VDH gives the OK to swim in the James River again
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The James River at sunset. Photo: Joe Sohm/Visions of America/UCG/Universal Images Group/Getty Images
The Virginia Department of Health lifted its recreational water advisory for parts of the James River on Thursday.
Why it matters: VDH can't guarantee a lack of poop in the river, but people can now go back to swimming in it and pretending that sewage isn't swimming with them.
The big picture: The advisory — which was for pets, too — was first put in place on July 17 after "ongoing sewage release" from a city pipe contaminated the water.
- It covered the 12-mile stretch between the Manchester Bridge around Ninth Street and Osborne Landing in Henrico.
- The city reported the leak to the Department of Environmental Quality on July 2, but DEQ didn't receive the report until two weeks later because of a tech issue, resulting in a delay in informing the public, the Times-Dispatch reported.
The latest: In a Thursday release, the state agency said water quality sampling results from Monday and Tuesday showed bacteria at levels "acceptable" for swimming.
- Though swimming in "any natural body of water" can always pose a health risk because the water isn't disinfected, VDH says.
Yes, but: This year, the sewage overflowing into the river — a common event whenever it heavily rains — is already more than triple the total amount recorded in 2023, according to the Times-Dispatch.
Some ways to stay safe in the river, per VDH:
- Don't swallow the water.
- Avoid going in it if it looks cloudy or if it has rained in the last three days.
- Maybe self-explanatory but if the fish are dead, don't get wet.
Karri's thought bubble: If Olympians can compete in the century-long polluted Seine, Richmonders can hold their nose and take a quick dip in the lightly poop-filled James.
Sabrina's thought bubble: I'll be continuing my years-long commitment to not swimming in the James and laughing at this post on X showing Gollum from Lord of the Rings exiting the Seine after a swim.
Go deeper: Richmond OKs $50 million to stop waste from flowing into the James River.