ASHEVILLE, NC – June 1, 2022 – North Carolina water quality officials have reported that a 19-mile section of the French Broad River from Long Shoals Road to Craggy Dam in Buncombe County is “impaired” because of elevated E. Coli bacteria levels found during recent testing. In her 1955 book The French Broad, the American writer Wilma Dykeman described how many years of dumping untreated sewage and industrial waste into the waterway had created a dirty, smelly river that she described as “too thick to drink, too thin to plow.” After the Clean Water Act of 1972, the work of many nonprofit organizations and volunteers improved the river’s water quality.

Today, the river does not appear healthy, described as a brown color, a clear sign of the sediment and other pollutants running through the waterway. The French Broad River has elevated levels of E. Coli bacteria from sewer and septic system leaks, cattle accessing streams, and stormwater runoff from animal agricultural operations and fields. Booming construction and development, more frequent heavy rains due to climate change, and an aging stormwater system result in more runoff from urban areas, more sewer overflows, and increased waterway sediment. A large fuel spill in 2018 has also adversely affected its water quality.

In 2002, the French Broad River was moved up to Class B standards that include swimming. You can access an up-to-date French Broad River water quality report this summer on the SwimGuide.org website and smartphone app. Hartwell Carson, the nonprofit MountainTrue’s French Broad Riverkeeper, explains that “We test for E. coli bacteria so that people know when and where it’s safe to swim.”

Listen to the full report below:

Contact: Dick Needleman, Health reporter, 103.3 AshevilleFM, [email protected]

The federal Clean Water Act was passed by Congress in 1972. It establishes the regulations for the discharges of pollutants and regulating water quality standards for surface waters. It’s first goal is to restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biologic integrity of our waters. The second goal provides for the protection and nurturing of fish and wildlife and support recreation in and on the water. Water quality standards are based on risk to human health and the environment. The Division of Water Resources is required by the Clean Water Act to release a list of impaired streams every two years and submit it to the Environmental Protection Agency for approval. The water quality standard is based on a waterway’s overall classification. By definition, the higher classification has higher water quality standards. Each state defines the best uses to be protected within waters, and sets water quality standards to protect those uses. All waters must meet Class C standards, which address fishing, wading, boating and other uses where human body contact is “infrequent.” Class B standards for rivers and streams is for primary recreational activities that include swimming, skin diving, water skiing and similar uses where body contact with water is considered frequent.

E. coli, a fecal coliform bacteria, is a reliable indicator of the presence of other bacteria and pathogens that are harmful to human health. Contact with or consumption of contaminated water can cause gastrointestinal illness, skin, ear, respiratory, eye, neurologic, and wound infections. The most commonly reported symptoms are stomach cramps, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and low-grade fever.

Listen to the full report below:

Contact: Dick Needleman, Health reporter, 103.3 AshevilleFM, [email protected]

ASHEVILLE, NC – June 1, 2022 – The Buncombe County COVID-19 metrics are on the North Carolina COVID Dashboard. Data from the week ending on May 21 indicate:

• There are 306 cases per 100,000 residents in the last 7 days up 14% from the previous week.
• 66% of the total population have received their full primary vaccination series. This is unchanged for over 2 months
• 62% of people with full primary vaccination series have had at least one booster. This has unchanged over 2 weeks.
• The seven-day daily average of COVID-19 hospitalizations have increased by 45% over the past week and of ICU patients have increased by 1 adult over the previous week.
• The CDC reports that the risk level for Buncombe County is low for the week ending May 26^th.
• Wastewater surveillance may provide an early warning before individual testing shows that COVID-19 is spreading. The state dashboard reports that the 15-day rate of change of viral load for the Metropolitan Sewer District for Buncombe County is moderately decreasing for the time period ending May18^th. The CDC website reports that the rate of change is also moderately decreasing for the time period ending May 24^th.

The Department of Health and Human Services recommends:

• Get vaccinated and boosted when eligible.
• People with any COVID symptoms or exposure to someone with COVID should get tested
• People who are positive for COVID-19 or do not feel well should stay home

Vaccination sites and testing sites can be located through the North Carolina and Buncombe County Department of Health and Human Services.

Save your face masks:

• The risk level may rise with a new variant
• A person at high risk for severe illness should speak with their health care provider
• Mask wearing is recommended for persons with a positive test, having symptoms, or exposure to someone with COVID-19
• Effective May 4, 2022, the North Carolina Department of Health & Human Services and the CDC recommend wearing masks in health care and long-term care settings. The N95 or KN95 mask offers the best protection. Wear a mask that is well-fitting.

Listen to the full report below:

Contact: Dick Needleman, Health reporter, 103.3 AshevilleFM, [email protected]