We sample popular swimming holes during the Swim Season.
Through our Swimmable Waters program, volunteers take weekly water samples from May through September. Our weekly E. Coli sampling results will be posted every Friday below and also on theswimguide.org.
Swimmable Waters
We can help you make an informed decision about where you can safely splash or swim this summer! We are testing popular swimming, wading and paddling spots around the watershed for E. coli weekly between May 1 and September 30. E. coli, and in particular one strain called O157:H7, is an emerging cause of foodborne and waterborne illness. Beaches and other designated swimming locations are tested regularly, but areas not designated for swimming (swimming holes, locations along the river) are often not. Most streams the region will have some measurable level of E. coli, however, by limiting your contact recreation (swimming, wading, paddling) to areas with lower levels you can greatly reduce your risk of developing a water-borne illness. We rate sites as posted (red) or open (green) so it’s very easy to determine where it’s safe to swim. Remember– green means go!
Want to Stay Updated?
Water quality conditions will be made available on Friday of each week. We can alert you when new water data become available! Click here to subscribe to email or text alerts or text YoughSwimmableWaters to 84483.
Current Conditions
Green=Open, Red=Posted, Gray=No Data
Visit theswimguide.org to see these locations on a map.
What is E. coli?
Escherichia coli (commonly abbreviated E. coli) is a rod-shaped bacterium commonly found in the lower intestine of warm-blooded organisms including humans and animals. There are hundreds of strains of the bacterium Escherichia coli, however, one particular strain, O157:H7, is an emerging cause of foodborne and waterborne illness. Beaches and other designated swimming locations are tested regularly, but swimmers in non-designated areas (swimming holes, locations along the river) swim at their own risk. Through our Swimmable Waters program, you can access our water quality data to make sure you’re swimming in locations with low levels of E. coli bacteria.
Safety
Please remember that swimming in rivers has inherent dangers which can be minimized but not eliminated through the use of caution and good sense. We assume no responsibility for illness, injury or death resulting from any information contained herein. Swim at your own risk.