Yesterday, Thursday September 15, I collected water samples to measure the E.coli levels in segment of Passage Creek that flows through the Elizabeth Furnace Day Use Recreational area. This was in preparation for the US Forest Service and @ShenandoahRiverkeeper RioPalooza event being held tomorrow, Saturday Sept. 17.
As a reference point, the FOSR uses the Virginia water-quality standard prior to October 2019 which was a single sample threshold of 235 E. coli colony-forming units per 100 mL of water sample for primary recreational use. Meaning that if a single freshwater grab sample had E. coli levels that exceed 235 CFU per 100mL of water sample then the water was considered unsafe for primary recreational use.
