Anacostia River cleanup efforts continue, after swim events were canceled two years in a row

Image via GGWash.

From GGWash:

An event planned for this past summer would have been the first legal swim in the Anacostia River in over 50 years. For the fourth time in a row, the event was canceled due to pollution concerns.

The Anacostia River Splash! organized by Anacostia Riverkeeper was initially postponed on June 29 due to elevated levels of E. coli after rain that week. The event was eventually canceled for the season.

“We prioritize the health and safety of our community, so postponing and ultimately canceling was the only responsible choice,” said Quinn Molner, the director of operations of the organization, in an email.

It’s been more than two decades since officials announced a plan to address a river that water testing data says poses health risks. Even after multi-billion-dollar projects to improve water quality, the pollution of the river continues to limit how people can enjoy the Anacostia.