The ongoing drought in southern Vermont has done at least one positive thing: It has kept water quality high at local swimming holes.
The Southeastern Vermont Watershed Alliance's summer water-quality monitoring program held its third round of testing July 21, according to a news release, and found only one site in the West River and Whetstone watershed failed the “suitability for swimming” standard set by the state of Vermont and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency of a maximum of 235 E. coli per 100 milliliters of water - Rowes Road in South Londonderry on the West River with 649.
All other sites were well under the standard.
Volunteers are collecting samples from 30 sites on eight rivers and streams every other week through the end of August to test for E. coli, a bacterium found in the guts of all warmblooded animals, including humans.
Most E. coli won't make people sick, but the bacterium can become pathogenic and cause illness. Also, the presence of E. coli in waters can indicate the presence of pathogens that are more difficult to detect.
With Windham County and the southern half of Windsor County experiencing “moderate” drought conditions, according to the National Weather Service's Regional Drought Monitor, there have been few showers to drive up E. coli levels. High bacteria levels are often a result of heavy rains, and the storms that passed through the region in the days after testing may have caused rapid rises in bacteria. It is generally recommended to wait 24-48 hours after a significant rainfall to resume swimming in lakes and streams.
For more on SeVWA's monitoring-program sites and results and other Connecticut River watershed water-quality and recreational information, visit www.ctriver.us.