The TRWA water quality sampling results for June 9th are available. Click on the Water Quality Monitoring tab at the top of the website home page and either the picture of the sample bottles or link under the Documents section to see the latest results.
The June river flow as measured at the Bridgewater USGS gauge which covers about half the watershed and measures the flow coming into the area we sample was 119 cubic feet per second (cfs) when we sampled on 6/9/26. This flow is approximately 1/4 of what the river flow was at the beginning of May (410 cfs). The last rain before we sampled was June 1st when flow was 235 cfs but then dropped steadily for the next eight days until we sampled.
The results showed higher nitrogen levels than our target below the Brockton and Bridgewater wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) due to the low river flow. By Taunton however, instream nitrate levels met our target for Mount Hope Bay. Phosphorus levels met our target except for the Town River below the Bridgewater WWTP which is scheduled to begin removing phosphorus starting 5/1/2027. The state bacteria water quality criteria were exceeded at every location we sampled most likely due to low river flow.
The drought continues. On July 2nd, river flow is only 78.4 cfs or only 2/3 of the flow when we sampled on June 9th. TRWA’s sampling is important to tell us how the river and tributaries are responding to the climate change induced drought we are seeing each summer and providing important insight concerning what must be done to minimize the impact of drought on our watershed’s water quality and drinking water supplies.