BREAKING NEWS: Rapidan Health District Lifts Swimming Advisory
Orange County residents can now use the water for bathing and laundry but should still use bottled water for drinking and food preparation, health department says.
By Adele Uphaus
MANAGING EDITOR AND CORRESPONDENT
Email Adele
August 25, 2024
The Rappahannock Rapidan Health District has lifted the swimming advisory for the Rapidan River, effective immediately.
The advisory was put into place last week “out of an abundance of caution” and affected the boat launch at Route 3 to the boat launch at Route 610.
“Comprehensive water sampling during the past three days do not indicate a public health risk,” a press release from the health district states. “A survey of the Rapidan River by boat and by foot to evaluate potential odor sources did not reveal any obvious sources and no odors were noted by staff while traversing the waterway.”
Also last night, the Rapidan Service Authority and the Virginia Department of Health changed the Do Not Use Water Advisory to a Do Not Drink Water Advisory.
Residents can now use tap water for bathing, toilet flushing, laundry, and other uses “not associated with consumption or ingestion,” the health department states, but should not use the water for drinking, brushing teeth, dishwashing, preparing baby formula, making ice or coffee, or cleaning food contact surfaces.
Bottled water only should be used for drinking and preparing food until further notice.
“This change is based on lab sampling results, a review by subject matter experts and toxicologists, a lessening of the odor of concern at the water treatment plant, and no odor of concern at the Rapidan River intake,” a press release from the health department states.
The Do Not Use advisory was issued last Wednesday by the Rapidan Service Authority after reports of a concerning odor.
The source of the odor has not yet been discovered, but odor “is dissipating.”
The VDH is performing additional “evaluations and inspections,” and “local partners continue to investigate why [the odor] happened and what caused it.”
Though the swimming advisory has been lifted, the health district provided the following tips for staying safe while recreating in natural waters:
Never swallow untreated water and don’t swim if your skin has cuts or open wounds.
Wash hands frequently, including after swimming and before preparing and eating food.
Shower or bathe after swimming to wash off possible germs and contaminants.
Check the water and the area around it before swimming. Avoid going in water if there is a green film on the water or if the water is cloudier than usual. Avoid swimming near storm drains or livestock.
Avoid swimming if you are vomiting or have diarrhea.
Avoid contact swimming in natural waterways for three days following rain events. Heavy rain picks up anything it comes in contact with, including germs from overflowing sewage, polluted storm water, and runoff from land.
Avoid any area of the waterbody where there is water with a foul or chemical odor, dead or dying fish, or discolored water.
If taking fish caught from natural waters, remove the skin from filets and dispose of viscera and internal organs. Cook filets to proper temperature and clean knives and cutting boards with soapy water. Follow posted fish consumption advisories.
Check with your healthcare provider before swimming in oceans, lakes, rivers, and other natural bodies of water if your body’s ability to fight germs is already affected by other health problems or medicines.
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