Tips for staying healthy and safe on Kentucky's waters

Brad Molnar on Taylorsville Lake
(Courier-Journal file photo, 2003)

The state Division of Water and Department for Public Health offer tips to help Kentuckians stay safe and healthy as they go boating, fishing, swimming or otherwise recreate in the state's waterways this summer:

• Avoid ingesting or inhaling the water.
• Thoroughly clean hands and other areas that have come in contact with the water.
• Avoid allowing open wounds to have direct contact with the water.
• Avoid areas where swimming or harmful algal bloom advisories have been issued.
• Avoid water with obvious odors or surface scums.
• Avoid getting in water after heavy rainfall, especially in dense residential, urban and agricultural areas.
• Avoid areas below wastewater-treatment outfalls, animal feedlots, straight pipes or other obvious sources of pollution.
• Restrict pets and livestock from drinking the water if a bright green or blue-green surface scum is present.

James Bruggers, environmental reporter for The Courier-Journal, reminds us: "The Clean Water Act of 1972 declared that all waterways in the United States were to be 'fishable and swimmable' by 1985. We've made progress, but we have a long way to go. Be safe out there."