53% of Samples Taken at Wheeling, WV Unsafe.
23% of samples taken from the Ohio River tested unsafe for swimming due to bacterial contamination according to analyses conducted by the Ohio River Valley Sanitation Commission (ORSANCO) at six sites spread over five states along the 981-mile river (see map below). Every site tested unsafe at least once during the week of June 20, the most recent sampling period available. Wheeling, WV scored worst with 16 of 30 samples testing unsafe. The Ohio River watershed encompasses 189,422 square miles and all or part of 15 states but is not included in the EPA national database of swimming beach advisories, which generally covers only coastal and Great Lakes beaches.
For more information on the Clean Water Act’s failed July 1, 1983 policy goal regarding water and recreation: EarthDesk July 1, 2014 and EarthDesk July 1, 2013.
No surprises here, the not so great Commonwealth of Kentucky is in the top five states with illegal straight pipe sewer discharges. The community water treatment plants can kill fecal coliform and most of the bacteria but does nothing about the witches brew of drugs both legal and illegal in your drinking water. and guess what, your provider of alleged safe drinking water is not required to analyze the “safe & treated ” drinking water for drugs. When the water is actually tested for the drugs, small amounts of 25 to 35 drugs are ubiquitous. Prozac is almost always present