High bacteria levels were found in Columbia river this week. Is it safe to swim?

Water quality in the Saluda, Broad and Congaree rivers around Columbia’s Riverbanks Zoo now meets acceptable standards for bacteria, according to the Midlands Rivers Coalition in a release just after noon on Friday.

But that latest water quality sample was taken Thursday just before a major deluge — more than 3 inches in a several hour period — the Columbia area.

“We usually see elevated bacteria levels after rain events, and it DEFINITELY rained yesterday after sampling,” Congaree Riverkeeper Bill Stangler said in a tweet, whose nonprofit Congaree Riverkeeper group works with other state and local agencies and businesses for safe and pollution-free rivers.

Bacteria is a widely accepted indicator of general water quality, Stangler said.

“Please be cautious if you’re getting on the river and use your best judgment, especially at risk groups (including kids, people with compromised immune system, or open wounds,” Stangler said.

Big rain events such as Thursday’s cause a lot of runoff and even sewer spills, Stangler said.

“Rain equals bad water quality,” he said. “Use your best judgment and a lot of caution.”

His advice goes not just for swimmers, but for waders, kayakers, people who fish, tubers and paddlers — “any water contact recreation,” he said.

On any given pleasant summer weekend day, Columbia’s rivers might have several thousand people either on the banks or engaged in various water activities, Stangler said.

The Midlands Rivers Coalition does weekly bacteria checks at 11 sites on the Saluda, Broad and Congaree rivers. Earlier in the week, high bacteria levels were detected at a Saluda River test site near Riverbanks Zoo, prompting a swimming advisory.

The latest Midlands river quality data is mapped at https://howsmyscriver.org/midlands.

The map shows only 10 sites, but one site — at the Blossom Street bridge under which flows the Congaree — has a sampling station on both sides of the river there.

“Water quality can change quickly,” said Stangler. “Keep an eye on the weather and educate yourself about what drives water quality issues.”

Bacteria samples are normally collected every Wednesday and results posted on Thursday.

Members of the Midlands Rivers Coalition include the Congaree Riverkeeper, the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental and Control, City of Columbia, West Columbia, Cayce, Lexington and numerous others, said Spangler.

This story was originally published June 17, 2022 at 1:57 PM.