COLUMBIA, S.C. — Even though Labor Day marks the unofficial end of summer, plenty of warm days remain before fall officially takes hold in South Carolina.
That means many people will seek to cool off by swimming, kayaking, or floating down our local rivers.
But there could be a hidden danger lurking in the water.
"There are sections of the river, I mean, let’s be honest, where you can see trash has gathered and those kinds of things, and it’s not as nice as you would like it to look. So, I still try to be mindful of it,” said Billy Wiggins, who was tubing down the Saluda River with friends Friday afternoon.
The “it” that Wiggins was talking about is bacteria.
Trash, heavy rains, and even illegal industrial dumping can all lead to elevated levels of E. coli and other bacteria that can be harmful to humans.
The problem is especially bad during the summer when warmer water temperatures create ideal conditions for bacteria to grow.
That’s why riverkeepers collect and test water samples from area rivers each week.
If the samples indicate high bacteria levels, the riverkeepers will issue swimming advisories for the public to consider.
Wiggins said he and his friends have noticed the advisories.
“So, before you get in the water, they have the signs (so) you can see if there’s any warnings that are current. So, we checked that, and there were none thankfully. But yeah, it definitely plays into your mind,” Wiggins said.
The swimming advisories don’t prevent you from entering the water. They mean you should use caution. Riverkeepers aren’t the only ones monitoring the rivers.
Melissa Hiller also knows a thing or two about testing river water.
"I am a life support systems technician at Riverbanks Zoo and Gardens. We have a couple of our systems that have river water. We test the water about once a week, and we pull it straight from the river and it goes right back out. We test the river water just to make sure (there are) safe levels of coliforms, which is just total bacteria, and e coli, just to make sure it’s safe for all of our animals,” Hiller said.
There are things the public can do to help keep bacteria levels down in our local rivers. In addition to properly disposing of household trash and large items like tires, there are volunteer opportunities throughout the year. On Sept. 21, the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources is hosting a Beach Sweep/River Sweep event.
Before you head out to enjoy a day on the river, visit the Riverkeeper's website to check the latest test results and bacteria levels.