The Buffalo National River has released information about the river’s water quality. According to park authorities, visitors to the river often ask questions about the quality of the water, including is the water safe to drink and what is algae.
The Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommends against swallowing water while swimming or drinking untreated water. The water flowing in the Buffalo River includes sources far beyond the park’s boundaries, so the quality of a certain water source cannot be guaranteed at any given time. The levels of pathogens, or contaminants that can cause illness, can change from day to day for a variety of reasons, especially in the event of rainfall.
Some basic rules should be applied at all times with concern to water, including making sure water is treated and/or filtered before drinking it, never assuming untreated water is safe to drink, and knowing not all filters and treatment methods are equally efficient.
With concern to algae, the Buffalo River has experienced significant algae growth this summer, but the park has not confirmed any cases of illness directly linked to algae. Blue-green algae naturally occurs in many lakes and rivers across the country. Algal blooms are the result of many factors, including warmer water temperatures and an influx of nutrients. The hottest and driest months of the summer, when people are drawn to the river, are when the problem is most likely to occur.
Though some algae is important to a healthy ecosystem, some algae can also be toxic to both humans and animals. As a rule, areas with visible algae concentrations should be avoided for primary contact, such as swimming. Additionally, avoid ingesting water around algae blooms.
For more information on algae, visit the CDC’s website at www.cdc.gov/habs/general.html or visit the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality’s webiste at www.adeq.state.ar.us.
For more information about the Buffalo National River, visit the park’s page on the National Park Service website at www.nps.gov/buff/index.htm.
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