The National Park Service advise visitors to " Stay out of the water to protect streambanks , plants , and animals and keep you and your family ( including pets ! ) safe from illness . "
Well, over Mother’s Day weekend, RFK Jr.postedon Twitter (now known as X) about going on a hike with his family, which included swimming inRock Creekin Washington, D.C.
Commenters immediately began to point out that the water wasn’t safe for swimming. “You swam in Rock Creek? Better decontaminate,” said one.
“The National Park Service forbids swimming in Rock Creek Park due to high bacteria levels,” said another.
And indeed, theNational Park Servicesays of Rock Creek on its website, “Swimming and wading are not allowed due to high bacteria levels. Stay out of the water to protect streambanks, plants and animals and keep you and your family (including pets!) safe from illness.”
They retain , " Rock Creek has high levels of bacteria and other infectious pathogen that make swim , ram , and other physical contact with the water a luck to human ( and dearie ) wellness . Please protect yourself and your pooches by bide on track and out of the creek . All District waterways are capable to a swim ban — this intend cram , too ! "
The park’sFAQ pagealso clearly states that “All Rock Creek Park areas are closed to swimming, bathing, and wading by people and pets.”
Though Washington, D.C.isworkingto clean their rivers and make them viable for swimming, recent testing from2022showed high fecal contamination and that the levels of E. coli in the water in Rock Creek exceeded the EPA’scriteria.
Swimming in unsafe water can cause a multitude of health issues. TheNational Institute of Healthsays that “germs that live in water cause stomach and intestinal upset. These can bring diarrhea or vomiting. You can also get skin rashes, ear or eye pain, and a cough or congestion after swimming in contaminated waters.”
Yikes .
The irony of the person in charge of keeping America healthy swimming in potentially contaminated water was not lost on the commenters. “happy mother’s day here’s some e.coli,” said one.
“How do you MAHA [Make America Healthy Again] while taking your family to swim in sewage?”
“Antivaxxed and swimming in the Shit Creek good god,” said another.
“wading in the contaminated creek in my jeans.”
“The head of Health and Human Services doing underwater backflips in doo doo water is just too on the nose honestly.”
So… yeah. Good luck to the bowels and skin of the Secretary of Health and Human Services! And as a heads-up, make sure to check for any notices about the water you’re swimming in before taking a dip!
