How to Know if Your Summer Swimming Spot is Safe from E. Coli

Image via The Washington Post

From The Washington Post:

There’s nothing better on a hot and humid day than wading into a lake or river to cool off, but recent E. coli outbreaks raise questions about water safety.

Swimming in natural waters is never completely risk-free, so state and local environmental agencies monitor beaches, lakes and rivers and routinely publish test results.

Two dozen people got sick with E. coli infections last month after swimming at Lake Anna in Virginia, and the Anacostia Riverkeeper on Saturday postponed again the first sanctioned swim in the river in a half-century because of elevated E. coli levels.

Here’s a guide to what governments are doing to monitor water quality for safe swimming.