Fecal Coliform Impairment in Edwards Run, New Jersey

Water quality within the Edwards Run Watershed, located in Mantua Twp, Gloucester County, New Jersey, is being assessed through an integrated monitoring program. Edwards Run is approximately 6,964 acres and its land uses are primarily agricultural and residential. The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection has classified Edwards Run as severely impaired by fecal coliform and phosphorus and has listed the Run in the Integrated Water Quality Report Sublist 5. This report lists impaired water bodies that do not have TMDL values. A monthly monitoring of nutrients (nitrate and phosphorus) and fecal coliform bacteria for the Run confirms that Edwards Run is an impaired water body in terms of fecal contamination and phosphorus concentrations. Monitoring results indicate that fecal coliform and phosphorus levels are frequently exceeding New Jersey surface water quality standards. Current studies are focusing on locating non point sources of pollution and presenting best management practices to protect the Run and the watershed.