On Thursday, May 29, water testing at Hawksbill Creek at Luray-Hawksbill Greenway Pocket Park off Virginia Avenue, Page County showed E. coli levels of 2,909.0 CFU/100 mL—more than 12 times the EPA’s recommended safety limit for recreational waters. What This Means: High E. coli levels can indicate the presence of harmful bacteria and pathogens, which pose increased health risks particularly to children, the elderly, and individuals with weakened immune systems. Direct contact with contaminated water can lead to gastrointestinal illness, skin infections, and other health issues. (fb)

The results of the water samples collected yesterday, Thursday, May 29, show that 11 out of 14 testing sites along the Shenandoah River at public access sites had E. coli levels above the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) recommended Beach Action Value (BAV) of 235 CFU per 100mL. The river was rising and moving swiftly at the time of sampling. Two sites, Berry’s Ferry (Route 50) and Meems Bottom Covered Bridge, had especially high readings, each with E. coli levels more than 3 times above the EPA's alert level for freshwater recreation. The BAV is a precautionary threshold used to help protect public health. When levels go above 235, there's a higher chance of illness from contact with the water. Stay informed and remember “IF IT’s BROWN TURN AROUND.” (fb)