Recreational contact with the Licking River should be avoided, Kentucky officials announced this week.
An advisory from the Kentucky Division of Water and the Kentucky Department of Health indicates that there are high levels of E.coli, bacteria which occur in human and animal waste and indicate the presence of untreated or inadequately treated sewage. The bacteria create a potential for diarrheal illnesses and other infectious diseases.
The area of the Licking River under a swimming advisory is from Banklick Creek to the confluence with the Ohio River. The advisory also includes all of Banklick Creek and Three Mile Creek.
Inadequate or failing sewage treatment systems can contribute to water quality problems along Kentucky water ways. Efforts by the Cabinet for Health and Family Services and local environmental health staff to ensure all new septic system installations are installed properly, and work by the Division of Water and wastewater plant operators to monitor wastewater treatment plant compliance are reducing bacterial pollution from these possible sources. Work by both agencies is gradually reducing the number of discharges and improving water quality, according to a news release.
Parts of the Upper Cumberland River and the Kentucky River were also under the advisory.
The agencies also recommend against swimming or other full-body contact with surface waters immediately following heavy rainfall events, especially in dense residential, urban and livestock production areas. This recommendation is due to an increased potential for exposure to pollution from urban nonpoint source pollution, bypasses from sewage collection systems, combined sewer overflows and pollution from livestock waste.  The public should avoid recreating in stream segments below wastewater treatment facility outfalls, confined animal feedlots or other obvious sources of pollution during anytime of the year.
The agencies urge the public to use a common sense approach for  summertime recreation.  Avoid areas with obvious green or brown surface scums or obvious foul odors.  The cabinets want everyone to have a safe and healthy summer enjoying the  Commonwealth’s water resources.Â
Staff report
Photo:Â Licking River/RCN file
