On Thursday, the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) partially lifted a recreational water advisory for the Potomac River. However, the advisory remains in place for a 4.7-mile portion upstream from the American Legion Memorial Bridge (I-495) to Route 120 Chain Bridge in Fairfax.
VDH issued the advisory following the January 19 collapse of a section of the Potomac Interceptor sewage pipe. The collapse caused at least 250 million gallons of wastewater to enter the Potomac.
Recent water quality samples by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality indicate bacteria concentrations in the Potomac River are at levels acceptable for all recreational water use, according to VDH.
However, swimming or other activities always pose some health risk because the water is not disinfected. Children under 5 years old, older adults, and those with weakened immune systems are at higher risk of contracting illness from natural bodies of water, VDH says.
“For the safety of people and pets, VDH is advising Virginia residents to avoid recreational water activities in this area of Potomac River, such as swimming, wading, tubing, white-water canoeing or kayaking, where full-body submersion is more likely to occur,” VDH said in a statement.
DC’s Department of Health lifted its recreational advisory on Monday. The department said its testing shows the river’s E.coli bacterial levels are now within safe ranges for recreation.
Feature image, sborisov/adobe.stock.com
