DC’s inaugural Anacostia River Splash postponed due to E. Coli

Nobody has been allowed to swim in the Anacostia River for 50 years, and that streak will continue for at least a couple more weeks as Washington D.C. ’s inaugural Anacostia River Splash has been postponed due to E. Coli in the water.

The event was supposed to take place on Saturday, but Anacostia riverkeeper Trey Sherard said he received test results Saturday morning confirming what organizers called results "above E. coli recreational standards."

This marks the third time the event has been postponed, the first two coming in 2023 due to heavy rain. Sherard claimed that the levels were safe earlier in the week, but a “little storm” Wednesday night must have caused them to rise.

“There were no documented sewage overflows,” he confirmed. Sherard said he experienced no symptoms of E. Coli, which may include diarrhea, stomach pain, vomiting, fevers, and more.

He mentioned that a two-story-tall and 12-mile-long tunnel has reduced sewage going into the Anacostia River by 98%.

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Anacostia River Splash organizers said they'll make their fourth attempt to hold the event on July 13, two weeks after the unsafe E. Coli reading. Their website promises to “provide a rare chance for residents to swim in and reconnect with the river.”

The Washington Examiner reached out to event organizers and the CDC for comment.