Bacteria data for past five years at the time of creating this view (will continue to add data as we update the portal).
About 50% of Austin’s creeks exceed the TCEQ criteria for contact recreation at any given time, based on our historic E. coli data. Contact recreation is an activity that increases the chance of swallowing water, such as swimming or splashing. Note that this is not a standard that allows for the determination of safe or unsafe swimming, but rather a state-level indicator of long-term potential of fecal contamination. The higher the E. coli count, the more likely there is fecal contamination and the higher the risk there is for waterborne illness. Any natural body of water will have some amount of fecal matter due to fish and wildlife, and the fecal matter from warm-blooded animals such as birds, bats, dogs, deer and other mammals will include E.coli.
There are risks for swimming in any natural water body, so best practices are strongly encouraged:
• Avoid swimming after heavy rainfall.
• Do not swim in water that looks discolored, murky, or smells unpleasant.
• Make sure you can see submerged hazards
• Look for posted warning signs and follow the advice on them.
• Avoid swallowing water or putting your head under water if you are unsure about its quality.
• Avoid swimming if you have an open wound or infection.
When assessing this bacteria data for contact recreation please consider these codes:
