Environment America found potentially unsafe bacteria levels on at least one day at 69% of more than 4,500 river and lake testing sites across 17 states.
The group's "Safe for Swimming" report turned up E. Coli in every state it analyzed. John Rumpler, the group's clean water director and senior attorney, said E. Coli is an indicator of fecal matter. "In other words, poop," he said.
Rumpler said the contamination comes from sewage overflows, stormwater runoff and leaking septic tanks. He stressed that his group is not claiming these waters carry contamination all the time.
Check conditions before you swim. Environment America's online dashboard breaks down the results state by state. Rumpler calls this a consumer issue as much as an environmental one. He pictured a family driving two or three hours to a lakeside cabin for a week, then finding E. Coli in the water. "I think we might agree that's a ruined vacation right there," he said.
Rumpler also said federal and state governments could do more. More federal money would put less burden on ratepayers and local citizens, he said. But he does not want any local or state official to use missing federal funding as an excuse.
About half of the 4,000-plus monitoring sites had elevated E. Coli levels on 25% or more of the days they were tested.
Common questions
What did Environment America find at lakes and rivers?
- Environment America found potentially unsafe bacteria levels on at least one day at 69% of more than 4,500 river and lake testing sites across 17 states. Its "Safe for Swimming" report turned up E. coli in every state it analyzed. The group says the waters aren't contaminated all the time.
What causes the bacteria in lakes and rivers?
- Sewage overflows, stormwater runoff and leaking septic tanks are the sources, says John Rumpler of Environment America. Rumpler, the group's clean water director and senior attorney, says E. coli indicates fecal matter. He stressed the group is not claiming these waters carry contamination all the time.
How do I check water safety before swimming?
- Check conditions before you swim, starting with Environment America's online dashboard, which breaks down the results state by state. John Rumpler, the group's clean water director, calls water safety a consumer issue as much as an environmental one. The report analyzed more than 4,500 sites across 17 states.
