Q – Is it safe to recreate in or near the Jordan River? A – Currently, we have a “Caution” on the Jordan River. This means that you should avoid areas of scum when boating, keep pets away, do not drink the water, and not swim.
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While the headwaters are relatively unaffected, the Lower Jordan River consists primarily of untreated sewage and agricultural return flows, groundwater seepage, as well as brackish water from springs diverted into the river away from the Lake Tiberias area. The Lower Jordan River in particular is extremely polluted.
The Jordan River has been a repository for waste since the settling of the Salt Lake Valley. For 100 years, raw, untreated sewage was dumped into the river; farming and animal runoff occurred; and mining operations led to 40 smelters being built and contaminating the river with heavy metals, mostly arsenic and lead.
Most polluted is the 100-kilometre downstream stretch - a meandering stream from above the confluence with the Yarmouk to the Dead Sea. Environmentalists say the practice of letting sewage and brackish water flow into the river has almost destroyed its ecosystem.
The Jordan Valley itself follows the Jordan River from the Dead Sea in the south to the Sea of Galilee in the north. All three of these major bodies of water are undrinkable due to high salinity,37 pollution,38 or inadequate amounts of water remaining.
Lakes can be affected by pollution from various sources such as agricultural runoff, urban development, and recreational activities. High levels of bacteria, harmful algae blooms, and pollutants in the water can pose health risks to swimmers.
As the site of the baptism of Jesus Christ, the Jordan River is the source of all holy water in Christianity and has for centuries attracted pilgrims from across the world.
Jordan RiverHowever, despite its proximity, this water isn't heavily fished and provides great opportunities for catfish, bullhead, carp, white bass and walleye.
The Bible says Jesus was baptized in the Jordan River. The river's eastern bank, modern-day Jordan, and its western one both house baptismal sites, where rituals of faith unfold, a reflection of the river's enduring religious, historical and cultural allure.
Environmentalists are trying to save the sacred Jordan River from shoaling. The stream has become shallow due to drought, water withdrawal, and pollution. A dam has blocked the outflow from the Sea of Galilee. In addition, Jordan is catastrophically polluted by sewage.
Boaters must always wear appropriate personal flotation devices (PFDs) and having any other safety equipment necessary for safe paddling. Conditions on the river can change without warning. Periods of high water flow, such as during spring snow melt or after storm events can create new or different hazards.
What remains of the once mighty Jordan is made up of waste water and the runoff from agricultural land. It is in this brown-colored cocktail of sewage and chemicals that pilgrims have been bathing.
Population growth, diminished water supplies and climate change have all taken their toll, while damaged and inefficient infrastructure and the considerable challenges posed by Jordan's geography and topography have only made things worse.