COLUMBIA, S.C. — With the weather warming up, swimming might be tempting, but health officials warn residents in and around Columbia to temporarily avoid swimming in a large portion of the Saluda River due to bacteria levels.
Quality samples taken by the Midlands Rivers Coalition on Wednesday found bacteria levels that "did not meet the standard for swimming," according to Columbia Water.
A swimming advisory was issued for the section of the Lower Saluda River from the Saluda Shoals Park canoe landing to Stacy's Ledge. Columbia Water said another sample was collected on Thursday, and the results should be available on Friday. For the purposes of the advisory, swimming includes any recreation that may put someone in direct contact with the water, including wading, tubing and paddling.
Children, people with compromised immune systems and those with open wounds are among the groups particularly at risk. Anyone planning a trip to rivers in the South Carolina Midlands during the summer can check HowsMySCRiver.org to see the latest water tests.