COVID-19 NOTE: Many groups have altered their monitoring programs in response to COVID-19. Connecticut River Conservancy, Chicopee 4 Rivers Watershed Council, Deerfield River Watershed Association, Putney Rowing Club, and Southeastern Vermont Watershed Alliance are planning to begin monitoring in July 2020. Please check with your local watershed organization for the status of their programs.
The Connecticut River and its tributaries are much cleaner today than they were decades ago. The Clean Water Act, smart investments, and the hard work of many people have made this possible. But, there are times – particularly after rain – when bacteria in our rivers still might make you sick. This tool will help you understand trends in water cleanliness at sites throughout the Connecticut River watershed, including many popular river recreation sites.
This map shows locations tested for Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria. Click on the blue, yellow, or red icons to learn more about bacteria levels at that site. Or use the drop-down boxes to search by site name, city, state, water body, or monitoring organization.
NOTE: This information is a snapshot of river conditions at the moment the sample was taken. Open each sample location’s page for more detail and historical data showing trends in water cleanliness. Be sure to take the most recent sample date into account as well as patterns over time, recent weather, and flow conditions when deciding whether to swim or boat.
Bacteria levels are typically elevated during and shortly after wet weather. Good precautions to take include:
Avoid swimming right after a heavy rain
Avoid contact with the river downstream of a sewage outfall
Cover open cuts, use ear and nose plugs
Wash hands before eating or drinking
The different colored icons and bacteria ranges represent risk thresholds, which are based on the statistical chances of getting sick if you come in contact with water in these bacteria ranges. We test for E. coli, a bacterium that is found in the guts of all warm-blooded animals, including humans. Most E. coli will not cause illness. We test for E. coli because it is often an indicator for the presence of other, more difficult to test for pathogens that may cause waterborne illnesses to those swimming, wading, or boating. View more detailed information about bacteria in our rivers or at beaches.
We wish you a fun and safe season enjoying your rivers!
Funding for the Spanish language version of this page – ¿Está Limpio – was provided by the Franklin Fund and Nan and Matilda Heydt Funds of the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts.