DHEC lifts swimming advisory for the Saluda River

A swimming advisory for a section of the Saluda River at Saluda Shoals Park has been lifted, according to the state Department of Health and Environmental Control.

The area of the river affected runs the length of Saluda Shoals Park, DHEC said in a news release.

The advisory was issued Sunday after water quality tests from portions of the Saluda River near Saluda Shoals Park showed high levels of bacteria, the Congaree Riverkeeper said. The state standard for bacteria is 349, but a sample taken from the river Saturday registered 980.4, Congaree Riverkeeper Bill Stangler said on Sunday.

Such levels could make swimmers ill.

A wastewater discharge from the Friarsgate wastewater treatment facility late last week resulted in the increased bacteria level in the water, the riverkeeper said.

On Thursday, DHEC said its observation at the Friarsgate wastewater plant and recent samples taken at the wastewater plant led it to lift the advisory. The decision also was made after sampling done by the Lower Saluda River Coalition on Wednesday.

DHEC recommended visiting the website, howsmyscriver.org, for the latest weekly sample results taken by the Coalition.

It was at least the second time in little more than a year that the Friarsgate plant has sent poorly treated sewage into the river and prompted concerns about swimming at the popular waterfront park that draws more than 600,000 visitors annually. In June 2016, state regulators found elevated pollution levels at the plant that they said contaminated the Saluda River with enough bacteria to make swimming unsafe.