Riverside Park

Water Quality at Riverside Park on the Cape Fear River

To protect public health and inform the public in a timely manner of unsafe bacteria levels, the New Hanover County Health Department takes bacteria samples at Riverside Park in Castle Hayne, as well as several other locations within the general vicinity. Riverside Park is an 11-acre park that is located on Old Bridge Site Road and is managed by the New Hanover County Parks Department. Water quality data is displayed on this website as soon as it is available.

Ongoing Monitoring Results from Cape Fear River in Castle Hayne

The North Carolina standard for enterococcus varies depending on the designated swimming classification for that particular area. The standard that is being applied at Riverside Park and the NC Wildlife Boat Ramp is the most conservative measure - 104/100 mL of water. At all other sampling locations, the State standard of 501/100 mL for infrequently used waters is applied. Most of the samples collected thus far have been below the State's standards, however, some samples have been recorded above the standards. Environmental Health officials are currently working with staff from UNCW to identifying possible sources of contamination in order to ensure safe water quality levels are met.

Recent samples have shown safe levels of bacteria within the water, however, a sign has been posted at Riverside Park to warn swimmers that swimming is not recommended since previous bacteria testing indicated levels of contamination that may pose health risks.

CLICK HERE to view a map of the monitoring locations
(Numbers in red indicate a standard that exceeded the State's water quality standard for primary swimming areas)

Location #1 N.C. Wildlife Boat Ramp

Date	Enterococcus Level
1/12/09	45.2
2/11/09	9.8
3/31/09	15.5
4/22/09	8.6
5/12/09	12.2
5/12/09*	190.4
6/3/09	71.7
6/17/09	69.7
7/1/09	62.7
7/8/09	85.7
7/15/09	58.6
7/22/09	59.8
8/5/09	71.7
8/12/09	45.0
8/18/09	45.4
8/26/09	66.9
9/2/09	24.6
9/9/09*	1011.2
9/17/09	57.3
9/24/09	77.6
9/30/09	23.8
10/19/09*	193.5
10/28/09*	103.9

*sample taken after rain event

Location #2 Pender County - North of Old Bridge

Date	Enterococcus Level
1/12/09	19.5
2/11/09	5.2
3/31/09	21.3
4/22/09	17.1
5/12/09	7.4
5/27/09*	124.6
6/3/09	51.2
6/17/09	131.7
7/1/09	52.0
7/8/09	39.3
7/15/09	137.2
7/22/09	74.9
8/5/09	78.4
8/12/09	34.5
8/18/09	19.7
8/26/09	48.1
9/2/09	22.6
9/9/09*	913.9
9/17/09	60.5
9/24/09	84.7
9/30/09	40.5
10/19/09*	201.4
10/28/09*	233.3

*sample taken after rain event

Location #3 New Hanover County - South of Old Bridge

Date	Enterococcus Level
1/12/09	35.9
2/11/09	6.3
3/31/09	12.1
4/22/09	13.2
5/12/09	45.2
5/27/09*	189.2
6/3/09	91.1
6/17/09	128.7
7/1/09	83.6
7/8/09	72.8
7/15/09	721.5
7/22/09	42.0
8/5/09	54.6
8/12/09	28.8
8/18/09	31.5
8/26/09	49.5
9/2/09	34.5
9/9/09*	829.7
9/17/09	58.3
9/24/09	103.6
9/30/09	23.1
10/19/09*	121.1
10/28/09*	116.9

*sample taken after rain event

Location #4 Beach at Riverside Park

Date	Enterococcus Level
1/12/2009	26.2
2/11/2009	5.1
3/31/2009	9.6
4/22/2009	8.5
5/12/2009	83.6
5/27/09*	178
6/3/2009	116
6/17/2009	107.6
7/1/2009	22.8
7/8/2009	59.8
7/15/2009	147
7/22/2009	270
8/5/2009	56.5
8/12/2009	48.1
8/18/2009	1011.2
8/26/2009	28.1
9/2/2009	24.3
9/9/2009*	960.6
9/17/2009	51.2
9/24/2009	103.6
9/30/2009	23.1
10/19/2009*	121.1
10/28/2009*	116.9

*sample taken after rain event

Location #5 Pier at Riverside Park

Date	Enterococcus Level
1/12/2009	14.2
2/11/2009	4.1
3/31/2009	13.1
4/22/2009	32.3
5/12/2009	48
5/27/09*	360.9
6/3/2009	98.5
6/17/2009	95.8
7/1/2009	75.2
7/8/2009	63.8
7/15/2009	198.9
7/22/2009	64.5
8/5/2009	75.9
8/12/2009	35.9
8/18/2009	38.4
8/26/2009	58.8
9/2/2009	13.5
9/9/2009*	791.5
9/17/2009	78.8
9/24/2009	73.8
9/30/2009	44.8
10/19/2009*	137.6
10/28/2009*	167

*sample taken after rain event

Location #6 Community Center at Riverside Park

Date	Enterococcus Level
1/12/2009	18.1
2/11/2009	10.9
3/31/2009	17.9
4/22/2009	9.8
5/12/2009	10.8
5/27/09*	240
6/3/2009	67.6
6/17/2009	145.5
7/1/2009	59.2
7/8/2009	54.5
7/15/2009	137.4
7/22/2009	66.3
8/5/2009	70.8
8/12/2009	52.9
8/18/2009	24.2
8/26/2009	103.6
9/2/2009	16.8
9/9/2009*	870.4
9/17/2009	95.8
9/24/2009	70.5
9/30/2009	25.6
10/19/2009*	114.5
10/28/2009*	148.3

*sample taken after rain event

Location #7 NC 117 Overpass

Date	Enterococcus Level
1/12/2009	16.9
2/11/2009	3.1
3/31/2009	15.8
4/22/2009	19.7
5/12/2009	8.6
5/27/09*	161.6
6/3/2009	41.4
6/17/2009	81.6
7/1/2009	24.2
7/8/2009	70.8
7/15/2009	62.4
7/22/2009	45.7
8/5/2009	83.6
8/12/2009	44.3
8/18/2009	43.5
8/26/2009	90.9
9/2/2009	25
9/9/2009*	1011.2
9/17/2009	59.1
9/24/2009	91.4
9/30/2009	30.1
10/19/2009*	178.5
10/28/2009*	86.7

*sample taken after rain event

Location #8 Old Railroad Bridge

Date	Enterococcus Level
1/12/2009	19.7
2/11/2009	9.5
3/31/2009	9.6
4/22/2009	20.9
5/12/2009	16
5/27/09*	250
6/3/2009	41.7
6/17/2009	107.6
7/1/2009	24.7
7/8/2009	59.1
7/15/2009	75.7
7/22/2009	51.2
8/5/2009	98.5
8/12/2009	48.9
8/18/2009	33.2
8/26/2009	45.7
9/2/2009	16
9/9/2009*	658.6
9/17/2009	80.5
9/24/2009	76.3
9/30/2009	61.2
10/19/2009*	172.5
10/28/2009*	249.5

*sample taken after rain event

Location #9 Housing Near River - Pender County

Date	Enterococcus Level
1/12/2009	15.5
2/11/2009	8.4
3/31/2009	14.8
4/22/2009	19.9
5/12/2009	15.8
5/27/09*	190.4
6/3/2009	59.1
6/17/2009	83.9
7/1/2009	46.7
7/8/2009	39.7
7/15/2009	95.9
7/22/2009	66.3
8/5/2009	119.1
8/12/2009	73.3
8/18/2009	51.2
8/26/2009	79.4
9/2/2009	33.1
9/9/2009*	829.7
9/17/2009	84.5
9/24/2009	93.4
9/30/2009	52.8
10/19/2009*	166.4
10/28/2009*	101.4

*sample taken after rain event

Location #10 I-40 Overpass

Date	Enterococcus Level
1/12/2009	15.5
2/11/2009	7.2
3/31/2009	21.3
4/22/2009	25.3
5/12/2009	14.6
5/27/2009*	153.5
6/3/2009	30.1
6/17/2009	90.9
7/1/2009	29.4
7/8/2009	35
7/15/2009	106.7
7/22/2009	72.3
8/5/2009	57.3
8/12/2009	78.4
8/18/2009	82
8/26/2009	73.3
9/2/2009	23.1
9/9/2009*	913.9
9/17/2009	107.6
9/24/2009	125.9
9/30/2009	54.5
10/19/2009*	190.4
10/28/2009*	166.4

*sample taken after rain event