Allegheny County Health Department Begins Daily Water Advisories

The Allegheny County Health Department will issue daily river water advisories for the 2009 recreational boating season through September 30.

 

The advisories indicate whether water quality in rivers and streams is normal or a combined sewer overflow alert has been issued. Alerts are issued when significant rainfall causes sewers carrying sewage and storm water to overflow and contaminate rivers and streams.

 

“A CSO alert doesn’t prohibit recreational activity, but cautions people to minimize water contact on river outings. Those with weakened immune systems and open cuts or sores are vulnerable to infection from exposure to contaminated water,” said County Health Director Dr. Bruce W. Dixon.

 

The frequency and duration of alerts vary depending on the amount of rainfall. Thirteen alerts were issued and lasted an average of three and a half days each or 47 days altogether last summer, which was relatively dry. By contrast, six alerts were issued and lasted a record high 125 days or an average of about 21 days each during the extremely wet summer of 2004.

 

When an alert is in effect, marinas, docks and other sites along the rivers fly an orange-colored flag with black CSO lettering, which stands for combined sewer overflow. Thirty-one sites are participating in the program this year – 17 on the Allegheny, seven on the Ohio, six on the Monongahela, and one on the Youghiogheny. The meaning of each flag is available online.

 

Boaters can obtain advisory updates directly, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, by calling the Allegheny County Health Department’s river water advisory hotline at 412-687-ACHD and is available at the Health Department website.