Levels of E. coli bacteria found in the lower American River exceed the federal threshold for safe recreational use, in part due to human waste from homeless camps, state regulators say.<\/p>\n
The Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board has proposed adding the bacteria to a list of pollutants that make the lower American River a federally designated impaired water body. A state board is expected to sign off on the decision later this year and ask for final approval from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.<\/p>\n
E. coli can sicken and even kill people who swim in or drink contaminated water. State regulators say they\u2019re not aware of anyone who has been sickened by E. coli in the the lower American River, but nearly a decade of test data indicate the risk of exposure.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt should give people some discomfort about using the water \u2013 it\u2019s not good,\u201d said Ron Stork of Friends of the River.<\/p>\n
A report summarizing test results from 2007 to 2014 found average levels of E. coli at three sites that were higher than the EPA standard, \u201cbeyond which the water body is not recommended for recreation.\u201d The three sites are in the westernmost section of the American River Parkway, near downtown Sacramento, where the highest concentration of homeless camps are set up.<\/p>\n
Seventeen of the 25 test sites had at least one recording in excess of the federal threshold, according to the \u201cSafe-to-Swim Assessment.\u201d<\/p>\n
Thousands of people use the lower American River each year, from the boaters who launch at Discovery Park, to the swimmers who enjoy the beach at Sutter\u2019s Landing Regional Park, to the triathletes who participate in Eppie\u2019s Great Race.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy concern is that it could make me sick,\u201d said Alex McDonald, who was sitting in the water with his wife at Sutter\u2019s Landing last week. \u201cI would like to know more.\u201d<\/p>\n
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