to the Woodbridge Township Sewage Treatment Plant at Keasby,
New Jersey. Average flow for the plant is estimated at 2.2 mgd.
Inspections "by the Interstate Sanitation Commission staff
since 1958 have shown the plant to meet the Compact requirements
for suspended solids removal. The plant Is in the ISC Class "B"
waters. Suspended solids removal of only 10# is required and no
coliform removal is required. No chlorination was practiced during
i960 according to the ISC records. Woodbridge Township has a
separate system with 6 pumping stations„ None of the pumping
stations have built-in "by-passes.
A-39
-------
CARTERET SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT
SUMMARY OF PERFORMANCE
FROM
INTERSTATE SANITATION COMMISSION RECORDS
DATE FLOW SUSPENDED SOLIDS B.O.D. (5 day) COLIFORM
Effo Percent Eff „ Eff „ Percent Eff. °jo over
Mgdo PPM Removed P.E.,* PPM Removed P„Eo* l/ml
5/29/58
2.18
82
86
7^56
No Samples Taken
7/28/58
1.63
110
66
7^77
50
24 4080
10/15/58
1.93
53
77
1+266
50
62 4825
V22/59
2ol7
172
79
15562
202
57 21915
7/ 2/59
1.85
205
71
15638
No Samples Taken
8/27/59
I.91
98
67
7798
292
54 27885
11/10/59
1.93
91
59
7323
No Samples Taken
6/23/60
1.72
69
50
^950
117
13 10062
7/28/60
3 = 15
92
0
12093
69
3 10867
8/25/60
3.0*
99
70
12384
No Samples Taken
9/29/60
2o55
115
71
12228
ll4
8 14535
3/30/61
3.12
51
53
6635
52
53 8112
6/ 8/61
3o0*
37
83
4628
81
46 12150
Average
9111
12715
Fail.ure to meet Compact requirements
for Suspended Solids removal - l/l3 visits
* Estimated
A-40
-------
THE CARTERET SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT, NEW JERSEY
The Carteret sewage treatment plant was "built In 1953
to accommodate a design flow of 3*0 mgd. The treatment consists
of sedimentation. The treatment units include a "bar rack, grit
chambers, chemical flocculatlon tanks, mechanically-equipped
settling tanks, sand filters and chlorination facilities, in-
cluding a chlorine contact tank with vacuum filtration after
sludge conditioning. The outfall discharges to the Arthur Kill.
The estimated population served "by this plant is 13,000 persons.
The i960 Census for Carteret shows a population of l4,603« The
average flow is 2.b mgd.
Inspections "by the Interstate Sanitation Commission since
1958 have shown the plant has failed to meet Compact requirements
for suspended solids removal on only 1 occasion in a total of 13
visits. The plant discharges to Class "B" waters of the Inter-
state Sanitation Commission. The standards for these waters are
10$ removal of suspended solids and no chlorination is required.
The sewer system is a combined system with 3 pumping stations.
The 3 stations do not have "built-in "by-passes. The system, how-
ever, has 7 regulating chambers, 6 with outfalls to the Arthur
Kill and the 7th with an outfall to the Rahway River. All regu-
lators are controlled "by float valves.
A-kl
-------
RAHWAY VALLEY SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT
SUMMARY OP PERFORMANCE
FROM
INTERSTATE SANITATION COMMISSION RECORDS
DATE FLOW SUSPENDED SOLIDS B.O.D. (5 day) COLIFORM
Eff. Percent Eff. Eff. Percent Eff. $ over
Mgd.
PPM
Removed
P.E.*
PPM
Removed
' P.E.-
12/ 8/59
28.76
56
56
67160
104
19
149552
6/23/60
20.45
44
72
37521
100
29
102250
7/18/60
17.13
66
58
471^5
84
53
71946
8/10/60
16.92
7^
60
52211
108
33
91368
10/15/60
26.70
4i
70
45640
135
4
180225
V 5/61
27.86
49
72
36926
78
35
108654
Average
51102
117332
Failure to meet Compact requirements
for Suspended Solids removal - 0/6 visits
* Estimated
A-42
-------
RAHWAY VALLEY SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANTJ NEW JERSEY
The Railway Valley sewage treatment plant was constructed
in 1928 to accommodate a design flow of 16.7 mgd. The treat-
ment consists of sedimentation. Treatment units include tax
racks, grit chamber, mechanically-equipped sedimentation "basin
sludge digestion with vacuum filtration and glass-covered
sludge beds. The outfall of this treatment plant was recently
extended to discharge to the Arthur Kill. The treatment plant
serves an estimated population of 170,000 persons.
Inspections "by the Interstate Sanitation Commission
since the plant came within their jurisdiction in 1959 have
shown that the plant has met Compact requirements for sus-
pended solids removal on each of the 6 visits made "by the
Commission staff. The plant is located in Class"B" waters
and, therefore, no chlorination is practiced except for
odor control. The sludge is discharged to the Linden-Roselle
plant for disposal by barging to sea. No information was
available as to known by-passes.
A-43
-------
LINDEN-ROSELLE SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT
SUMMARY" OF PERFORMANCE
FROM
INTERSTATE SANITATION COMMISSION RECORDS
DATE FLOW SUSPENDED SOLIDS B.O.D. (5 day) COLIFORM
Eff. Percent Eff. Eff. Percent Eff. $ over
Mgd.
PPM
Removed
P.E.*
PPM
Removed P.E.*
4/17/5 8
13.77
102
65
58568
247
27
170050
6/19/58
11.9^
96
64
47788
331
22
197600
10/ 7/58
9-6
65
73
26021
363
14
174250
5/ 5/59
il.4l
90
62
42826
244
43
139200
7/ 2/59
9.96
93
70
38614
No
Samples Taken
8/27/59
10.38
117
92
50642
411
37
213300
12/ 2/59
11.65
101
75
49066
352
38
205000
6/ 9/60
10.65
96
69
42634
473
5
251872
7/18/60
9.03
92
63
34642
284
17
128226
8/29/60
8.70
105
72
38092
No
Samples Taken
9/22/60
19.47
48
69
38971
83
32
80800
4/16/61
14.08
118
55
69282
288
16
202752
Average
44762
176305
Failure to meet Compact requirements
for Suspended Solids removal - 0/l2 visits
* Estimated
A-M4-
-------
LINBEN-ROSELLE SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT
The Linden-Roselle sewage treatment plant was built in
1952 to accommodate a design flow of 12.5 nigd* Treatment con-
sists of sedimentation. Treatment units consist of "bar screens,
grit chamber, mechanically-equipped settling tanks and sludge
storage tanks with sludge disposal by barging to sea. The out-
fall line discharges to Arthur Kill. The estimated population
served by this plant is 120,000. The average flow is 12.2 mgd.
The plant influent Includes a large tributary loading of in-
dustrial waste.
Inspections by the Interstate Sanitation Commission
since 1958 have shown this plant to meet the Compact require-
ments for suspended solids removal on each of the 12 visits by
the Commission staff. The plant is located in Class waters
and no chlorination is required. The Commission staff, how-
ever, has noted that this plant has by-passed on numerous
occasions in the past. A record of these by-passes is as
follows:
April 17, 1958
June 19, 1959
June 23, 2k, 25, I960
September 12, i960
December 21, i960
January 1, 1961
partial by-passing during
rains
by-passing
by-passing due to power
failure
by-passing due to hurri-
cane for 8 hrs.
by-passing for 16 hrs
by-passed for 2k hrs due
to high flow over 30 mgd
Linden-Roselle is, for the most part, a separate system with 2
pump stations and one regulator. Both pump stations contain
emergency by-pass provisions. A regulator located on Morse's
Mill Road contains emergency by-pass provisions. A regulator
located on Morse's Mill Road contains a 48" outfall to Morse's
Creek as of 1959* This plant is operating at or over its de-
signed capacity as indicated by the frequency of its by-passeB.
I
A-l^
-------
ELIZABETH JOINT MEETING SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT
SUMMARY OF PERFORMANCE
FROM
INTERSTATE SANITATION COMMISSION RECORDS
DATE FLOW SUSPENDED SOLIDS B.O.D. (5-day) COLIFORM
Eff. Percent Eff. Eff. Percent Eff. $ over
Mfid. PPM Removed P.E. * PPM Removed P.E.* l/ml
4/16/58
63.24
81
47
213605
148
26
467976
6/16/58
36.6
94
50
143448
151
0
276350
10/16/58
35.8
85
57
126893.
187
16
330050
3/19/59
54.4
65
61
147451
139
24
378100
6/25/59
44.0
83
65
152288
147
27
323400
9/ 2/59
90.8
41
71
155240
85
49
385900
11/12/58
43.5
82
54
148744
117
30
254500
5/26/60
50.6
57
68
120271
106
43
268200
7/ 7/60
40.2
^3
71
72082
151
7
303510
7/18/60
34.42
85
62
122001
142
38
244380
8/17/60
37-39
5/11/61
61.8
Average
75
57
193279
145027
114
40
352260
•325870
Failure to meet Compact requirements
for Suspended Solids removal - O/ll visits
* Estimated
A-45
-------
KT.Ty.AKK'i'H JOINT MEETING SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT, NEW JERSEY
The Elizabeth Joint meeting treatment plant was "built in
1937 to accommodate a design flow of 100 mgd. Treatment units
include screens, grit chamber, mechanically-equipped sedimen-
tation, and sludge storage with sludge disposed of by barging
to sea. The outfall discharges to the Arthur Kill. The esti-
mated population served is 475>000 persons. The average flow
is approximately 52 mgd.
Inspections by the Interstate Sanitation Commission
since 195& have shown the plant to meet the Compact require-
ments for suspended solids removal on each of the 11 visits
by the Commission staff. The plant discharges to Class "B"
waters, and no chlorlnation is required. The Joint meeting
plant serves 12 communities. With the exception of Elizabeth,
the communities have separate systems with gravity flow.
Elizabeth has 1 pump station and 8 regulating chambers. In
case of surcharging, the pump station backs the flow up the
main and out through the regulators which discharge to Arthur
Kill at various locations.
A-46
-------
WILLOWBROOK HOSPITAL SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT
SUMMARY OF PERFORMANCE
FROM
INTERSTATE SANITATION COMMISSION RECORDS
DATE FLOW SUSPENDED SOLIDS E.O.D. (5 day) COLIFORM
Eff. Percent Eff. Eff. Percent Eff. "jo over
Mgd. PPM Removed P.E.* PPM Removed P.E.* l/ml
5/ 1/58
0.480
68
65
1361
266
13
6384
8/25/58
0.524
71
72
1540
244
11
64oo
10/ 8/58
0.591
61
68
1501
250
2
7390
3/31/59
75
65
346
0
6/29/59
0.713
79
66
2348
283
20
10091
9/ 8/59
0.650
77
75
2085
258
36
8385
11/24/59
0.632
70
55
???
0
7000
5/ 5/60
0.710
72
66
2131
315
21
11182
7/28/60
0.672
87
42
2430
335
5
11252
8/11/60
0.64
71
74
1894
294
6
9408
9/ 6/60
0.63
66
73
1733
321
24
10111
6/ l/6l
0.647
74
65
2006
297
10
9607
Average
1903
9854
Failure to meet Compact requirements
for Suspended Solids removal - 0/l2 visits
* Estimated
A-Uj
-------
WILLOWBROOK STATE SCHOOL, STATEN ISLAND
Willowbrook State School is served by a primary treatment
plant built in 1941. The plant was designed to accommodate a flow
of 0.6 mgd. Treatment consists of sedimentation. Discharge is
through an outfall to Fresh Kills, at the junction of Presh Kill
with the Arthur Kill. The population served is estimated at 4,000
persons. Average flow is estimated at 0.6 mgd equal to the de-
signed capacity of the plant.
The plant met the Compact requirements for suspended
solids removal on all occasions. Since the plant discharges to
Class "B" waters, chlorination is not required.
A-48
-------
TOTTENVTLLE SECTION OP STATEN ISLAND
Tottenville Section of Staten Island, comprising a drainage
area of approximately 2600 acres, drains to "both Arthur Kill and
Raritan Bay. In i960 the estimated population for this area was
8,250 persons. The New York City Department of Public Works esti-
mates that at least half of this group discharge their wastes to
individual sub-surface disposal systems. The wastes from the re-
mainder, or about 4,000 persons, drains directly to the Arthur Kill
and Raritan Bay through sewers without treatment. This raw sewage
reaches Raritan Bay and Arthur Kill through several different sewer
outlets.
A-50
-------
MOUNT LORETTO HOME SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT
SUMMARY OF PERFORMANCE
FROM
INTERSTATE SANITATION COMMISSION RECORDS
DATE FLOW SUSPENDED SOLIDS B.O.D. (5 day), COLIFORM
Eff. Percent Eff. Eff. Percent Eff. $ over
Mgd. PPM Removed P.E.* PPM Removed P. E. * l/ml
j
5/22/58*** No Samples Taken 100
5/22/58** " " " 100
9/16/58** " " " 100
5/28/59** " " " 100
12/ 3/59** " " " 100
8/ 3/60** " « - » 100
1961 No visits so far
Failure to meet Compact requirements
for Coliform removal -6/6 visits
* Estimated
** New
*** Old
A-51
-------
MT. LGRETTO HOME, STATEN ISLAND, N. Y.
Mt. Loretto Home has 2 sewage treatment facilities, built
around 1937* These facilities were designed to accommodate a flow
of Ool mgd. Both of these facilities consist of septic tanks. Dis-
charge is to Raritan Bay. The system serves a population of approxi-
mately 1,000 children and 200 adults. There are ^ separate septic
tanks, each with a capacity of 22,500 gallons. HTH solution is
applied to the effluent of 3 of these tanks. The Hh tank is not
chlorinated. Average flow is estimated at .09 mgd.
Inspections "by the Interstate Sanitation Commission indicate
that the plant has failed to meet Compact requirements for coliform
removals on every occasion during the 6 visits made by the Commission
staff.
A-52
-------
MARIST NOVITIATE, STATEN ISLAND
The home of the Marist Novitiate on Bayview Avenue in
Staten Island is served by two small septic tanks which dis-
charge to Lemon Creek a small tributary to Raritan Bay. The
plant serves an estimated 35 persons in the home. No other
information is available.
A-5^
-------
RICHMOND MEMORIAL HOSPITAL SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT
SUMMARY OF PERFORMANCE
FROM
INTERSTATE SANITATION COMMISSION RECORDS
DATE FLOW SUSPENDED SOLIDS B.O.D. (5 day) COLIFORM
Eff. Percent Eff. Eff. Percent Eff. $ over
Mgd. PPM Removed P.E.* PPM Removed P.E.* l/ml
5/22/58 No Samples Taken 100
9/16/58 " " " 100
5/28/59 " " " 100
12/ 3/59 " " " 100
8/ 3/60 " " " 100
1961 No visits so far
Failure to meet Compact requirements
* Estimated
A-55
-------
RICHMOND MEMORIAL HOSPITAL, STATEN ISLAND
Richmond Memorial Hospital is served "by a septic tank
built in 1936 "with a capacity of 10,000 gallons. There is, in
addition, a 500 gallon baffled contact tank. HTH is added once
daily to the chlorine contact tank. The hospital has 160 beds
and approximately 100 workers. In addition, 6 to 8 houses are
also tied into these systems to give a population served of
approximately 300.
Inspections by the Interstate Sanitation Commission have
indicated that this plant failed to meet Compact coliform require-
ments on each of the 5- visits made by the Commission staff.
A-56
-------
S. S. WHITE DENTAL COMPANY, STATEN ISLAND
The S. S. White Dental Company is served by a chlorination
contact tank. Population served is approximately 700 persons.
Discharge is to Raritan Bay. HTH is used for chlorination. In-
dustrial wastes containing chromates and cyanide are also dis-
charged to the bay. No information is available as to performance
of this plant since this plant has not been sampled by the
Interstate Sanitation Commission.
A-58
-------
SAINT JOSEPH'S HOME SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT
SUMMARY OP PERFORMANCE
FROM
INTERSTATE SANITATION COMMISSION RECORDS
DATE FLOW SUSPENDED SOLIDS B-O.D. (5 day) COLIFORM
Eff „ Percent Eff„ Eff. Percent Eff. # over
Mgd, PPM Removed P.E.* PPM Removed P.E.* l/ml
5/22/58 No Samples Taken
7/ 2/59 " " 100
8/ 3/60
1961 No visits so far
Failure to meet Compact requirements
for Coliform removal - l/l visits
* Estimated
A-59
-------
ST. JOSEPH'S HOME, STAXEN ISLAND
St, Joseph's Home has 5 septic tanks and serves approxi-
mately 40 persons in the winter and 200 during theusummer months.
The "plant-^failed-to meet the Commission's coliform requirements
on the one visit" recorded "by the Commission staff during the .
past. years „. The effluent is discharged to Raritan Bay.
A-60
-------
OAKWOOD BEACH SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT
SUMMARY OP PERFORMANCE
PROM
INTERSTATE SANITATION COMMISSION RECORDS
DATE
FLOW
SUSPENDED SOLIDS
B,
.O.D. (5 day)
COLIFORM
Eff.
Percent
Eff.
Eff.
Percent
Eff.
# over
Mgd.
PPM
Removed
P.E.* PPM
Removed
P.E.*
l/ml
\JT.
v_n
03
16.80
26
77
18214
12
69
10080
11
7/ 9/58
11.00
35
71
16054
10
88
5500
0
8/20/58
7-63
13
87
4136
10
83.
3815
25
11/19/58
8.56
71
34
25345
10
89
4280
100
3/18/59
10.38
36
59
15583
28/
64
14530
25
6/17/59
8.0*
29
74
9674
22
74
8800
25
7/14/59
8.0*
22
84
7339
25
79
10000
0
9/30/59
8.15
22
85
7477
27
85
11000
0
5/ 3/60
9.70
26
72
10516
29
61
14065
0
6/ 2/60
8.00
22
87
7339
25
80
10000
0
7/19/60
8.04
8
95
2682
26
72
10452
0
8/10/60
10.16
TiHR'V — —.
OR
w JLV.Jj UV
XJVjO U""™1
11/15/60
8.93
16
84
5958
18
75
8037
25
Vll/61
14.7
23
73
14098
23
79
16905
50
5/16/61
13.9
17
78
9853
17
67
11815
50
Average
11019
9949
Failure to meet Compact Requirements
for Suspended Solids removal - 2/14 visits
Failure to meet Compact Requirements
for Coliform removal - 2/l4 visits
* Estimated
A-61
-------
OAKWOOD BEACH SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT, STATEN ISLAND
The Oakwood Beach sewage treatment plant was built in
1956 to accommodate a design flow of 15.0 mgd„ Treatment con-
sists .of high rate activated sludge and chlorinatiofi. Treat-
ment, units are a "bar rack, grit chamber, aeration tanks> mech-
anically-equipped, secondary tanks, chl'orination, sludge thick-
ening, sludge digestion with sludge disposal "by "barging to sea.
The estimated population served by this plant is 85,000 persons.
The average flow is approximately 10 mgd.
Inspections "by -the Interstate Sanitation Commission since
:1958 have shown that the plant failed' to meet. Compact standards
for suspended solids removal on 2 occasions during the 1^ visits
to this plant. Similarly, on 2 occasions the plant failed to
meet the coliform removal requirements of the Commission on a .
total of 15"visits to the plant. Suspended solids removal have
ranged from a low of 3^ on November 19, 19to a high of 95$
removeil on July 19, i960. The system is reported to "be a sepa-
rate system.
A -.62
-------
APPENDIX B
IMPORTANT PASSAGES OF THE
TRI-STATE COMPACT
-------
IMPORTANT PASSAGES OF THE
TRI-STATE COMPACT
Whereas, The tremendous growth of population and the devel-
opment of the territory" surrounding and adjacent to the harbor of
New York has resulted in recent years in an increasingly serious
pollution of the harbor, coastal and tidal waters in such area
and the tributary waters therein; and
Whereas, Such pollution ' constitutes a grave menace to the
to the health, welfare and recreational facilities of the people
living in such area and is occasioning great economic loss; and
Whereas, The control of future pollution and the abatement
of existing pollution in the waters in such area is of prime im-
portance to the people living in such area and can best be accom-
plished through the cooperation of the States of New Jersey and
New York and Connecticut by and through a joint or common agency;
Now therefore, The State of New York and the State of New
Jersey and the State of Connecticut do agree and are bound as
follows:
ARTICLE I
1. Each of the signatory States pledges each to the other
faithful cooperation in the control of future pollution and agrees
to provide for the abatement of existing pollution in the tidal
and coastal waters in the adjacent portions of the signatory
States defined herein as coming within the district, and consis-
tent with such object, to enact adequate legislation which will
enable each of the signatory States to put and maintain the
waters thereof in a satisfactory sanitary condition and particu-
larly to protect public health; to render safe such waters as
are now used or may later become available for bathing and recre-
ational purposes; to abate and eliminate such pollution as be-
comes obnoxious or causes a nuisance; to permit the maintenance
of major fish life, shellfish and marine life in waters now
available or that may by practicable means be made available for
the development of such fish, shellfish or marine life; to pre-
vent oil, grease or solids from being carried on the surface of
B-l
-------
the water; to prevent the formation of sludge deposits along the
shores or in the waterways; and with the fulfillment of these obr
jectives to abate and avoid incurring unnecessary economic loss
"by safeguarding the rights of the public in its varied legitimate
uses of the waters of the district.
ARTICLE VI
In order to attain the objects of this compact, the commission,
after proper study and after conducting public hearings upon due
notice, shall group the designated waters of the district into classes.
Two general classifications shall be used:
(1) Class "A", in which the designated water areas are ex-
pected to be used primarily for recreational purposes,
shellfish culture or the development of fish life;
(2) Class "B", in which the designated water areas axe not
expected to be used primarily for recreational pur-
poses, shellfish culture or the development of fish
life.
ARTICLE XII
The provisions of this act shall not affect the discharge
from the outfall pipes of the the Passaic Valley sewerage system,
into the water of New York harbor; provided, however, that said
discharge shall be in accordance with the terms and provisions of
the stipulation entered into on April fourteenth, one thousand
nine hundred and ten, between the United States of America and
Passaic Valley Sewerage Commissioners.
ARTICLE VII
1. It is agreed between the signatory States that no
sewage or other polluting matters shall be discharged or permitted
to flow into, or be placed in, or permitted to fall or move into
the tidal waters of the district, except under the following con-
ditions and restrictions:
(l) All sewage discharged or permitted to flow into Class
"A" waters of the district shall first have been so
treated as—
B-2
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to remove all floating solids and at least sixty
per centum (60$) of the suspended solids; and
to effect a reduction of organisms of the B. Coli
group (intestinal "bacilli) so that the probable
number of such organisms shall not exceed one per
cubic centimeter in more than fifty per centum
(50$) of all the samples of sewage effluent tested
by the partially confirmed test; provided, how-
ever, that in the case of discharge into waters
used primarily for bathing this bacterial standard
need not be required except during the bathing
season; and
to effect a reduction in the oxygen demand of the
sewage effluent .sufficient to maintain an average
dissolved oxygen content in the tidal waters of
the district and in the general vicinity of the
point of discharge of about five feet below the
surface, of not less than fifty per centum (50$)
saturation during any week of the year.
2. All sewage discharged or permitted to flow into class
"B" waters of the district shall first have been so treated as—
(a) to remove all floating solids and at least ten
per centum (10$) of the suspended solids or such
additional percentage as may by reason of local
conditions be necessary to avoid the formation of
sludge deposits in the class "B" waters of the
district; and
(b) to effect a reduction in the oxygen demand of the
sewage effluent sufficient to maintain an average
dissolved oxygen content in the tidal waters to
the district and in the general vicinity of the
point of discharge of the sewage into those waters
at a depth of about five feet below the surface,
of not less than thirty per centum (30$) satura-
tion during any week of the year.
Done at New York, New York,? for and on behalf of the States
of New Jersey and New York this twenty-fourth day of January in the
Year of our Lord, One Thousand Nine Hundred Thirty-six.
(a)
00
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APPENDIX C
NEW YORK CITY BOARD OF HEALTH
BATHING WATER CLASSIFICATION
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NEW YORK CITY BOARD OF HEALTH
BATHING WATER CLASSIFICATION
Approved Beach Waters
Class A
Group 1 - Safe Waters
(a) Epidemiological experience satisfactory; and
(b) Sanitary survey satisfactory; and
(c) Coliform average not in excess of 1,000 per 100 ml.
Group 2 - Approved but subject to reclassification in light of
continuing observations.
(a) Epidemiological experience satisfactory
(b) Sanitary survey satisfactory but beach waters exposed to
increasing pollution
(c) Coliform average above 1,000 but not in excess of 2,400
per 100 ml.
Polluted Beach Waters Not Recommended for Bathing
Class B
(a) Epidemiological experience satisfactory; but
(b) Sanitary survey discloses sewage material on beach or in
water immediately adjacent to beach; and
(c) Coliform average above 2,k00 per 100 ml. with 50 per
centum (50$) of the samples averaging more than 2,400 per
100 ml.
Class C
(a)
Epidemiological experience discloses evidence of infection
incident to beach bathing.
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APPENDIX D
NEW YORK STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENT
SANITATION MANUAL
SWIMMING POOLS & BATHING BEACHES
INTERPRETIVE MATERIAL
CLASSIFICATION OF BATHING BEACH WATERS
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NEW YORK STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENT
SANITATION MANUAL
SWIMMING POOLS & BATHING BEACHES
INTERPRETIVE MATERIAL
CLASSIFICATION OF BATHING BEACH WATERS
In View of the above principles and administrative policies,
"bathing "beach waters should "be subdivided into two classes; namely
approved beach waters and disapproved beach waters. The two classes
would be as follows:
Class A; Approved Beach Waters Disclosed By:
(a) Satisfactory sanitary survey
(b) Average content of coliform organisms not in excess of
2^00 per 100 ml. of water for any given series of 10
or more samples from a beach except when the results
of a sanitary survey may justify the use of the lower
average of 2^0 per 100 ml. of water for any given
series of 10 or more samples collected from a beach.
For instance, high coliform content as a result of
drainage from manured fields would have little sani-
tary significance, thus permitting the acceptance of
the water for bathing purposes. On the other hand,
low average values may be associated with high maxi-
mum value shown by the sanitary survey to be due to
fluctuating pollution of public health significance.
Class B: Disapproved Beach Waters Disclosed By:
(a) A sanitary survey revealing sewage material on beach
or in waters immediately adjacent to the beach or
sources of critical pollution.
(b) An average content of coliform organisms
(1) in excess of 2^00 per 100 ml. of water for any
given series of 10 or more samples, or,
(2) in excess of 240 per 100 ml. of water for any
given series of 10 or more samples when the
sanitary survey justifies the use of the lower
figure (such as in cases of possible sewage
pollution)
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Conditions are expected to prevail "which represent border-
line cases "between approved "beach waters and disapproved "beach
waters. Administrative judgment must "be exercised in appraising
the uncertain factors and in assigning such "borderline "beaches to
one of the two classes noted above. In any case, administrative
judgment must "be used in the periodic review of sanitary condi-
tions prevailing at each bathing area; reclassification should be
considered when necessary, leading to the revocation of a permit
for the operation of an unsafe bathing beach or to the issuance
of public notice that certain beach waters are unsafe for bathing.
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APPENDIX E
CLASSIFICATIONS AND STANDARDS OF
QUALITY- AND PURITY
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CLASSIFICATIONS AND STANDARDS OF
QUALITY AND PURITY"
Adopted "by New York Water Pollution
Control Board Pursuant to Article 12
of Public Health Law
ADOPTING ORDER
Pursuant to the authority contained in Article 12 of the Public
Health Law, the Board having held public hearings as therein pro-
vided, hereby adopts the following classifications and standards
of quality and purity for the waters of New York State:
I. GENERAL CLASSIFICATIONS-STANDARDS SYSTEM
1. Definitions
The several terms, words or phrases hereinafter mentioned
shall be construed as follows:
a. Best usage of waters as specified for each class
shall be those uses as determined by the Board in accordance
with the considerations prescribed by Section 1209 of the
Public Health Law.
b. Approved treatment as applying to water supplies
means treatment accepted as satisfactory by the authorities
responsible for exercising supervision over the sanitary
quality of water supplies.
Co Source of water supply for drinking, culinary or
food processing purposes shall mean any source, either public
or private, the waters from which are used for domestic con-
sumption or used in connection with the processing of milk,
beverages, foods or for other purposes which require finished
water meeting U.S. Public Health Service Drinking Water Stan-
dards,,
do Fishing shall include the propagation of fish and
other aquatic life.
e. Agricultural shall include use of waters for stock
watering, irrigation and other farm purposes but not as
source of water supply for drinking, culinary or food pro-
cessing purposes.
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f« Tidal salt waters shall mean all tidal waters which are
so designated by the Board and "which generally shall have a chloride
ion content in excess of 2.50 parts per million.
2. Conditions Applying to All Classifications and Standards-
a. In any case "where the waters into which sewage, indus-
trial wastes or other wastes effluents discharge are assigned a
different classification than the waters into which such receiving
waters flow, the standards applicable to the waters which receive
such sewage or wastes effluents shall be supplemented by the follow-
ing:
"The quality of any waters receiving sewage, industrial wastes or
other wastes discharges shall be such that no impairment of the
best usage of waters in any other class shall occur by reason of
such sewage, industrial wastes or other wastes discharges."
bo Natural waters may on occasion have characteristics out-
side of the limits established by the standards. The standards
adopted herein relate to the condition of waters as affected by
the discharge of sewage, industrial wastes or other wastes.
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h. Classes and Standards for Tidal Salt Waters-
CIASS SA
Best usage of waters:
She!1 fishing for market purposes and any other usages.
Quality Standards for Class SA Waters
Items Specifications
1. Floating solids; settle- None attributable to sewage, in-
able solids; oil; sludge dustrial wastes or other "wastes,
deposits.
2. Garbage, cinders, ashes,
oils, sludge or other
refuse.
3. Sewage or waste effluents.
4. Dissolved oxygen.
5. Toxic wastes, deleteri-
ous substances, colored or
other wastes or heated
liquids.
6. Organisms of Coliform
group.
None in any waters of the Marine
District as defined by State Con-
servation Law.
None which are not effectively
disinfected.
Not less than 5-0 parts per
million.
None alone or in combination with
other substances or wastes in
sufficient amounts or at such
temperatures as to be injurious
to edible fish or shellfish or
the culture or propagation there-
of, or which in any manner shall
adversely affect the flavor, color,
odor or sanitary condition thereof
or impair the waters for any other
best usage as determined for the
specific waters which are assigned
to this class.
The median MPN value in any series
of samples representative of wa-
ters in the shellfish growing area
shall not be in excess of 70 per
100 milliliters.
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CLASS SB
Best usage of waters:
Bathing and any other usages except shel1 fishing for market purposes.
Quality Standards
Items
1. Floating solids; settle-
able solids; oil; sludge
deposits.
2. Garbage, cinders, ashes,
oils, sludge or other
refuse.
3. Sewage or waste effluents.
4. Dissolved oxygen.
5- Toxic vastes, deleteri-
ous substances, colored or
other vastes or heated
liquids.
for Class SB Waters
Specificaticns
None attributable to sewage, in-
dustrial .-wastes or other wastes.
None in any waters cf the Marine
District as defined by State Con-
servation Law.
None which are not effectively
disinfected.
Not less than 5.0 parts per
million.
None alone or in combination with
other substances or wastes in
sufficient amounts or at such
temperatures as to be injurious
to edible fish or shellfish or
the culture or propagation there-
of, or which in any manner shall
adversely affect the flavor, color,
odor or sanitary condition there-
of; and otherwise none in suffi-
cient amounts to make the waters
unsafe or unsuitable for bathing
or impair the waters for any other
best usage as determined for the
specific waters which are assigned
to this class.
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CLASS SC
Best usage of -waters:
Fishing and any other usages except "bathing or
shellfishing for market purposes.
Quality Standards for Class SC Waters
Items
1. Floating solids; settle-
able solids; sludge
deposits.
2. Garbage, cinders, ashes,
oils, sludge or other
refuse.
3- Dissolved oxygen.
k. Toxic wastes, oil, dele-
terious substances, colored
or other wastes or heated
liquids.
Specifications
None which are readily visible and
attributable to sewage, industrial
wastes or other wastes or which
deleteriously increase the amounts
of these constituents in receiv-
ing waters after opportunity for
reasonable dilution and mixture
with the wastes discharged thereto.
Not less than 5«0 parts per million.
None alone or in combination with
other substances or wastes in
sufficient amounts or at such
temperatures as to be injurious
to edible fish or shellfish or the
culture or propagation thereor,
or which in any manner shall ad-
versely affect the flavor, color,
odor or sanitary condition thereof
or impair the waters for any other
best usage as determined for the
specific waters which are assigned
to this class.
None in any waters of the Marine
District as defined by State Con-
servation Law.
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CLASS SD
Best usage of waters;
Any usages except fishing, "bathing, or
shellfishing for market purposes.
Quality Standards for Class SD Waters
Items
1. Floating solids; settle-
able solids; sludge
deposits.
Specifications
None which are readily visible and
attributable to sewage, industrial
wastes or other wastes or which
deleteriously increase the amounts
of these constituents in receiv-
ing waters after opportunity for
reasonable dilution and mixture
with the wastes discharged thereto.
2. Garbage, cinders, ashes,
oils, sludge or other
refuse.
3. Dissolved oxygen.
4. Toxic wastes, oil, dele-
terious substances, colored
or other wastes.
None in any waters of the Marine
District as defined by State Con-
servation Law.
Not
less than 3.0 parts per million,
None alone or in combination with
other substances or wastes in suf-
ficient amounts to prevent survi-
val of fish life or impair the
waters for any other best usage
as determined for the specific
waters which are assigned to this
classo
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APPENDIX F
SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANTS TRIBUTARY
TO THE RARITAN-LOWER BAY
AND ARTHUR KILL STUDY AREA
KEY TO TREATMENT CODE
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"KEY" TO TREATMENT CODE
A - Aeration
B - Sludge ted
C - Settling tank
D Digester' (separate sludge)
E - Chlorination
F - Filters
G - Grit chamber
H - Sludge storage tank (not second
stage digestion units)
K - Chemical treatment
S - Screens
T - Sludge thickener
V - Mechanical sludge dewatering
X - Sludge disposal
Z - Sludge conditioning
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APPENDIX G
U.S. ARMY LETTER ON
SWIMMING AREAS
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HEADQUARTERS FORT WADSVDRTH
Staten Island £, New York
23 June 1961
SUBJECT: Off Limits Swimming Areas
TO:
President
Armed Forces Disciplinary Control Board
Governors Island
New York ii, New York
1. Reference Circular 385-6, Headquarters First United States
Army, 19 May 1961, Subject:"Operation of Swiranjng Pools and Natural
Eathing and Eathing Areas"•
2. In compliance with paragraph 2, referenced Circular, attached
is a sketch of off-limits swimming areas or this installation, Miller
Army Airfield and surrounding areas. Also included on the sketch are
swimming areas which have been approved by local health authorities.
3. Because of the great variance in bacteriological standards
for salt water swimming areas, acceptable to local health authorities
and the Army Medical Service, all personnel assigned, attached, or
living on this installation have been urged through Post published media,
to refrain from swimming at all beaches on Staten Island even though
rated Class A by local authorities.
U. The following indicates the variance of acceptable standards
mentioned in paragraph 3 above:
LOCALLY ACCEPTABLE
Class - Average MPN/lOOcc
ARMY ACCEPTABLE
Class - Average MPW/lOOcc
A 1 0 - 1000
A 2 1000 - 21*00
A 0-23
B 2h - 2U0
Over 2liO-Unsatisfactory
A
B
Over 2^00 - Unsatisfactory
FOR THE COMMANDER:
1 Incl
DANIEL A. VENOR
Capt, AGC
Adjutant
WIS IS A TRUE COPY
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STATUS
of
SWinrviNQ AREAS on
STAT EN ISLAND
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