The Health Department is advising to stay out of rivers and streams until the water is clear and calm and to use extra caution when swimming in lakes and ponds that have been affected by flooding.
Learn more about when it is safe to swim in lakes, rivers and swimming holes again
Vermont is home to thousands of freshwater lakes, ponds, rivers and streams. Our waters are a great destination for everything from swimming and fishing to boating and tubing. We all have a role to play in keeping our recreational waters a safe and healthy place for everyone.
Rivers, ponds, lakes and streams may contain disease-causing microorganisms. Swimming in these waters may result in health effects such as minor skin rashes, sore throats, diarrhea or more serious problems.
Children tend to spend more time in the water than adults. They are also more likely to accidentally swallow water when swimming and, for this reason, they are more likely than adults to get sick. However, babies, older adults and people with weakened immune systems are most at risk of becoming seriously ill.
Contact your town health officer with questions about your town’s public swimming area testing protocols or results.
Recreational Water Safety After a Flood in: العربية (Arabic) | မြန်မာစာ (Burmese) | دری (Dari) | Français (French) | Kirundi | नेपाली (Nepali) | پښتو (Pashto) | Soomaali (Somali) | Español (Spanish)
Toxicological Sciences Program
Phone: 802-863-7220 or 800-439-8550 (toll-free in Vermont)
Fax: 802-863-7483
Email: [email protected]
