We’ve known it for some time, but it bears repeating: James River, as well as other local waterways, have E. Coli in its’ waters. In fact, there are volunteers and interns that are constantly checking the E. Coli levels and other pollutants in the James rivers regularly. You can check the E. Coli levels in the Galloway Creek, Lake Springfield, Little Sac River, Wilson Creek and James River here. This is an effort provided by the Watershed Committee of the Ozarks in partnership with the Greene County Health Department.
Especially in the Ozarks, people love cooling off in the summer by going to their local swimming hole. The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) water quality criteria for monitoring bacteria, states that no single water sample should have an E. coli count that exceeds 235 CFUs (colony forming units) per 100 ml of water. James River and other waterways in the Ozarks have E. Coli counts that are well above this.
We’ve known for some time that the level of pollutants in our local waterways have been polluted which is why volunteers and cities, towns, and counties in the Ozarks have launched some cleaning initiatives over the last few years.
One recent incentive that was launched is the James River Basin Partnership. This initiative specifically offers a rebate program that covers the cost of pumping your septic tank – of which approximately 25% of Missouri homes have. Pumping your septic tank every 3 to 5 years helps prevent polluting our Ozark waterways.
Either way, it is of the utmost importance to stay safe and be vigilant while having fun in the sun with family and friends this summer.
Healthy Swimming Tips for James River & Other Waterways
- Don’t swim after heavy rains. Bacteria and other pollutant levels are often elevated from the storm runoff.
- Don’t swim if the water is exceedingly murky.
- Do not swallow stream or river water. This will help minimize your chances of getting E. Coli or other pollutants in your body while swimming.
- If you are on the river, sanitize your hands before eating any food. This will minimize the chance of getting bacteria or E. Coli on your food before ingesting it.
- If you have diarrea, please refrain from swimming. This will help prevent further contamination in the waterways.
Symptoms of E. Coli
If you or a loved one has been exposed to E. Coli, be sure to watch out for symptoms and call your doctor as soon as possible. People often start noticing these symptoms 3-4 days after ingesting contaminated food or water.
- Severe stomach cramps.
- Bloody stool.
- Vomiting.
- Fever.
Again, contact your health care provider in the event that some or all of the symptoms aIn summary, we are encouraging Ozarkians to not just be safe on the water, but to help curb this E. Coli trend that is currently present in our waters.
About Aquasani Water Purification Systems
Aquasani is an authorized dealer for Rainsoft, WaterLogic, & JavaSmart. Based in Springfield, Mo., and at Lake of the Ozarks / Osage Beach in Missouri, Aquasani services areas in the Ozarks including Osage Beach, Camdenton, Aurora and even Jefferson City. In essence, we service Mid-Missouri, Southwest Missouri, and Northwest Arkansas, and have been servicing these areas since 2004. We provide home water softener systems, drinking water filtration systems, whole-house air purification systems, and problem-solving water filtration systems for homes and offices. We also service other water softeners like Culligan, Sterling, Hydroquad, Pro-Series, and Whirlpool to name a few!
Aside from our purification systems, we also sell all-natural cleaning products and household items which are environmentally friendly and low-cost.
We specialize in water filtration and purification for both commercial businesses and residential homes. If that isn’t enough, we provide free trials for our water cooler services. If you would like a free estimate, schedule an appointment with us by calling (417) 881-4000 or (573) 692-4009 if you are in the Lake of the Ozarks area.
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