The WRWA has been sampling water quality at 19 sites along the Westport River and contributing streams for more than 20 years to evaluate the health of the river. We test the Westport River weekly from June-August. Bacteria levels can change by the day; each week’s results refer only to conditions the morning on which the samples were taken. We monitor a type of bacteria used for swimming and shellfishing standards, which have specific concentrations that are considered safe for humans, reported in cfu or colony forming units.
Over the past three years, the WRWA water quality results show changes in fecal coliform bacteria levels across various locations in the Westport River.
Summary of the key trends and improvements observed from 2022 to 2024.
1. Overall Water Quality:
2022: This year saw high spikes in bacteria levels, particularly at the Head of Westport, where levels reached up to 10,000 colonies per 100 mL in late August. Other locations like Doctors Point and Hix Bridge also recorded elevated bacteria counts, though less extreme.
2023: High bacteria levels continued into 2023, with major spikes at Doctors Point (16,800 colonies) and Hix Bridge (15,200 colonies), particularly in August.
2024: While certain areas still saw elevated levels, the overall trend in 2024 shows a significant reduction in extreme bacteria spikes compared to previous years. The highest count recorded was 970 colonies per 100 mL at Doctors Point in late July.
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