- A report by Environment America found potentially unsafe fecal contamination levels in 85 percent of Missouri's monitored recreational waterways in 2024 and 2025.
- Contamination was detected at 171 out of 202 testing locations, including high-risk sites like the Harry S. Truman Reservoir, Grand Glaize Creek and Sycamore Creek.
- Health experts warn that swimming or wading in contaminated water can lead to skin, eye, ear, respiratory and gastrointestinal infections.
- Primary causes of the bacterial pollution include stormwater runoff, sewage overflows, livestock manur and failing septic and wastewater systems.
- Across all 17 states evaluated in the study, 69 percent of tested waterway locations showed potentially unsafe contamination levels on at least one day.
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