In recent years, the ban has been relaxed, so now permitted events are allowed on both the Potomac and Anacostia. officials have been generally supportive, if noncommittal, of lifting the swim ban. The beach wasn't just about swimming, but also, apparently, donkey rides.ĭ.C. The beach had not only swimming areas and floating diving platforms, but also bath houses, canoes, a roller coaster, and other attractions. There was also a beach on the Virginia side of the Potomac, called Arlington Beach, located near what is now the Pentagon. In a segregated city, Black swimmers were pushing to have equal facilities built on the side of the Tidal Basin where they swam rather than allowing that, Congress closed the white beach and demolished the white bath houses. However, Congress banned swimming there in 1925, in part due to rising pollution levels, and in part due to racism. Historically, the Tidal Basin was a popular spot for swimming, starting soon after its construction in the 1880s. Authors examined the pros and cons of each site and considered various options for getting people in the water, from beaches to floating swim platforms. Rock Creek, though scenic, had consistently high bacteria levels.Ī 2019 study of swimming feasibility on the Anacostia River identified nine possible sites, from Yards Park, at the southern end of the river, to Kenilworth Park, upstream near the Maryland border. The cleanest locations were generally in areas with high water flow, so bacteria is quickly diluted, and in areas distant from outfalls were sewage overflows during storms. Percentage of water samples that passed single-sample water quality standards for bacteria on the Potomac River from 2019 to 2021. Washington Channel (where The Wharf is located) passed 98% of time the Tidal Basin passed 97% Buzzard Point (on the Anacostia) passed 85% Kingman Island (on the Anacostia) passed 83% and Thompson Boat Center (on the Potomac) passed 82%. Water quality data collected by a coalition of environmental groups over the past three years shows that numerous spots on the Potomac and Anacostia usually have levels of bacteria low enough that it's safe to swim.įive locations passed water quality standards for bacteria more than 80% of the time. "The Potomac River, once the destination of untreated wastewater, agricultural runoff, and industrial pollution, is once again a thriving aquatic ecosystem," said Norton, speaking at the event. Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton has requested that the Army Corps of Engineers conduct a feasibility study on public swimming options in the Potomac and Anacostia, including cost estimates for all the feasible options. So where might swimming be possible, if District officials lift the ban?ĭ.C. Naujoks spoke at an event at The Wharf, marking the 50th anniversary of the Clean Water Act, which has been responsible for spurring the cleanup of D.C.'s rivers as well as waterways around the country. "Lyndon Johnson said that this river was a national disgrace, but he also said that this river should serve as a model," said Naujoks, referring to remarks President Johnson made in 1965, calling for action to clean up the nation's waters. At the time, there was no sewage treatment in the region raw sewage from hundreds of thousands of residents was dumped directly into the rivers. The first swim ban on the Potomac was instituted in 1932. to end the ban on swimming, and has a petition urging Mayor Muriel Bowser to commit to doing so. The Potomac Riverkeeper Network has launched a campaign to get D.C. "This this is one of the only cities in the United States that it's illegal to swim because of raw sewage in the waterways," said Potomac Riverkeeper Dean Naujoks. They are calling on city officials to lift the longtime ban on swimming. Now, environmental advocates say the waters are, in some places at least, once again clean enough to swim in. would mean thousands of people crowding the banks of the Tidal Basin, the Potomac River, Anacostia River and Rock Creek to cool off. National Photo Company/Library of CongressĪ century ago, a hot summer day in D.C. The beach was located near what is now the Pentagon.
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