The Catawba Riverkeeper warns against swimming in areas of North Carolina and South Carolina with elevated E. coli levels.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Recent testing of water quality across North Carolina has found some local waterways that are suggested to be unsafe for swimming.
The Catawba Riverkeeper, which utilizes volunteers to monitor the water quality of the Catawba-Wateree River basin in western North Carolina and South Carolina, found elevated levels of E. Coli during testing on June 6.
Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation recommends not swimming in water with E. coli levels above 235 MPN for 100 milliliters of water. While normal levels can be as low as single digits, volunteers found:
- An E. coli level of 11,199 MPN at the Baltimore Access along the South Fork River near Cramerton
- An E. coli of 2,420 MPN at the Boathouse along the South Fork River in McAdenville
Additionally, the Catawba Riverkeeper volunteers found unsafe water levels in the foothills of North Carolina:
- An E. coli level of 2,420 at the North Fork of the Catawba River near Lake James
- An E. coli level of 411 at Greenlee Park near Marion
Levels in Union County were also found to be unsafe:
- An E. coli level of 921 at Cane Creek Park
In South Carolina, levels were found to be unsafe at:
- An E. coli level of 866 at Rock Creek along the Catawba River near Great Falls
The Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation says it test for E. coli because they find it a good indicator of human sewage levels in the water. They say that water containing high levels of fecal bacteria and other pollutants can lead to disease, infection and rashes.
The Foundation is currently seeking additional volunteers to help monitor the water quality of Lake Norman.
