By Gary Pitts
Murray, KY – CORRECTION: A new Kentucky Division of Water report shows ingestion of water from Western Kentucky's Clarks River, or contact with an open sore or wound could result in illness. Murray State's Hancock Biological Station conducted the study. It shows unsafe levels of e-coli at some 40 points in the Clarks River Watershed. E-coli is commonly used as an indicator for the potential presence of waterborne disease causing bacteria and viruses. Division of Water Spokesperson Allison Fleck says any number of factors could be contributing to the problem, and they are difficult to track:
"There could be animals standing in streams or upstream in fields. There may be septic tanks that are no longer functioning properly and are releasing human waste. Straight pipes still occur unfortunately. These are also a source of contaminants."
Straight pipes are sewage pipes that go directly into rivers and streams. They're illegal in Kentucky. Fleck says they are still quite common throughout the state. She says water pollution from factories and plants can be measured and controlled, but a reduction in contamination from general run-off takes concerted community effort.