FRBRECS5 Swannanoa River near future parklands

Source Information

Every Wednesday from mid May to the end of August in 2025, volunteers from the Swannanoa Watershed Action Network (SWAN) obtain water quality samples at five publicly-accessible park sites along the Swannanoa River. Samples are tested for levels of E, coli and turbidity by the lab at the NC Dept. of Environmental Quality in Swannanoa under a program through the Division of Water Resources. Weekly results are posted later in the week so you know where it's safe to swim, fish, and paddle on your weekend adventures. Results will be communicated through the Swim Guide mobile app and website. Currently, there is no water quality standard for E. coli in North Carolina; however, in 2022 NC Department of Health and Human Services provided recommended primary and secondary recreational values for all recreational waters. 126 MPN/100 mL is being used to communicate whether an increased exposure risk may be present for primary recreational activities (swimming/snorkeling) and 886 MPN/100 mL for secondary recreational activities (kayaking, tubing, fishing) in Class B waters. A site will be marked in red on that beach site page when the result exceeds the primary recreational value of 126 MPN/100 mL and green when the most recent sample value is 126 MPN/100 mL or below. Anyone getting into the river should be aware results are preliminary and, while posted as soon as available, represent data that is a day old and should only be used as guidance when assessing exposure risk as bacteria levels can change at any time. The lab at the NC Dept. of Environmental Quality utilizes the EPA-approved IDEXX method for collecting and analyzing water samples. Test results are expressed as Most Probable Number (MPN) of E. coli cfu (colony forming units) per 100 ml.