The Tulsa World has a informative and somewhat shocking article concerning the polluted state of Oklahoma's lakes, rivers, and streams.
18% of our bodies of water were listed as "impaired".
Their guidance makes it appear that the only safe way to actually swim in many of our major rivers and lakes is while wearing a bio-hazard suit.
The DEQ spokesman recommends goggles, ear plugs, and nose plugs while swimming, and immediately bathing with soap and clean water after swimming.
Read the article in full here:
http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectID=11&articleID=20080702_12_A1_spancl85946 (//%22http://%22)
The state of Oklahoma has been examining the use of Alum treatments (similar to Colorado, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and others) to treat some of these bodies of water. This especially applies to the scenic bodies of water in Northeastern and Eastern Oklahoma, such as the Illinois river. The treatments should help restore the balance to those bodies of water.
Funding has not been determined, but I know that they have discussed a possible one time state income tax of $50-something per household as being a solution.
I understand their concerns but it seems alarmist. Natural bodies of water are not treated and thus are deemed "not rated for primary contact"? It means nature does not chorinate or provide lifeguards so beware.
That's analagous to saying we don't filter all the air in our state so therefore be alert and don't go jogging around a refinery...wait... we do that.[:D]
They have to alert the sheep that since we had lots of flooding, all the contaminants that the sheep routinely throw on their yards, along the roads and in the storm sewers along with what drops out the back of their pets....will be possibly revisiting them in the form of dangerous bacteria. Life is dangerous. Duly noted.
Oklahoma's waters are on par with the national average (ranked 27th, with #1 the worst):
http://www.scorecard.org/env-releases/water/rank-states-assess.tcl
(please note their cited sources, hydrology state and EPA reports that I don't understand)
"Impaired" means the water is not up the quality expected for the intended purpose. It does not mean it is not fit for that purpose, but simply by EPA guidelines improvements would be warranted. Most of Oklahoma's waters are polluted by sediment and nutrients. Items that effect the water quality for intended purpose, but are not necessarily harmful (ie. hurts fish population, but not swimmers).
http://www.scorecard.org/env-releases/water/cwa-state.tcl?fips_state_code=40#ranking
Specifically, for the Arkansas river:
quote:
*Arkansas River - Impaired because bacteria were found, along with some heavy metals. The river was also listed as impaired for turbidity. Elder explained that means some visible substances are in the water which makes the river not pleasant to view. The river's impairments interfere with swimming, wading and the propagation of fish and wildlife. Elder explained that does not mean the fish taken from the river cannot be eaten. "It just means the river doesn't have the best conditions for the propagation of fish and wildlife," Elder said, "or as large or as healthy a fish supply as we would like."
Monty Elder, DEQ spokeswoman, Sequoya County Times, 08/24/2005 (yes, this story is that old... and rehashed every year at least once), available at http://www.sequoyahcountytimes.com/articles/2005/08/25/news/front3.txt
So it is bad to look at and does not have the best conditions for fish.
The worst waterway in Oklahoma is the Illinois river, which has nutrient pollution from poultry which breeds high levels of bacteria. In spite of this impairment, there are not swim advisories and the float business continues to thrive.
"Impaired waterways bad for OK" [sic, they don't capitalize their online headings for some reason], Tulsa World, 06/16/2008, available at http://www.tulsaworld.com/opinion/article.aspx?articleID=20080616_7_A2_spanc32475
The waters are not as good as they
should be. Mostly due to farming practices and development (runoff), some due to mining upstream (heavy metals from old Colorado mines in the Arkansas) - but rarely is the impairment to the point that it is unfit for the intended purpose.
The basic lesson is to use common sense (as stated in the linked article). Things like "avoid sewage" should not really be needed in an article. It's unfortunate that the levels of pollution are so high, but for most people occasional contact will not be a significant risk if common sense is followed.
Here is the Oklahoma Water Resources web page, go forth and learn:
http://www.owrb.ok.gov/about/divisions/wq/wq1.php
quote:
Originally posted by cannon_fodder
Oklahoma's waters are on par with the national average (ranked 27th, with #1 the worst):
http://www.scorecard.org/env-releases/water/rank-states-assess.tcl
(please note their cited sources, hydrology state and EPA reports that I don't understand)
"Impaired" means the water is not up the quality expected for the intended purpose. It does not mean it is not fit for that purpose, but simply by EPA guidelines improvements would be warranted. Most of Oklahoma's waters are polluted by sediment and nutrients. Items that effect the water quality for intended purpose, but are not necessarily harmful (ie. hurts fish population, but not swimmers).
http://www.scorecard.org/env-releases/water/cwa-state.tcl?fips_state_code=40#ranking
Specifically, for the Arkansas river:
quote:
*Arkansas River - Impaired because bacteria were found, along with some heavy metals. The river was also listed as impaired for turbidity. Elder explained that means some visible substances are in the water which makes the river not pleasant to view. The river's impairments interfere with swimming, wading and the propagation of fish and wildlife. Elder explained that does not mean the fish taken from the river cannot be eaten. "It just means the river doesn't have the best conditions for the propagation of fish and wildlife," Elder said, "or as large or as healthy a fish supply as we would like."
Monty Elder, DEQ spokeswoman, Sequoya County Times, 08/24/2005 (yes, this story is that old... and rehashed every year at least once), available at http://www.sequoyahcountytimes.com/articles/2005/08/25/news/front3.txt
So it is bad to look at and does not have the best conditions for fish.
The worst waterway in Oklahoma is the Illinois river, which has nutrient pollution from poultry which breeds high levels of bacteria. In spite of this impairment, there are not swim advisories and the float business continues to thrive.
"Impaired waterways bad for OK" [sic, they don't capitalize their online headings for some reason], Tulsa World, 06/16/2008, available at http://www.tulsaworld.com/opinion/article.aspx?articleID=20080616_7_A2_spanc32475
The waters are not as good as they should be. Mostly due to farming practices and development (runoff), some due to mining upstream (heavy metals from old Colorado mines in the Arkansas) - but rarely is the impairment to the point that it is unfit for the intended purpose.
The basic lesson is to use common sense (as stated in the linked article). Things like "avoid sewage" should not really be needed in an article. It's unfortunate that the levels of pollution are so high, but for most people occasional contact will not be a significant risk if common sense is followed.
Here is the Oklahoma Water Resources web page, go forth and learn:
http://www.owrb.ok.gov/about/divisions/wq/wq1.php
Thanks for elucidating.
I'm not afraid to get back in the water anymore.
Water makes you stupid. Look at surfers.
I think even temporary contact with water makes you stupid. Proof is that people think they can sing in the shower. Once they dry off, they stop.
I'm not homophobic, I'm hydrophobic.
quote:
Originally posted by RecycleMichael
Water makes you stupid. Look at surfers.
I think even temporary contact with water makes you stupid. Proof is that people think they can sing in the shower. Once they dry off, they stop.
I'm not homophobic, I'm hydrophobic.
I quit bathing long ago for that very reason.
Remember General Jack Ripper's mantra:
P.O.E.
Some of the guys in our shop convinced a gullible co-worked that there is a fresh water shark population in Grand Lake.
We bad.