Chemicals, waste, and unhealthy bacteria are just some of the things floating around in the Rivanna River, and recent reports show that 70 percent of the river is not meeting water quality standards set by federal and state governments. That's why the Rivanna Conservation Society (RCS) is starting new projects to keep the river clean.
Bacteria monitoring, river cleanup, and getting more reports on water quality are just some of the upcoming projects for RCS and other water conservation organizations. Water conservation, the group says, is important because the waste in the Rivanna doesn't just affect local water quality.
Roberta Savage, the director of the RCS says it flows all the way through Fluvanna County, down to Richmond, and eventually ends up in the Chesapeake Bay.
"We need to be good stewards to our water and good neighbors to those who live downstream," Savage went on to say.
In addition, she said that she wanted the RCS programs to be educational as well, which is why many are focused on getting kids involved.
She says her goal is "hopefully giving them an education for their future of why water is so important and why keeping it clean is part of their job."
Below are some of the new projects:
- Can You Swim Here – bacteria monitoring in selected locations along the Rivanna,
- The River Guardians Program – engaging volunteers to paddle the river to report on water quality and river health,
- Rivanna River Makeover – comprehensive river cleanup, buffer planting, education opportunities and a celebratory paddle, and the expansion of our
- Water Health for the Commonwealth – student water quality monitoring program.
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