WATER QUALITY

Tucson Racing and the Cincinnati Triathlon are confident of the water quality of the Ohio River.  In 2009 we put over 500 athletes in the Ohio River and everybody had a GREAT time!

Normally the water quality in the Ohio River is well within the contact water safety margins and safe for swimming.  This is particularly true during the months of July and August (our triathlon date is July 25).

Water quality is tested the Ohio River Sanitation Commission throughout the summer at spots up and down the River to monitor bacteria levels (see www.orsanco.org).   In the downtown area, the water is tested on the Kentucky Side in the vicinity of the Purple People Bridge, at Public Landing and at the Licking River.  We are fortunate that one of the testing sites is our swim finish.

Most weather events will not affect the water quality.  The rain on Saturday before the triathlon did not affect our swim because it was a gentle, summer rain and not a deluge.  Cincinnati's typical summer rains will not spike bacteria levels.

That being said, a sudden and intense storm, dropping a lot of rain over a short period of time in the greater Cincinnati region can spike bacteria levels. High bacteria levels take about 48 hours to dissipate.  Therefore, we can absolutely count on good water quality unless there is a sudden, region wide downpour dropping several inches of rain on the Thursday or Friday before the event.  Even such a rain does not rule out the swim, it merely means an increased chance of high bacteria levels.

Water quality is tested every Tuesday all summer long.  The week before the race, it is tested on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday with our last results received on Saturday morning shortly before the Great Ohio River Swim.

We are very confident of good water. We would not spend tens of thousands of dollars and months planning this race if it were any other way.  Each year triathlons in the Schuykill River (Philadelphia), the Ohio River (Ironman Louisville), the Hudson River (Nautica New York), the Chicago Marina (Chicago) and the Potomac River (Nation's) and many other lakes and rivers take place with full confidence of good water. Our event is no different.

Results of water quality testing, current and flow data are posted on www.orsanco.org.