EPA says Charles is safe for swimming, boatingBy Jules CrittendenBoston Herald Staff The federal Environmental Protection Agency is giving the Charles River a "B" grade in a report card due to be released today, indicating that it is acceptable for swimming and boating most of the year. William Walsh-Rogalski of the federal EPA said the cleanliness of the Charles River has leveled off over the last two years, but he and others overseeing the cleanup say they are using DNA technology to zero in on a few remaining sources of bacterial pollution. Walsh-Rogalski said most of the bacteria appears to be coming from Stony Brook, where a project to prevent sewage overflow into the stream on rainy days is expected to be complete by 2006. "During dry weather, the river is almost always meeting boating and swimming standards," he said. "During rainy days, you have bacteria being flushed out." He said DNA testing is being done to determine how much of the fecal coliform bacteria comes from human, pet, or wildlife sources. That will help determine the future course of the cleanup. The river initially was graded a "D" in 1995, when the fecal bacteria in the water exceeded safe swimming limits more than 80 percent of the time.
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