Is it safe to swim in a river?

Swimming in rivers can be dangerous for a few reasons. Rivers can be very deep and have strong currents, which can make it difficult to stay afloat. Rivers can also be filled with debris such as branches, rocks, and even snakes, which can cause injuries.



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Stay out of the water if Cloudy water can be a warning that there are more germs in the water than normal. Discolored or smelly water could mean there is a harmful algal bloom (HAB) in the water.

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About 44 percent of U.S. waterways are too polluted for fishing or swimming, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

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Viruses like noroviruses, hepatitis A, hepatitis E, rotaviruses, enteroviruses, adenoviruses, and astroviruses, as well as avian influenza (or H5N1, the so-called bird flu) are present in surface water sources such as rivers and lakes around the world including Canada and the US.

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