CITIZENS WATER QUALITY TESTING BEACH TOWELS
QUEENS + BROOKLYN, NYC - 2019
These custom beach towels show 20 weeks of 2018 Citizens Water Quality Testing (CWQT) data measuring levels of enterococcus in specific sample locations in NYC’s harbor. High concentrations of enterococcus typically indicate the presence of combined sewage overflows (CSO), and that people should avoid touching the water. Green, yellow, and pink bands correspond to NYC Department of Health enterococcus standards for swimmable water-- pink means bad. Every year about 20 billion gallons of raw sewage and unfiltered stormwater flow into NYC’s harbor by way of CSOs.