Klamath River water quality deemed unsafe, Siskiyou Health Division says - KDRV

Klamath River water quality deemed unsafe, Siskiyou Health Division says | Waterwatch | kdrv.com
There have been high levels of some metals found in the river.

SISKIYOU COUNTY, Calif. -- Residents should not be in or drink water from the Klamath River due to high levels of arsenic, lead and aluminum, the Siskiyou County Environmental Health said today.

According to the report, heavy metals in the Klamath River have increased due to sediment buildup that happened after drawdown of the river's three reservoirs in January. This is part of the Lower Klamath Dam Removal project.

"The heavy metal analytes that have exceeded the primary and secondary EPA standards, and those which have exceeded the California Beneficial Use Standards may cause deleterious health effects if consumed," the report said. "Therefore, it is not safe to consume the Klamath River surface water. In addition, at this time, it is advisable to stay out of the Klamath River."

The Siskiyou County Environmental Health Division collected six water samples in different locations in the river, the report said. They then analyzed these samples for metals that might affect public health.

The report said levels of arsenic and lead exceeded the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)'s drinking water standards at four out of six locations. It also confirmed that levels are higher after the reservoirs were removed.

"These levels are also higher than the pre-project, or baseline sampling results," the report said. "Levels of aluminum and iron at all 6 sample locations exceeded the EPA's secondary drinking water standard."

In the report, the health division did not say what exactly the health effects are, saying only that contact with these metals would have 'deleterious' health effects.

While these heavy metals are always present in the Klamath River system, it becomes a danger to public health when there are too many of them in the river, the report said.

"An additional water quality sampling report and associated County sample results focusing on volatile organic compounds (VOCs) will follow this heavy metals report, and will be published on the County website," the release said. "The County will continue to monitor the water quality of the river on a quarterly basis and release the results to the public. The County is also in conversation with various regulatory agencies to encourage additional water quality and sediment sampling."

NewsWatch 12 is investigating this report's findings and will post more information to this website when it comes out.

Residents can read the full report below.