All articles tagged with #water quality
DC Mayor Muriel Bowser declared the Potomac River sewage spill a public emergency and sought federal help to cover cleanup costs, as temporary pipes divert sewage into the C&O Canal to allow repair of the six‑foot Potomac Interceptor after January’s collapse.
President Donald Trump said the federal government will help respond to a major raw-sewage spill into the Potomac River, directing federal agencies to coordinate the cleanup after about 200 million gallons spilled, with barriers redirecting sewage and FEMA/EPA involvement.
A large sewer pipe collapse near I-495 and Clara Barton Parkway caused hundreds of millions of gallons of raw sewage to spill into the Potomac, leaving sewage remnants on land and in the water. DC Water says repairs will take about nine months, using bypasses to the C&O Canal and Potomac Interceptor, while state and local officials monitor water quality and public health risks across the District, Maryland, and Virginia.
A 12-year-old boy, Nico Antic, died from injuries after a shark bit him in Sydney Harbour last week as he and friends jumped into the water from a rock in Vaucluse. Heavy rains made the harbor water murky, which officials say is linked to increased shark activity. The incident follows several other shark encounters in the area, prompting beach closures and warnings to avoid swimming in harbor waters amid concerns over rising shark activity and changing migratory patterns.
The Transportation and Infrastructure Committee approved multiple bills, including the Aviation Funding Solvency Act to protect the air traffic control system during government shutdowns, and legislation to modernize aviation, improve water quality, and relocate the FBI headquarters, among other initiatives.
The Chicago River hosted its first organized open swim in nearly 100 years, celebrating its environmental recovery thanks to improved water quality and conservation efforts, with 263 swimmers participating and the event raising funds for ALS research.
Over 250 swimmers participated in the first open-river swim in nearly a century in Chicago, marking a milestone in the river's recovery from pollution, supported by water quality testing showing safe conditions and investments in environmental cleanup, symbolizing Chicago's commitment to making its waterways swimmable and recreational again.
A small dam in upstate New York was removed, leading to rapid ecological recovery within three years, including improved water quality, increased habitat diversity, and the return of fish and macroinvertebrates, demonstrating nature's resilience and the benefits of removing obsolete barriers to restore river health.
The Oklahoma City-County Health Department is investigating water quality concerns at OKANA Resort's waterpark after a failed inspection revealed zero chlorine levels, which was temporarily corrected. The resort emphasizes its commitment to safety, with frequent water testing and adherence to safety standards, while authorities assess the situation to ensure public health.
US beaches are under fecal contamination warnings ahead of Labor Day weekend due to high bacteria levels from pollution sources like runoff and sewer overflows, posing health risks to swimmers and prompting advisories and closures at popular destinations.
Many US beaches are under advisories due to unsafe levels of fecal contamination, caused by outdated sewage systems and severe weather, posing health risks to swimmers during the Labor Day weekend.
Several recreation sites along North Carolina rivers and coastlines failed fecal bacteria testing, leading to swim warnings in multiple locations due to elevated bacteria levels, likely influenced by recent heavy rains, with officials continuing to monitor and test the sites.
Swimming in the Seine in Paris has become popular again with the opening of public bathing sites, attracting thousands amid a heatwave and after a century-long ban, following a major cleanup that improved water quality.
Paris has reopened the Seine for public swimming for the first time since 1923, following extensive water quality improvements made for the 2024 Olympics, with three designated sites in the city open to over 1,000 swimmers daily until August 31, and additional sites outside Paris.
Parisians for the first time in over 100 years legally swam in the Seine during a public event, following a major cleanup project that improved water quality, with safety measures in place amid some skepticism about pollution levels.