Chattanooga-area creeks impaired by pathogens
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) — Citico Creek has been under a water contact advisory, which the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) has now lifted. However, Citico Creek is still listed as impaired due to pathogens.
The TDEC will post and take down signage based on the safe use of creeks recreationally.
TDEC implemented the water contact advisory because the creek’s recreational use was impaired significantly by high pathogen levels. Pathogens are described as bacteria or viruses that can cause diseases.
Therefore, Citico Creek’s recreational use, including swimming and fishing, was impacted by the pathogens. TDEC said levels decreased enough to lift the water contact advisory. But they are still not at a low enough level for safe recreational use.
“We provide these advisories so the community can make informed decisions about water contact hazards,” said TDEC Deputy Commissioner Greg Young. “Data studied from the collection in Citico Creek have allowed TDEC to lift the previous water contact advisory, and we are pleased to make this change.”
A bacteriological advisory list from the Division of Water Resources says three different creeks in Hamilton County face issues.
Chattanooga Creek
Those include Citico Creek, Chattanooga Creek and Stringers Branch. Each of them has “Chattanooga urban runoff and collection system issues.”
The list says fish from the Chattanooga Creek should not be eaten due to PCB and chlordane pollutants. The Nickajack Reservoir also has PCB pollutants. Children, pregnant women and nursing mothers should not eat catfish from this area.
PCBs are polychlorinated biphenyls. They are industrial contaminants that the U.S. banned in 1979. They harm human and environmental health, according to the National Ocean Service.
PCBs cause a variety of health issues in humans and animals, including cancer, according to the EPA.
Chlordane is a man-made chemical previously used as a pesticide. It causes nervous system and liver problems in humans. The EPA banned its use entirely in the U.S. in 1988.
Learn more about bacteriological and fishing advisories on the TDEC website.
