“At the James River Association (JRA), we’re often asked, ‘Is it safe to swim in the James?’ The best way to have a safe, fun time on the water is to be in the know before you go,” according to the JRA.
To “know before you go,” the JRA is providing weekly updates on water conditions on the James River through its James River Watch website (http://jamesriverwatch.org/).
The JRA also released its latest report, “Swimming Safety in the James— Know Before You Go: Bacteria Monitoring Results 2013-2017.”
This report looks back on five years of water quality monitoring data to reveal bacteria patterns in the James River, which affect conditions for swimming and other forms of recreation.
The report includes monitoring information about the James River at Buchanan where water samples are collected each Thursday, Memorial Day through Labor Day, to help determine the amount of E. coli bacteria in the water along with water temperature and cloudiness or turbidity.
James River Watch data shows that, on average, the river in Buchanan is generally safe for recreation, with 72 percent of all samples taken the past five years meeting the state’s safety standards.
Along the entire river where 27 sample stations are monitored, 83 percent of all samples over the past five years meet the state’s safety standard.
The other 17 percent of samples in the watershed showed high levels of bacteria were primarily found after significant rain events, which wash bacteria pollution into the river from surrounding land or from sewage systems.
According to the JRA, the four major sources of bacteria pollution are livestock, humans, pets and wildlife.
DNA testing of bacteria samples shows that the relative contributions of each of these sources change throughout the watershed.
As an example, bacteria sampling on Looney/Mill Creek that flows into the James River in Buchanan showed on average nearly 40 percent of the bacteria was wildlife related and just over 32 percent came from livestock. Pets accounted for 12 percent and nearly 16 percent was human related.
In Lynchburg, livestock contribute 33 percent, humans account for 24 percent, pets make up 10 percent, and wildlife account for roughly 33 percent.
Farther down river, in the Warwick River near Newport News, livestock account for 23 percent of E. coli, humans 35 percent, pets 24 percent and wildlife 18 percent.
“These exact percentages are subject to change, but generally speaking, pets and human sources are larger contributors to bacterial problems in urban areas, while wildlife and livestock are larger components of bacterial pollution in rural areas,” according to the JRA.
“Since 2013, we have monitored water quality at popular recreation locations on the James and its tributaries. Each weekend from Memorial Day to Labor Day, trained volunteers collect water samples at designated locations where the public is known to frequent for paddling, fishing and swimming,” according to a JRA announcement about safe swimming in the James.
The JRA says the results are verified for quality assurance and then uploaded to the James River Watch website, an online resource for river conditions important to boaters, paddlers and swimmers.
In high concentrations, E. coli can be harmful to human health and indicate greater likelihood of other harmful bacteria in the water, the JRA announcement says.
Although bacteria levels vary based on weather conditions, testing sites in or immediately downstream of urban areas tend to be bacteria hotspots, as well as sites in rural areas where farm animals have access to streams and rivers.
“This data demonstrates that our local waterways are safe for recreation most of the time, but extra caution is necessary after rainstorms,” said Jamie Brunkow, James Riverkeeper. “It is important for river-goers to know local conditions before spending time on the river. Checking James River Watch is an easy way to ensure a safe, fun time on the water.”
Virginia has cleanup plans in place for many of the sections of the James River that are impaired by bacteria pollution. These cleanup plans call for practices that reduce urban stormwater and agricultural pollution, the same issues that are also critical for meeting Virginia’s Chesapeake Bay goals. Virginia will be updating its Chesapeake Bay cleanup plan over the next year.
“Human health continues to be at risk due to pollution entering the James River. To ensure that the James is safe for everyone to enjoy, we need to strengthen and adequately fund state and local programs to address polluted runoff from urban stormwater and agriculture,” said Brunkow.
