Columbia River clean for dogs? (Yakima, Pasco: house, live, stats)

[neal93]

I've taken my dog down to swim in the Columbia River right near our house in Pasco (just west of the blue bridge). I assume the river is clean enough for such activity? Thanks in advance...

[M3 Mitch]

Normally, yes. But if you watch the news, you will hear about a dump of raw sewage from Mabton's treatment plant into the Yakima, which leads into the Columbia. So long as you are upstream of where the Yakima and Columbia join, probably, you are OK for both dog and human swimming (although it stays pretty cold)

[neal93]

Originally Posted by M3 Mitch

Normally, yes. But if you watch the news, you will hear about a dump of raw sewage from Mabton's treatment plant into the Yakima, which leads into the Columbia. So long as you are upstream of where the Yakima and Columbia join, probably, you are OK for both dog and human swimming (although it stays pretty cold)

Wow, is that intentional or accidental? How often does it happen? We're slightly down river from where the Yakima meets the Columbia so I'll always wonder now. It is announced to the public though? Before or after it happens?

[j_k_k]

Originally Posted by M3 Mitch

Normally, yes. But if you watch the news, you will hear about a dump of raw sewage from Mabton's treatment plant into the Yakima, which leads into the Columbia. So long as you are upstream of where the Yakima and Columbia join, probably, you are OK for both dog and human swimming (although it stays pretty cold)

I remember playing baseball and football at Mabton, so I guess this doesn't surprise me too much.

[M3 Mitch]

Originally Posted by neal93

Wow, is that intentional or accidental? How often does it happen? We're slightly down river from where the Yakima meets the Columbia so I'll always wonder now. It is announced to the public though? Before or after it happens?

News was on the local ABC affiliate (we live out in the Valley so it's different for you than me)

Power outage - backup generator didn't start - happend over a weekend so no one checked on it till Monday am.

IMHO an accidental start but made worse by incompetence.

[tcres]

I sure hope so cause I spend a lot of time in the river over the summer...

[M3 Mitch]

Well by now the sewage spill is a thing of the past, in general the Columbia is pretty clean, the Yakima can be a bit funky, and of course the Columbia downstream of Tri-Cities includes that funk - but the typical "recreational area" parts of the Columbia, are pretty clean really.

[rymandev]

The amount of sewage spilled into the Yakima was diluted to non-threatening by the time it was 1 mile down river. Think parts per million. By the time it got to the Columbia, it was non-existent. Think parts per billions. When these things were explained to me by a scientist who dealt with water treatment study in a national lab a few years ago, I stopped worrying about the river. I think a dog would have a better chance of getting sick just eating his own poo...

[skinem]

The dog will be fine...he's a dog.

There's more in the Yakima from ag run-off than Mabton will put in. Check the state DEQ or EPA (I forget which they call it) for water quality stats on both rivers.

There was a time not long ago when swimming in either river at the wrong time or place might not be the best idea, but both are considerably cleaner than say, the 1970s...

[1885]

I take my dog in the irrigation canals, then we rinse her off.
100% Lab. Try to keep a Lab out of the Water on a 90 degree day.
Just rinse him/her off with city water in case of bugs or algee