Are E.coli levels safe for tubing French Broad, WNC rivers July 4 weekend? What to know

ASHEVILLE - With sweltering temperatures in the 90’s forecasted for the July 4 weekend, many might be planning to celebrate Independence Day on the water while rafting, paddleboarding or swimming down Western North Carolina’s beloved waterways.

But how clean are the rivers that run through this mountain region, especially the one flowing through the heart of Asheville?

When it comes to E. coli levels, it depends on the day, according to French Broad Riverkeeper Hartwell Carson.

E. coli is bacteria found in feces of animals such as cattle and goats, which can cause infections in humans that may lead to serious illness, especially in in young children and adults over 65, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“A lot of people think the French Broad is dirty all the time and you shouldn’t swim there,” Carson said. “But the summer we’ve had, it’s been quite clean because it hasn’t rained that much.”

Heavy rain can spike E. coli levels by stirring up sediment and washing in the bacteria from a variety of sources like agriculture, animals, sewer overflows, and stormwater runoff from downtown Asheville with “surprisingly high E. coli,” Carson said.

Generally, if the river looks very muddy, it’s probably not very clean and it looks clean, it’s probably clean, he said.

For river-goers looking for a more exact water quality check than the eye test, the WNC conservation group MountainTrue created a website and app called Swim Guide.

Last year, MountainTrue’s “State of our French Broad River” report found E. coli levels were at almost eight times the EPA standard. But Carson said it’s too soon to tell if those levels have dropped this year since testing just began again in June.

It’s important to keep in mind that just because one location on a river may have elevated E. coli levels, doesn’t mean the whole river is unsafe for swimming, he said. Riverkeepers upload test results weekly to the guide from 96 popular recreation spots across WNC and northern Georgia, allowing users to see where the current cleanest places to recreate are.

Which popular swim spots have safe E. coli levels July 4?

There is currently no water quality standard for E. coli in North Carolina. However, the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services in 2022 determined recommended levels for primary recreational activities (swimming/snorkeling) and secondary recreational activities (kayaking, tubing, fishing).

Values greater than 126 MPN (most probable number) in tests for E. coli are considered to pose an increased risk of illness for swimmers. Values of greater than 886 MPN create increased risk in secondary recreation such as tubing or paddling.

Rivers in and around Asheville are tested on Wednesdays and results are uploaded every Friday, according to Carson.

Areas along the French Broad meeting water quality standards based on June 26 tests:

• River Arts District in Asheville
• Bent Creek River Park
• Hominy Creek Park
• French Broad in Hot Springs
• Ledges Whitewater Park

Areas that failed the last test include:

• Blantyre Park in Hendersonville
• Silverline Park in Woodfin
• Hap Simpson Park in Brevard

MountainTrue also has a real-time monitor of E. coli levels in the French Broad at Pearson Bridge in Asheville. As of July 2, readings indicate E. coli levels with an increased exposure risk for swimming but not for paddling or tubing.

Green River, a popular tubing location in Mill Spring, passed with the same color check mark as its namesake every month it’s been tested since 2021.

As an avid outdoor enthusiast, Carson gave his advice for Independence Day: don’t avoid WNC’s rivers but check the swim guide to make an informed decision on where and how to recreate.

Planning a weekend on the water? Check back in with the swim guide on Friday for updated water quality results.

Swim guide helps conservationists determine where problems are

While made primarily for recreationists to see where it’s safe to swim, conservationists also use the guide to solve water quality problems and push for science-based policy solutions aimed at protecting the waterways.

Areas seemingly close by on the river can have drastically different E. coli readings, according to Carson. Small tributaries feeding into the French Broad can have septic, sewer or storm water runoff that isn’t present further upriver. Conservationists use the data to monitor areas with spikes in E. coli compared to surrounding locations and investigate if necessary.

Because of the swim guide, Carson noticed the French Broad in Shiloh had consistently high readings last year. After “dozens and dozens” of hours looking in sewer lines and dying sewer lines, they located the source of the leak. Now, the data shows “dramatic improvement” there so far in 2024.

"Our rivers are a really important cultural, recreational, and economic resource for our region,” Carson said.

“If we want to clean up the dirtiest rivers and protect the cleanest ones, we need policymakers to act to increase riparian buffers, encourage better building and farming practices and invest in upgrading aging sewer infrastructure to meet current and future needs.”

Ryley Ober is the Public Safety Reporter for Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA Today Network. Email her at rober@gannett.com and follow her on Twitter @ryleyober