An item in yesterday’s Daily News-Record indicated that “most” of the North River is unsafe for swimming. That statement left a glimmer of hope for Bridgewater residents who want to get out and splash around on these hot summer days. Alas, it is our job to extinguish that hope, as our section of the river is unsafe. As shown on the EPA map, the North River is “impaired” for its entire run through Bridgewater.
The impairment, according to the EPA, is an unacceptable level of the bacteria E. coli. Most strains of E. coli are harmless, but the bacteria serves as a marker for fecal coliform. Fecal coliform is the nasty part of animal waste, and it’s probably not something you want to bathe in. (If you’re wondering, fecal coliform is only present in the waste of warm-blooded animals, so fish aren’t part of the problem.)
We address the issue as best we can. Those dog waste stations you see around town are an effort to keep feces out of the river. DEQ has suggested that we find a way to shoo-off all those geese who live here (and torment Jay’s dog). And, of course, all of our sewage flows to the regional sewer authority near Mt. Crawford. Obviously, though, most of the problem comes from upstream, so our options are limited.
We apologize for being a killjoy, but in this case, it was our doody.