To Heal the Anacostia, Citizen Scientists Wade Into Troubled Waters

Image via Maryland Today

From Maryland Today:

Early on summer mornings, while mist lingers on the river and great egrets pick their way along the shore, the Anacostia’s beauty rests easy. While the air is still cool, residents of Prince George’s County and D.C. bike, walk and row along a stretch of the Bladensburg waterfront.

But amid the tranquility, there is another perspective on the Anacostia: It’s a forgotten river that for decades has suffered from industrial pollution and sewage leaking from aging infrastructure—and this neglect is emblematic of environmental injustice on Washington, D.C.’s east side.

For those who care about the health of the river, these mornings are the best time to monitor for dangerous bacteria like E. coli that can indicate the presence of raw sewage.