Flooding may have contaminated river, residents urged to stay out

By Adam Tobias of the Daily Times staff
Monday, June 23, 2008 12:42 PM CDT

Water continues to flow at a high rate over the lower dam this morning as a pair of anglers fish the roiled waters from the west shore of the Rock River. (JOHN HART/Daily Times)

The Watertown Department of Public Health is urging residents to stay out of the Rock River and areas with standing water because of possible contamination due to the recent flooding.

Watertown Health Officer Carol Quest said this morning that citizens should refrain from going into the river because all of the flood water has the potential of containing raw sewage.

“I hate to say absolute, but there has been dumping of sewage in all the communities that have been affected by flooding, so all of that is in the flood water,” Quest said. “With that, there are many, many organisms in the water.”

She added the water in the Rock River could carry such bacteria and parasites as E. coli and cryptosporidium.

The primary symptom of cryptosporidiosis is watery diarrhea that lasts up to two weeks. First signs usually appear one to two weeks after infection.

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Other signs and symptoms of cryptosporidium infection include dehydration, malnutrition, weight loss, stomach cramps, fever and vomiting.

Symptoms of an E. coli infection are watery or bloody diarrhea and stomach pain. Infection typically begins three or four days after exposure to the bacteria.

“If individuals are experiencing these symptoms they should be seen by their medical provider,” Quest added.

Quest said the Watertown Department of Public Health office has recently received several phone calls from residents who've been experiencing rashes after swimming in the river.

“We've been receiving phone calls and we've referred the individuals to their private physicians, but individuals are experiencing rashes from exposure to the water,” Quest said.

She added the seriousness of the infections depends on the susceptibility of the person who is affected.

“If they are very young or very old or have a health condition, any of these illnesses could be very serious,” Quest said. “Even for a healthy person exposed to large quantities of cryptosporidium or E. coli, it could be a very devastating illness.”

Quest said residents are asked to stay out of the river until the waters go down to normal levels.

Anyone with further questions about health concerns should call the Watertown Department of Public Health office at 262-8090.