A pleasant dip in the Charles River
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Mike Deehan unofficially founds the Charles River Cannonball Club. Photo: Francy Wade
I was one of dozens of swimmers who bravely plunged into the Charles River Saturday for City Splash, the Charles River Conservancy's annual swim in the once-polluted river.
Why it matters: The event is one of the only sanctioned chances to swim in the Charles. Demand keeps outpacing supply, and registration slots disappear within hours every year.
Do you have brain worms now? Not that I know of!
- The water was totally fine and not really nasty at all.
- It was surprisingly warm and not much of a shock to dive into.
One man's opinion: It would be amazing to have access to the river for swimming on some of the hot days we've had in Boston this year.
Catch up quick: Last July's swim was canceled when heavy rain drove E. coli levels above safe thresholds.
- The Charles' reputation as one of the cleaner urban rivers still hinges on the weather.
- But at least we know officials take bacteria testing seriously enough to cancel events for safety concerns.
State of play: This year's swim, the eighth, drew a full house at Fiedler Dock, plus an expanded vendor setup with crafts and food trucks.
Between the lines: The swimmers' optimism comes along with a fight over the river's future.
- The Massachusetts Water Resources Authority has proposed reclassifying the Charles to formally permit discharges of stormwater mixed with sewage.
- Advocates, including the Charles River Watershed Association, argue that only adds pollution rather than fixing it.
What's next: Conservancy officials are pushing for expanded, longer-term swimming access.
- The MWRA's board is weighing what to do with the sewage discharges.
Last year we asked if you'd swim in the Charles. What do you say now? Email [email protected] to let us know.