Pollution may have caused the postponement of an Olympic triathlon in the Seine, but Dennis Chestnut in Washington is also canceling his swimming plans by the Anacostia River due to contamination.
Once infamous for pollution and hazardous waste, the Anacostia River, often referred to as the “forgotten river” of the US capital, has seen significant improvements in recent years.
Efforts to clean up the river led to the organization of the Anacostia’s first legal swim in over 50 years, after a ban on entering the water was established in 1971 due to concerns about water quality.
However, attempts to hold the event in the summer of 2022 and 2023 were canceled twice each – once due to high levels of E.coli and poor weather conditions.
Similar concerns with E.coli led to the postponement of the Olympics men’s triathlon event, while the women’s triathlon proceeded the following day. E.coli also affected training events and may impact the upcoming Olympic open-water swimming competition.
Chestnut, who learned to swim in the Anacostia as a child, was looking forward to participating in the special swim event as part of the river’s revitalization efforts.
Despite improvements, legacy contaminants and pollution from past industrial activities continue to pose challenges for the Anacostia River. Efforts to address these issues are ongoing to ensure a healthier environment for future generations.
“I’m making it possible for them to be able to swim in the river going forward, and their children and their children’s children are going to benefit from what we’re doing,” Chestnut said.
