Good water quality is essential for such contact recreation activities as boating, swimming, and water skiing. ORSANCO works with local health departments throughout the Ohio River Basin to make bacteria data more available and to better inform the public about water quality issues.

From May through October, ORSANCO tests the Ohio River for bacteria five times monthly at six stations. In addition to this seasonal monitoring, bacteria data are provided by eight water utilities located upstream of urban areas. ORSANCO analyzes water samples for the presence of fecal coliform downstream of the six largest urban areas on the Ohio, Pittsburgh, Wheeling, Huntington, Cincinnati, Louisville, and Evansville. These locations were selected because bacteria levels may generally be higher due to the pollution impacts associated with large cities. Samples are also analyzed for Escherichia coli (E. coli) at four locations.

Elevated levels of these bacteria can indicate the presence of more harmful disease-carrying bacteria, and may be the result of contamination by animal or human waste. Contact with the water when bacteria levels are high increases the risk of infections and gastrointestinal illnesses.

Bacteria monitoring data is available in ORSANCO's Quality Monitor.

For more information on the Bacteria Sampling, please contact ORSANCO Public Information Department or Mindy Garrison