Monday, May 17, 2010

River Water Advisories to Begin

The Allegheny County Health Department will start issuing river water advisories for the 2010 river recreation season beginning today and running through September 30th.

They will indicate whether water quality in rivers is normal or if a combined sewer overflow (CSO) alert has been issued. The alerts are issued when heavy rainfall causes sewers carrying a combination of sewage and storm water to overflow and contaminate rivers and streams.

Those with weakened immune systems or open cuts or sores should avoid the water at those times.

Updates are available by calling the river advisory hotline at 412 687 ACHD, by subscribing to text message or twitter alerts, by visiting www.achd.net or by looking out for orange colored flags with black CSO lettering. They fly at marinas and docks and on the Allegheny, Monongahela, Ohio and Youghiogheny Rivers.

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