Saturday, May 27, 2000
River unsafe on Ky. side
By Terry Flynn
The Cincinnati Enquirer
It's OK to swim in the Ohio River along the Cincinnati shoreline this weekend, but don't swim on the Kentucky side around the mouth of the Licking River, state water quality officials warn.
In fact, you don't want to swim anywhere in the Licking River between Banklick Creek and the Ohio in Campbell and Kenton counties, they said, because of high levels of fecal contamination.
The same is true for a number of other streams in and around Kentucky.
The primary cause of fecal contamination — untreated animal and human fecal matter in the river — is a large number of combined sewers and storm drains. They allow sewage to bypass treatment plants and find its way into the Banklick Creek and other streams.
Kentucky water quality experts performed what is called a “profile” of the Licking River, which includes taking five samples over a 30-day period from areas all the way across the river, bank to bank, and above and below the testing area.
“Our people go out each year throughout the recreational season and take monthly samples from the streams that have been profiled,” said Maleva Chamberlain, public information officer for the Division of Water of the Kentucky Natural Resources & Environmental Protection Cabinet. “If they see improvement, they may profile it again and possibly lift the advisory. We haven't seen anything like that in that section of the Licking, however.”
Cincinnati's Health Department also tested the Ohio River at several points along the shore inside city limits. It reported that the fecal bacteria levels were moderate and did not call for a no-swim advisory.
Ms. Chamberlain said she is not sure why one part of the Ohio River, near the Licking river site, is considered dangerous but the rest is safe.
“It may be because we use different testing methods and different criteria,” she said.
The other waterways in Kentucky under a no-swim advisory:
• The Cumberland River — from Fourmile Bridge to Pineville at the Ky. 66 Bridge, and from Wallins Creek Bridge to Harlan.
• Martins Fork — from Harlan to the Cawood Water Plant.
• All of Catrons, Clover Fork and Straight creeks.
• Poor Fork — from Harlan to Looney Creek.
• Looney Creek — from the mouth to Lynch Water Plant Bridge.
Drivers dig deep to pay for fuel
Boats become crowd scene
Eraser caper sends lawyer to slammer
County, city face riverfront deadline
Day of emotion: Vets recall friends lost
Donated stone marks tiny grave
River unsafe on Ky. side
RAMSEY: Education
4th district GOP chairman to step down
Blue Ash dedicates city tower
Bring appetite, umbrella
Buses to cut fares during smog season
Dayton man sought in gas station holdup
Dog taken, owner cited after attack on girl, 5
Fairy tale gets contemporary spin
Get to it
Job fair comes to Lincoln Heights
Ky. horse country to hold Bush fund-raiser
Lockland chief defends officers
Massie student dies on senior-class outing
Police focus on seat-belt use
Police officer not guilty in jogger's death
Prison nursery a step closer
Songs spice up soup kitchen
Queen City's moments to shine reflected in book
